Argentina Airline News, Photography & Spotting

Monday, September 9, 2013

FLEET UPDATE: Austral ERJ-190; Two New Deliveries Pending, One to be in Skyteam Colors

The two newest ERJ-190's for Austral, full designation is Embraer 190AR (ERJ-190-100IGW), are expected to be delivered to Argentina in the next couple of months. They are:

(c/n 19000639) with Brazilian registration PR-ECH, to be LV-FPS painted in Skyteam colors with "delivery" expected on 16Sep13, arrival at Buenos Aires Aeropatque (AEP) on 27Sep13 and entry into service on 07Oct13.

Photos of this aircraft undergoing flight tests in Brazil from the the excellent blog Linea ALA:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/09/el-lv-fps-realizando-vuelos-de-prueba.html

(c/n 19000640) with Brazilian registration PR-ECI, to be LV-FPT with expected "delivery" on 14Oct13, arrival at Buenos Aires Aeropatque (AEP) on 15Oct13 and entry into service on 04Nov13.

Sources: http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/08/los-dos-nuevos-embraer-
  190-de-austral.html
  http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/08/los-dos-nuevos-embraer-
  190-de-austral_20.html

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

LAN Argentina Hangar Dispute - Arguments For & Against

The dispute over LAN Argentina's hangar at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) stirred much debate during the week of August 26-30 with arguments both for and against the measure.

Arguments:

Pro-Eviction

* Minister of Transport Florencio Randazzo explained the eviction as part of the Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) master plan put together in 2010 to reorganize the facility, including the use of its hangars, to accommodate growth of 100,000 passengers per month, with 850 million pesos (US$ 150 million at the official exchange rate) being invested in the project.

* LAN Argentina operated out of AEP for three years, from 2005-2008, without the hangar so why is it so important now ?

* The hangar is not essential to LAN Argentina's operation, it can still operate in the country using hangars at other airports, such as Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).

* LAN Argentina has had special privileges not given to other airlines, such as discounted jet bridge access at AEP and handling services from ground operator InterCargo so it should not complain about the inconvenience of vacating the hangar.

* LAN Argentina limits its flying in Argentina to fourteen profitable city pairs, while Aerolineas Argentinas flies many more routes, many of which are to unprofitable smaller cities, another reason why LAN Argentina should not complain about abandoning the hangar.

Anti-Eviction

* The airline invested US$ 5 million in building the hangar and pays US$ 20,000 rent plus it has a contract with the airport for its use until 2023.

* The airline actually did have a hangar that it rented at AEP from 2005-2008 prior to occupying its own hangar.

* While LAN Argentina could use a hangar at EZE, ten of its twelve aircraft are based at AEP and ferrying them to EZE would incur costs and aircraft downtime that would have a significant financial impact on its operation.

Blog Editor's Comments:

LAN Argentina gets no subsidies while Aerolineas Argentinas gets US$ 1 billion per year. Compare this to the Essential Air Service program in the United States that subsidizes airline service at 112 airports on 150+ routes that totaled US$ 170 million in 2012. Why does Aerolineas need six times as much money to subsidize flights to just a few dozen cities at best ?

The Argentine government seems intent on forcing LAN to leave Argentina. The hangar situation is only the latest measure that it has taken to make the company's Argentine operation more costly and difficult. For a summary of some of these (and also multiple measures against other airlines) see the following blog entry from 20Dec12:

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/argentine-government-multiple.html

LAN operates divisions in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru without encountering the same difficulties in those countries. The airline employs some 3,000 people in Argentina creating economic activity and paying taxes. Why the adversarial approach to this company ?

