FLEET UPDATE: SOL Lineas Aereas to Add Two Saab 340's for New Routes & Increased Frequencies

SOL Lineas Aereas Saab 340A, LV-BEX, c/n 14, presently stored, is pictured at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 20Sep10.  (Phil Perry photo)   

SOL is planning to add two Saab 340's to its existing fleet of four 340A's and two 340B's in the second half of this year.  The airline lost a 340 in an accident in 2011 and has another one, LV-BEX, in storage per airfleets.net 

The Rosario-based regional airline reports 20% growth recently, presumably partly due to its codeshare agreement with Aerolineas Argentinas on certain key routes.  SOL flies to Buenos Aires Aeropaqrue (AEP) plus several secondary routes in Argentina, including non-stop flights between cities that would otherwise require flying east to Buenos Aires to make a connection.  

Among the carrier's route plans are strengthening its presence in Patagonia through mini-hubs in Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) and Neuquen (NQN), restarting its Rosario (ROS) - Cordoba (COR) - Tucuman (TUC) and Rosario (ROS) - Montevideo (MVD) routes (3x/weekly) plus adding a frequency between Cordoba (COR) and Montevideo (MVD).     

Sources:

Aviacion News 20Jun13:
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion062013/aviacion062013.html
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Sol%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm

ROUTE UPDATE: BQB Plans Service to Santiago de Chile on 01Oct13 using an A320

BQB Lineas Aereas plans to start service from Montevideo (MVD) to Santiago (SCL) on 01Oct13 using the A320 that it is scheduled to have received by then.  

BQB would be going up against a formidable competitor in LAN with twice-daily flights using A319's and A320's but the Uruguayan airline's commercial director, Pablo Triunfo, claims that BQB would not compete directly with LAN, instead targeting markets such as Uruguayans and Chileans traveling on weekends or vacations to each other's countries.  Indeed, this kind of traffic would fit in with the larger marketing strategy of BQB's parent company, Buquebus, of selling travel packages to the public, especially those that use the airline's flights and Buquebus ferry services, the latter being the company's core business.      

Sources:

www.flightstats.com
Aviacion News 27Jun13:
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion062713/aviacion062713.html

747-8 visits Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) for First Time

An Atlas Air 747-8F, reportedly N854GT, c/n 37566, visited Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Santiago de Chile (SCL) in early June while operating for Etihad Cargo.  It was the first visit of this type to these two airports.  50 747-8's have been delivered so far, including 35 of the freighter version and 15 passenger aircraft. 

Source:

Aviacion News 13Jun13:
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion061313/aviacion061313.html

PLUNA successor Alas-U to use 3 CRJ-900's per agreement between Uruguayan Government & ex-PLUNA Workers

After many negotiations during the last few months, the Uruguayan government and the ex-PLUNA workers that plan to start the PLUNA successor airline Alas-U, have agreed that the new airline will use three of the remaining seven ex-PLUNA CRJ-900's that have been parked unused for almost a year at Montevideo (MVD).  The other four aircraft will be sold.

The government, which is responsible for payments on the aircraft, will give the PIT-CNT labor union a three year grace period to pay the US$ 46 million cost of the planes.  As anticipated, the FONDES government development fund will provide US$ 15 million in seed-funding to Alas-U, which is expected to start flying before the end of the year in time for the southern hemisphere summer high season from Montevideo (MVD) to such destinations as Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Cordoba (COR), Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Porto Alegre (POA), Curitiba (CWB), Santiago de Chile (SCL) and Asuncion (ASU).  

One concern about the new start-up has been that the former PLUNA CRJ-900's would be subject to impoundment by legal authorities in neighboring countries formerly served by PLUNA where former workers of the airline are pursuing lawsuits against the defunct carrier.  Law firms retained by the Uruguayan government assessed the risk of the aircraft being impounded as "high".  Seeking to avoid this, the Alas-U employees will try to convince the labor unions representing former PLUNA employees in other countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, not to pursue legal action against Alas-U as that would only hurt fellow laborers.  Most recently, the idea was to return all seven CRJ-900's to Bombardier and acquire a few CRJ-700's or -900's to replace them as a means of avoiding aircraft embargoes but that plan has apparently been discarded. 

