BQB Lays Off / Makes Redundant 55 Workers Apparently due to Argentina Route Denials

BQB Lineas Aereas laid off / made redundant 55 workers last week, apparently due to Argentina route applications that it made being denied by the Argentine government.  The personnel losing their jobs are mostly flight and cabin crew that were to be deployed on new routes, such as to Cordoba (COR).  

The carrier's service plans for August from Montevideo include 14x/weekly flights to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), 6x/weekly to Asuncion (ASU) and 6x/weekly to Porto Alegre (POA).  Flights to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Curitiba (CWB), Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), Santiago (SCL), and Sao Paulo (GRU) are being abandoned, at least for the time being. 

The Uruguayan airline is reportedly also cancelling a lease on an A319 but it is not clear if that is in reference to the sole A319 currently in its fleet or one that was due to arrive later this year. 

Editor's Note:  

The claim that the layoffs are due to Argentina route denials seems doubtful because this is the first that I have heard in at least a couple of years of BQB aspiring to fly to Argentine points beyond Buenos Aires. Also, PLUNA's failure was due in large part to its inability to gain route rights from Argentina that would have enabled the carrier to feed its six Brazilian destinations out of Montevideo (MVD).  It is hard to believe that BQB expected to be approved for the same routes that were denied to PLUNA.

It sounds more like some of BQB's routes have not been as successful as the carrier would have liked, maybe due to slow economic growth in the "Southern Cone" countries and Brazil as Aviacion News pointed out in its 31Jul14 issue, so the carrier is simply scaling back growth to meet demand.     
  
Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140731/avn-140731.html
http://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/bqb-envio-personas-seguro-paro.html
http://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/bqb-seguro-paro-alegando-veto.html
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/viene-mala-para-bqb.html

Former Aerolineas Argentinas 737-236A, LV-ZYG, painted in fantasy "Sudamerican Airlines" scheme for TV show

Former Aerolineas Argentinas 737-236A, LV-ZYG, (c/n 21795/645) was recently painted in a fictitious "Sudamerican Airlines" scheme to appear in an episode of the Argentine TV show "Showmatch" run by Marcelo Tinelli.

The aircraft was retired from Aerolineas service in March 2009 and was later painted in the carrier's newest colors for display at the "Tecnopolis" technological fair.  These colors were modified with orange and the "Aerolineas Argentinas" titles replaced with "Sudamerican Airlines" titles.  

Photos taken in early May 2014 at Moron Airport:

Tomas Basilotta Photo via Linea ALA
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/05/maquillaje-para-el-zyg.html

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/05/las-mil-y-un-casas-del-lv-zyg.html
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/05/maquillaje-para-el-zyg.html
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/06/el-lv-zyg-y-el-peor-vuelo-de-tu-vida.html

Former Aerolineas Argentinas 737-236, LV-ZYG, that was displayed at "Tecnopolis" Fair was moved to Moron Airport & Air Base

Former Aerolineas Argentinas 737-236, LV-ZYG, (c/n 21795/645), the sole Aerolineas 737-200 to be painted in the carrier's newest colors (long after it was retired from service) was recently moved from its display position at the "Tecnopolis" technological fair just north of Buenos Aires to the Moron Airport & Air Base, location of the Argentine National Aviation Museum.  The aircraft's titles were painted over and wings and entire tail assembly removed prior to towing on its own wheels to Moron on 05Apr14.

Once the 737-200 arrived at Moron, it was transferred to the area previously occupied by the now-defunct carrier CATA where it was reassembled to be used in a television show by the popular Argentine TV host Marcelo Tinelli. One would have hoped that the aircraft would be displayed at the museum once the filming was over but Aerolineas Argentinas put the plane up for sale in late June.  

LV-ZYG was first delivered to British Airways on 20Mar80 as G-BGDF where it flew until early 2001 before joining Aerolineas Argentinas on 20Nov01.  It was retired from service and stored in March 2009.   

Photos & Sources:

http://worldairlinenews.com/2013/07/20/aerolineas-argentinas-puts-retired-boeing-737-236-lv-zyg-on-display-at-tecnopolis-in-buenos-aires/
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/04/un-boeing-737-remolque.html
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/04/el-paseo-del-zyg.html

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas offers for sale retired 737-200's and 747-200's

Aerolineas Argentinas recently put up for sale several of its retired 737-200's and 747-200's.  The airline has more than a dozen such aircraft parked at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and other locations with most apparently being too derelict to fly again.  The examples being offered for sale are presumably airworthy or can at least be used for spare parts.

Aircraft were available for viewing at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) between 30Jun14 and 04Jul14 with offers being accepted at Aerolineas' headquarters until 14Jul14.