Sources: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1612595-el-gobierno-dio-ultimatum-de-
  10-dias-a-lan-para-que-deje-el-aeroparque-jorge-newbery
http://www.infonews.com/2013/08/21/sociedad-93336-lan-las-
  privatizaciones-y-una-historia-de-privilegios-en-el-aire.php
http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-227432-2013-08-
  23.html
http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-227433-2013-08-
  23.html
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1614043-lan-va-a-la-justicia-y-critica-
  al-programa-678
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1615274-se-queda-lan-pero-exigen-que-
  aerolineas-opere-en-chile-y-brasil
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_Air_Service

Monday, September 2, 2013

LAN Argentina Aeroparque Hangar Dispute Continues

LAN Argentina A320, LV-BRY, rotates at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 03Oct10. (Phil Perry Photo)

The dispute between LAN Argentina and the Argentine government over the airline's hangar at Buenos Aeroparque (AEP) has been suspended indefinitely after a tumultuous week of events stemming from the government order issued on Tuesday, 20Aug13 for the company to abandon the hangar by Thursday, 29Aug13. The week unfolded as follows:

Monday, August 26:

* LAN Argentina filed a request with the courts that the order be suspended.

* The government television program 6,7,8 referred to LAN Argentina as the "flagship airline of the opposition" in reference to those opposed to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. LAN Argentina Public Affairs spokesman Agustin Agraz criticized this remark noting that all of LAN Argentina's employees are Argentine and that the airline wants to keep growing and hiring employees.

* Two unions, the APTA (Association of Aeronautical Technical Personnel) and ATCPEA (Flight Attendants Union), protested the government order inside the Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) terminal and also by partially blocking the major roadway outside the airport known as the "Costanera".

ATCPEA spokesman Ricardo Cirielli indicated that the union would shut down air transportation in Argentina on Thursday, 29Aug13 with a strike affecting all the domestic airlines and even international flights because the air traffic controllers would participate in the action too.

The goal of the measure was for the government to suspend the hangar eviction notice.

* The head of ORSNA (National Airport Regulatory Agency), Gustavo Lipovich, indicated that if LAN Argentina did not abandon the hangar, the government would start legal proceedings against the company but that there would be no forced eviction.

* Perfil.com reported that the government is willing to let LAN Argentina continue using the AEP hangar until it can move to EZE. It even offered the airline the possibility of more international route rights but LAN Argentina rejected the idea.

Wednesday, August 28:

* The Argentine justice dept. issued a restraining order prohibiting the government from forcibly evicting the airline from its hangar giving the government five days to "provide an update on the situation". One of the reasons cited for issuing the order was that LAN Argentina was not given enough time to state its case against it.

Thursday, August 29:

* Argentine Minister of Transport Florencio Randazzo stated that "we do not want to throw any airline out of Argentina" and indicated that the government had requested the Chilean and Brazilian authorities (LAN is part of LATAM, a Chilean and Brazilian airline holding company) reciprocal rights for Aerolineas Argentinas to be able to operate domestically in those countries.

* The Chilean government replied that Aerolineas is free to operate in Chile and did so with its affiliate Aerolineas del Sur for several years in the 2000's but closed it voluntarily in 2008.

* Argentine Vice Minister of the Economy Axel Kicillof met with LAN Airlines President Ignacio Cueto in Buenos Aires, where among other things, he asked Cueto to produce a technical report explaining why LAN Argentina could not operate in Argentina without the Aeroparque hangar.

* LAN's Cueto claims that it would be very "viable" for Aerolineas Argentinas to operate in Chile and that it is fairly "fast and simple" to get authorized to do so.

Friday, August 30:

* Aerolineas Argentinas President Mariano Recalde replied to the claims of the Chilean government and Cueto that it would be easy for Aerolineas to operate in Chile by saying that LAN is famous for "dumping airfares" in the markets it operates to eliminate competition.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Turkish Airlines to operate Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Istanbul (IST) Non-Stop ?

Turkish Airlines increased its Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - Istanbul (IST) service from 4x/weekly to daily on 02Jul13 with a change in aircraft type from the the 777-300ER's (that it started the route with on 11Dec12) to A340-300's. Turkish will reportedly revert to 777-300ER's on 02Oct13.