Sources:

El Observador Uruguay 28Jun13, 24Jun13:
http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/254171/gobierno-dara-tres-anos-de-gracia-para-que-alasu-pague-los-aviones/
http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/253740/alasu-utilizara-tres-aviones-de-pluna-y-el-estado-vendera-cuatro/

Aviacion News 16May13:
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion051613/aviacion051613.html

FLEET UPDATE: Austral to Receive 2 Additional Embraer E-190AR's

News from April when this blog's editor was away traveling:

Austral ordered two more Embraer ERJ-190AR's from the manufacturer in April for delivery in October and November of this year bringing its fleet of the type to 22 aircraft.  The airline wanted to order four new 190's in all but was not able to obtain sufficient credit from the National Development Bank of Brazil.   

The first order for 20 aircraft was clouded in controversy as the contract price was US$ 34.9 million per example while analysts estimated that the planes, as equipped, should have cost approx. US 28.5 million, suggesting that there might have been kickbacks involved.    

Austral's 190's are furnished with 88 economy class and 8 business class seats and are the Advanced range versions capable of flying non-stop from Buenos Aires to any airport in Argentina plus important foreign destinations, such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, both in Brazil. 

Sources:  

World Airline News 09Apr13:   http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/04/09/austral-acquires-two-additional-embraer-190s/

Aviacion News 11Apr13: http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion041113/aviacion041113.html

Aviacion News 13Jun13:  http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion061313/aviacion061313.html

HISTORICAL PHOTO: Aerolineas Argentinas 737-200, LV-JTD

Aerolineas Argentinas 737-287, LV-JTD, c/n 20532/285, shot in delivery colors at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) sometime in the 1970's.  (Phil Perry collection)

The aircraft served Aerolineas for 35 years from its delivery in 1971 until its retirement in 2006 and scrapping in 2011.  In 2002, LV-JTD was converted to executive configuration and in 2004 it had the Argentine presidential seal affixed to its front door to serve on domestic presidential flights while the presidential 757 T-01 underwent repairs.   

Update: This aircraft has not been scrapped and was recently being used for fire training at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) per reader MG.  

Source:  Historias Individuales

             http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-jtd-

             boeing-737-287-cn-20523285.html

FLEET UPDATE: BQB Lineas Aereas to Add One A320 and a 4th ATR-72-500

BQB Lineas Aereas will reportedly add the first A320 to its fleet during the fourth quarter 2013.  The airline was previously rumored to be adding jet aircraft to its fleet in the first quarter of this year but those plans were not realized.  BQB was also supposed to start flying from Montevideo (MVD) to Madrid (MAD) in April with a leased 767-300 but those plans were shelved when Air Europe started to fly the route instead. 

The A320 is planned for daily flights from Montevideo to Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo - Guarulhos (GRU) plus weekly service to Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) and Isla Margarita (PMV), off the Venezuelan coast.

In September, the airline is supposed to add a fourth ATR-72-500 to its fleet to enable new service to Curitiba, Brazil (CWB), Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia (VVI), Ciudad de Este, Paraguay (AGT) and Rivera, Uruguay (RVY).  Service by BQB to these cities has been rumored ever since the demise of PLUNA a year ago, especially Rivera, where the start of service has seemed imminent for the last six months.

Source:

El Observador Uruguay 30May13:  http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/251907/bqb-amplia-su-cobertura/  

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas to Lease 11 Additional 737-800's

Aerolineas Argentinas has agreed to lease 11 737-800's from three different sources for delivery over the next three years bringing its total fleet of the type to 15 examples.