The specific aircraft are:

LV-MLO 747-287B (c/n 21725/349) delivered to AR on 13Jan79

LV-MLR 747-287B (c/n 21727/404) delivered to AR on 26Oct79

LV-JTO 737-287 (c/n 20537/291) delivered to AR on 23Dec71

LV-ZEC 737-236 (c/n 21796/648) delivered to British Airways on 07Apr80 and joined AR on 23Jun98

LV-ZYG 737-236 (c/n 21795/645) delivered to British Airways on 20Mar80 and joined AR on 20Nov01.  This is the same aircraft that was painted in Aerolineas Argentinas' newest colors, displayed in the Tecnopolis technological fair, moved to the Moron Airport & Air Base and painted in a modified scheme with "Sudamerican Airlines" titles for a TV show.    

LV-ZZI 737-236 (c/n 23166/1067) delivered to British Airways on 13Dec84 and joined AR on 15Jul03

Sources:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/06/tarde-para-juntar-moneditas.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-mlo-boeing-747-287b-cn-21725349.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-mlr-boeing-747-287b-cn-21727404.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-jto-boeing-737-287-cn-20537291.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-zec-boeing-737-236-cn-21796648.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-zyg-boeing-737-236-cn-21795645.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-zzi-boeing-737-236-cn-231661067.html

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of 737-8BK, LV-FRQ, (c/n 41561/4860) on 10Apr14

Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of another 737-800, LV-FRQ, (c/n 41561/4860) on 10Apr14 at Boeing Field near Seattle. WA.  The aircraft departed on it delivery flight that same day to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) via Caracas (CCS).  

This is the ninth 737-800 and 31st 737NG series to join the Aerolineas fleet.

Photo and more details on the aircraft:

http://boeing-test-flights.blogspot.com.ar/2014/04/lv-frq-b737-8bk-aerolineas-argentinas.html

Source:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/04/aerolineas-argentinas-entrega-de-un.html
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas-active-b737ng.htm

ROUTE UPDATES: Macair Jetstream 32P Regional Operations

Macair Jetstream 32P, LV-ZST (c/n 941) rests at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 20Jun14.  (Phil Perry Photo)  

Macair, which is based at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), has flown extensive subservices in the past for two airlines, Lineas Aereas Entre Rios and AeroChaco, based in the Argentine provinces of Entre Rios and Chaco located northwest of Buenos Aires but appears to be currently flying regional Jetstream 32P services in its own right.

Current routes are highlighted by two "triangle" patterns from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Sunchales (NCJ), continuing to Villa Maria (VMR) and back to AEP plus AEP to Goya (OYA), continuing to Reconquista (RCQ) and also back to AEP.  Services are flown only on weekdays catering to business travelers.  

Some simple roundtrips from AEP to Sunchales (NCJ) and Villa Maria (VMR) are also flown.  

Flights to Goya (OYA) and Reconquista (RCQ) were suspended in August 2013 because of the moratorium on regional aircraft with fewer than 30 seats at Aeroparque but the airline gained a waiver to this rule.

Macair has six Jetstreams in its regional fleet; LV-ZOW (c/n 869), LV-ZPW (c/n 861), LV-ZPZ (c/n 931), LV-ZRL (c/n 928), LV-ZSB (c/n 942) and LV-ZST (c/n 941). 

Sources:  

www.aeropuertosarg.com.ar/2014/04/regresan-los-vuelos-de-macair-jet-a-goya-y-reconquista/
www.macairjet.com.ar/vuelos_regionales/
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macair_Jet

BQB Lineas Aereas Cutting Routes, Reducing Some Staff & possibly Canceling A319 Lease

It all started on Wednesday, July 23 when the Uruguayan football / soccer club Defensor Sporting's return flight from Asuncion (ASU) to Montevideo (MVD) after a match was supposedly delayed for weather reasons.  But when the delay became indefinite, concerns started to mount that something more than the weather was at play.  The BQB aircraft did finally arrive the following day to fly the team home but the delay set off a chain of events revealing changes and possibly problems at the airline.

While BQB has announced the arrival of three A319's and the introduction of many new services from Montevideo (MVD) the last few months, only one such aircraft has arrived and only a handful of the destinations are currently served; Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Asuncion (ASU), Curitiba (CWB), and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU).  Destinations that have seen service suspended include Porto Alegre (POA), Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) and Santiago (SCL).  Furthermore, it appears that Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE), Curitiba (CWB), and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) will be dropped, though Porto Alegre (POA) will apparently be added back on.  

Additionally, 12 pilots have been laid off / made redundant, at least on a temporary basis.  There have been rumors that the A319 lease has been cancelled but that is uncertain.  The Uruguayan newspaper El Pais quotes sources at the airline as saying that the carrier is not having financial problems but is merely adapting to "changed circumstances".  Both claims appear to be plausible as BQB is part of the Buquebus group that operates very successful ferry services between Argentina and Uruguay plus certain destinations out of BQB's Montevideo base are becoming more competitive, such as Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) where TAM is adding substantial new service.