In other news, reader Andreas Fliflet reports that the Turkish Airlines website allows EZE-GRU and GRU-IST bookings but not EZE-IST on select dates in January, suggesting that the airline might be getting their CRS ready to take EZE-IST non-stop bookings, which would be consistent with the carrier's recent talk of introducing 2x/daily non-stops between EZE and IST in the next couple of years.

Alternatively, the airline could be reducing frequencies out of EZE. Finally, this could all be CRS anomalies while they reset schedules but the possibility of non-stop flights is interesting.

Sources: Andreas Fliflet
http://info.flightmapper.net/route/YY_GRU_IST

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Will the ANAC Attend ?

Las Vegas, Nevada will host the 19th annual World Air Routes 2013 convention from October 5-8, where representatives of airports the world over will gather to make presentations to some 3000 airline representatives from over 100 countries to try to convince them to start service to their destinations.

Question is: Will the ANAC (Argentine Civil Aviation Directorate) or representatives from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) attend to try to draw new airline service to Argentina ? I think the answer is "No, definitely not" !

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas A330 & A340 Pending Deliveries

* AIRBUS A330's:

Delivery of the four A330's that Aerolineas Argentinas was supposed to receive in July and August has been postponed with the first two now due to arrive in August and September. They are:

A330-223 (c/n 290) to be re-registered LV-FNI, presently parked at Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and due to arrive at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) approx. 13Aug13.

A330-223 (c/n 300) to be re-registered LV-FNJ, also presently parked at KUL and due to arrive at EZE approx. 15Sep13.

The blog "Aviones en Ezeiza" reports that these aircraft will almost certainly be used first on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Bogota (BOG), Caracas (CCS) and Cancun (CUN) routes until they become ETOPS-certified when they will be able to fly transoceanic routes.

* AIRBUS A340's:

Two A340's are expected to be delivered in the next couple of months too replacing some of the ones that have been departing the Aerolineas fleet:

A340-313X (c/n 193) to be re-registered LV-FPV is currently parked at Brussels (BRU) and is expected to be delivered sometime after 15Sep13. It has already been painted in Skyteam colors featuring a silver fuselage.

A340-313X (c/n 170) to be re-registered LV-FPU is parked at Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) and is scheduled to be delivered after 01Oct13.

Sources: http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/aerolineas-argentinas-

proximas.html
http://avionesenezeiza.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/lv-fnj-aerolineas-
argentinas.html

Sunday, August 25, 2013

ROUTE UPDATE: AeroMexico Receives first 787; Buenos Aires Dreamliner Service expected in March 2014

AeroMexico's first 787-8, N961AM, (c/n 35306) arrived in Mexico City (MEX) on its delivery flight on 16Aug13.

The type will enter service on 23Sep13 between Mexico City (MEX) and Monterrey (MTY) with international service set to debut from MEX to New York City (JFK) on 24Sep13, followed by Tokyo Narita (NRT) on 14Oct13 and Paris on 24Oct13.

Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) will start on 20Mar14 to be followed by London Heathrow (LHR) and Madrid (MAD) later that year.

AeroMexico has a total of 19 787's on order including nine of the 787-8 model and ten of the 787-9 longer-range "stretched" model (20 ft. longer than the 787-8).

Sources: Aviacion News 15Aug13
http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/08/17/aeromexico-takes-delivery-
of-its-first-boeing-787-8/

Thursday, August 22, 2013

LAN Argentina Ordered to Abandon Hangar at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP); May Cease Argentina Operations

The website of Argentine newspaper La Nacion reports that LAN Argentina received a letter from the Argentine government agency ORSNA - Organismo Regulador del Sistema Nacional de Aeropuertos (National Airport Regulation Agency) on Monday, August 20 ordering the company to abandon its hangar at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) within 10 days, putting in doubt the company's continued operations in Argentina as LAN claims that without the hangar to service its aircraft its Aeroparque flights and Argentine domestic flights, in general, would become unviable.