The largest contract is with Air Lease Corporation for six new 737-800's to be handed over between November 2014 and February 2016 on 12-year leases.

Additionally, four new 737-800's leased from CIT Aerospace are due for delivery starting in January 2014. 

One more 737-800, an ex-Air Berlin example, is due to be delivered by AWAS in November of this year.

Sources:

World Airline News 11Apr13: http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/04/11/air-lease-corporation-announces-the-placement-of-six-new-boeing-737-800s-with-aerolineas-argentinas/

Aviacion News 23May13 & 13Jun13:   
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion052313/aviacion052313.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion061313/aviacion061313.html

Stunning Slow-Motion Video Shot at Buenos Aires - Aeroparque - Cesar Meloni

Superb slow-motion video shot at Buenos Aires - Aeroparque by Cesar Meloni.
Well-worth viewing.  

http://vimeo.com/67814853

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas to Receive Four A330-200's in July & August

The first A330-200 to be delivered to Aerolineas Argentinas on lease from ILFC, an ex-Malaysia Airlines airframe, has been spotted at Kuala Lumpur International Airport painted in the Argentine airline's new colors.   

The four aircraft, with registrations 9N-MKW, 9M-MKX, TC-ETK and TC-ECL are expected to be delivered in July and August taking up registrations LV-FNI, LV-FNJ, LV-FNK, and LV-FNL.  The planes will likely replace four older A340-300's.

Sources:  
Aviacion News 
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2013/aviacion061313/aviacion061313.html
World Airline News - http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/06/19/aerolineas-argentinas-to-lease-four-airbus-a330-200s-from-ilfc/

HISTORICAL PHOTOS: Aerochaco / CATA Linea Aerea Fairchild FH-227B, LV-MGV

Shots of Fairchild FH-227B, LV-MGV, c/n 567, in service with the original Aerochaco at an unknown location, probably in the late 1970's or early 1980's and with CATA Linea Aerea at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) in the 1990's or early 2000's. (Both photos Phil Perry collection)

Aerochaco operated from its Resistencia, Chaco base, some 600 miles north of Buenos Aires, to several cities in northern Argentina from 1959 until at least 1984.    

CATA Linea Aerea flew from 1986 to 2006 from Buenos Aires, including Ezeiza (EZE), Aeroparque (AEP) and Moron airports.  Several CATA F.27's / FH-227's are currently stored at Moron.

The pictured aircraft was delivered to Paraense of Brazil in 1967 and went on to fly for AeroChaco in 1978, Aeroposta, ALFA (Aerolineas Federales Argentinas) and CATA which it joined in 1997.  

Sadly, on 26Oct03 the aircraft crashed soon after taking off from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on an early morning cargo flight heading to Corrientes (CNQ).  Cause of the accident was an engine failure soon after takeoff and possible excess weight.  Five crew members lost their lives.  Link to the accident report:

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20031026-0   

Sources: Historias Individuales blog:
             http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/10/lv-mgv-
             fairchild-friendship-fh-227b-cn.html
             Flight International 26Jul80:
             http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-
             %201878.html?search=aerochaco
                   Wikipedia:
             http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CATA_L%C3%ADnea_A%C3%A9rea            

HISTORICAL PHOTO: Pampa Lineas Aereas F-27 CX-BRS

Pampa Lineas Aereas F-27, CX-BRS, c/n 27, was shot at Montevideo (MVD), presumably around 1996 when in service with the airline, and was a very early example of this type having been manufactured in 1958.  (Phil Perry collection)

This aircraft was sub-leased to Lineas Aereas del Este (LADESA) of Paraguay when it was written-off at Ciudad del Este (AGT) in November 1996 due to the no. 2 propeller detaching and damaging the fuselage beyond economical repair but with no loss of life.  The aircraft was stored at Ciudad del Este where it was last noted in 2001.  

Sources:

http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19961199-0