This letter is based on an order issued in late 2012 that was to take effect 01Aug13 effectively banning commercial operations from Aeroparque by any Argentine airline other than Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral.

This is the latest chapter in a long-running conflict between the Argentine government and LAN Argentina where the government has repeatedly enforced measures that have been disadvantageous to the carrier's operations in the country. See blog entry from 20Dec12:

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2012/12/argentine-government-multiple.html

Agustin Agraz, LAN Argentina Director of Corporate Relations, said that the airline will "Resort to the courts to enforce our rights. We have a signed contract for the hangar and our maintenance base until 2023 with an investment of US$ 5,000,000 and a monthly payment of US$ 20,000." Asked if the situation could result in employee layoffs, Agraz said that "without the hangar, LAN Argentina's operation is unviable" and added "If they take the hangar away from us we will be obligated to stop flying to the 14 destinations in Argentina (that the airline currently serves)".

The seriousness of the situation is underscored by the fact that LAN's CEO, Ignacio Cueto, interrupted a trip to Colombia to inaugurate the country's first biofuel flight to fly to Argentina to negotiate with airport authorities.

It will be interesting to see if the police show up at Aeroparque in ten days to forcibly remove LAN from the hangar.

Source: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1612595-el-gobierno-dio-ultimatum-de-
10-dias-a-lan-para-que-deje-el-aeroparque-jorge-newbery

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas Fleet Reductions in Recent & Coming Weeks

In addition to the recent sale of six ex-Austral / Aerolineas Argentinas MD-80's there have been or will be a number of other fleet reductions by Aerolineas soon:

737-528, LV-AZU, (c/n 25235/2428) departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on return to its owner on 13Jul13 arriving in San Antonio (SAT) two days later. The aircraft had flown for Aerolineas since 2004 after having been originally delivered to Air France in 1993.

737-528, LV-AYI, (c/n 25234/2411) had the U.S. registration N261SC reserved for it and was to leave Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) in late July or early August. This is also an ex-Air France aircraft which was delivered to the French carrier in 1993 and passed on to Aerolineas in 2004.

A340-313, LV-BIT, (c/n 93), was recently spotted at EZE painted all-white with no titles and is expected to be returned to its owners during August. This aircraft was delivered to Air Canada in 1995 and operated with BWIA and Caribbean Airlines before entering service with Aerolineas in 2007.

A340-312, LV-BMT, (c/n 48) is slated to leave the fleet in October 2013. This plane was delivered to Air Mauritius in 1994 and saw service with Air Jamaica and Air Canada before joining the Aerolineas fleet in 2007.

Updates on the whereabouts of a couple of former Aerolineas aircraft:

737-5Y0, ex-LV-BEO on its way to Ecuador (Phil Perry Photo)

737-5Y0, ex-LV-BDV also going to Ecuador (Phil Perry Photo)

Two 737-5Y0's, ex-LV-BEO (c/n 25176/2155) and ex-LV-BDV (c/n 24900/2095) are being prepared in Tucson, Arizona, USA for delivery to the Ecuadorean airline Sudamericana.

737-236, ex-LV-ZIE, (c/n 21978/658) will join the fleet of the Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana with military registration FAE-630.

Sources: http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/el-boeing-737-528-ex-lv-
  azu.html
  http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/aerolineas-argentinas-
  otro-que-se.html
  http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/08/un-airbus-340-para-
  devolver.html
  http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/08/dos-que-se-fueron-
  ecuador.html
  http://www.airfleets.net

Monday, August 19, 2013

United States of America C-40C (737-700) at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 11Aug13

An unusual spotting at Aeroparque on Sunday 11Aug13 was this U.S. government C-40C BBJ (737-7CP), marking 05-0730 (c/n 34807/1908), presumably bringing a high-ranking government official to Argentina.

http://aerar.blogspot.com.ar/2013/08/usaf-en-aeroparque.html

Saturday, August 17, 2013

FLEET UPDATE: Six ex-Austral & Aerolineas Argentinas MD-80's Sold

Six former Austral and Aerolineas Argentinas MD-80 Series aircraft were auctioned off on 19Jul13:

Austral MD-83 LV-BEG, (c/n 49630)
Austral MD-83 LV-BGZ, (c/n 49906)
Austral MD-83 LV-WGM, (c/n 49784)
Austral MD-83 LV-WGN, (c/n 49934)

Aerolineas Argentinas MD-83, LV-VAG, (c/n 53117)
Aerolineas Argentinas MD-88, LV-VBZ, (c/n 53049)

Air Capital Group of Miami bought the aircraft, which were reportedly to leave Argentina during August bearing American registrations. The selling price has been kept private between the airline and the buyer.

Checking the company's website, http://www.air-capital.com/aerothrust.html, its AeroThrust division specializes in engineering work on the JT8D engine (the type used on the MD-80 Series) so its acquisition of the AU/AR MD-80's is presumably for their engines with the airframes possibly to be used for spares and/or scrapped.

Most of the above aircraft, including LV-BEG, LV-WGM, and LV-VAG have been parked at the San Juan (UAQ) Argentina airport for at least a year, with LV-WGN resting at Jujuy (JUJ) and LV-BGZ at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).

One other MD-80, LV-VBX, (c/n 53407) continues parked at San Juan (UAQ) not available for immediate sale apparently due to legal reasons.

Austral MD-83, LV-BGZ at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP)

resplendent in the carrier's new colors on 26May12

LV-BGZ is unique among these aircraft in that it was the only one painted in Austral's new colors and it underwent a major check only a few weeks before being retired from service, having reportedly operated a few scheduled flights in the new colors.

Sources: http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/se-vendieron-los-md-de-
austral-y.html
http://www.airfleets.net/home/

Saturday, August 3, 2013

HISTORICAL PHOTO: Aero Sur Servicios Aereos 727-200 & Brief History of Unusual 727's in Argentina

Aero Sur 727-200, N373PA (c/n 20678/931) at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) in 1994. (Phil Perry Collection)

Aero Sur Servicios Aereos operated two 727-200's briefly in 1994, presumably on charter services. The pictured aircraft, N373PA, was due to be re-registered as LV-WFC but this was not taken up. A second aircraft, N376PA (c/n 20169/743) was re-registered as LV-WDS.

Most 727-100's and 200's that flew in Argentina were operated by Aerolineas Argentinas in their full colors with a few notable exceptions:

Aerolineas leased two 727-256's, LV-VFL/EC-CBL (c/n 20606/397) and LV-VFM/EC-CBM (c/n 20607/943), from Iberia during the two-month southern hemisphere summer in late 1992 / early 1993 which it flew in Iberia's full colors and titles. A third 727-200, LV-VFJ/EC-CAJ (c/n 20593/883) was leased-in and presumably also carried the Spanish airline's colors and titles.

Aerolineas also flew 727-233, C-GAAJ, (c/n 20941/1128) for two months in 1993 in the full Air Canada colors of the time but with the Canadian carrier's titles and the maple leaf logo removed from the tail.

One of the more unusual 727-200's to fly in Argentina was Aviogenex 727-243, YU-AKM (c/n 22702/1814) in the Yugoslavian airline's full colors and titles under lease to Aerolineas for the three month summer period 12/86 to 3/87.

Two other airlines operated 727's in Argentina, Dinar flew 727-22, OB-1570 (c/n 19153/508) in its own full colors and titles on lease from Aero Continente from 12/95 to 2/96 and STAF (Servicios Transportes Aereos Fueginos) leased 727-023F, HK-3667X (c/n 19430/366) from Aerosucre for a time in the mid-1990's.

The above information is from the excellent blog covering the history of individual aircraft operated in commercial service in Argentina featuring some very rare and interesting photos.

Source: Historias Individuales blog

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search/label/Boeing%20727?max-results=20