Sources:

http://www.subrayado.com.uy/Site/noticia/35538/defensor-varado-en-asuncion-no-saben-cuando-vuelven
http://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/bqb-reformula-plan-negocios-recorta.html
http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/zonas-del-portal/editorial/item/18600-bqb-reduce-destinos-de-su-malla-compartimos-bqb-%C2%BFcapricho-de-l%C3%B3pez-mena?
http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/zonas-del-portal/primera-plana/item/18603-bqb-est%C3%A1-intentando-cambiar

ROUTE UPDATES: BQB Lineas Aereas - Growing Route Network

BQB Lineas Aereas of Uruguay, owned by the Buquebus Ferry Lines, has been growing steadily in the last few years, especially since the collapse of PLUNA in July 2012.   

Starting with two ATR-72-212A's, CX-JCL (c/n 805) and CX-JPL (c/n 816), in early 2010, the airline added two more ATR-72's, CX-LFL (c/n 570) and CX-POS (c/n 636) in 2013 plus a Vueling A320 that operated for four months with BQB in late 2013 / early 2014 prior to being replaced on 10May14 with an A319, CX-SAN (c/n 1703) leased from Air Lease Corporation.  

As of late March 2014, BQB operated the following routes and frequencies: 

Montevideo (MVD) to:

ARGENTINA:

Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - 14 weekly flights with ATR-72
Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - 7 weekly flights with ATR-72

BRAZIL:

Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - 5 weekly flights with A320 
Rio de Janeiro (GIG) - 5 weekly flights with A320
Porto Alegre (POA) - 6 weekly flights with ATR-72
Curitiba (CWB) - 5 weekly flights with ATR-72

CHILE:

Santiago (SCL) - 6 weekly flights with A320

PARAGUAY:

Asuncion (ASU) - 6 weekly flights with A320

Sources:

www.aeropuertosarg.com.ar/2014/03/que-rutas-opera-bqb-lineas-aereas-actualmente/

www.airfleets.net/flottecie/BQB%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm

ex-Austral MD-83, LV-BHN, (c/n 53190) crashes in Mali flying with Swiftair for Air Algerie as EC-LTV

ex-Austral MD-83 (c/n 53190) that crashed in Mali on 24Jul14 while flying with Swiftair on a wet-lease to Air Algerie.  Photo was taken at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 05Sep10.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Sources:

http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/07/se-extravio-un-ex-austral.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-md80-53190.htm
http://edition.cnn.com/

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas finally started 2nd A330 flight from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA) in July

Aerolineas Argentinas announced in late March that it would delay the start of a second A330-200 flight from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA) from 01May14 until 01Jun14.  Checking the website www.flightstats.com, as of 01Jul14 the carrier still operated one flight each with the A330 and A340 on the route but as of 23Jul14 both flights were operated with the A330. 

Sources:

http://airlineroute.net/2014/03/24/ar-mia-may14/ via Eric Trum
www.flightstats.com

FLEET UPDATE: BQB Lineas Aereas recieved its first A319, CX-SAN, on 09May14

This is a photo of Vueling A320, EC-JTQ, (c/n 2794) apparently photoshopped with the BQB colors since it is not the one that the airline leased from Vueling earlier this year.  (Photo: BQB)  

BQB's first A319-132, CX-SAN, (c/n 1703) arrived in Montevideo (MVD) on 11May14 on delivery from Bordeaux. France (BOD), via Espargos, Ilha do Sal, Cape Verde (SID) and Recife, Brazil (REC).  
The aircraft, which is on lease from Air Lease Corporation, was first delivered to TAM on 31May02 as PR-MAI with which it flew until December 2013 when it was stored until recently.

BQB was expecting to make good use of the new aircraft, especially with its 144 all-economy class seating for charters to the Uruguayan soccer team games at the World Cup in Brazil.   

Photo of CX-SAN at Ilha do Sal (SID) on 09May14:

http://aeronavescx.blogspot.com.ar/search?updated-max=2014-05-11T10:22:00-07:00

Sources:

http://aeronavescx.blogspot.com.ar/search?updated-max=2014-05-11T10:22:00-07:00
http://aeronavescx.blogspot.com.ar/2014/05/llegada-del-cx-san-carrasco-hoy-1148-am.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140515/avn-140515.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a319-1703.htm

American Airlines 777-200 inbound to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 14Jul14 diverts to Mendoza (MDZ)

American Airlines 777-223ER, N778AN, (c/n 29587/223) scheduled to arrive at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) from Miami (MIA) on 14Jul14 diverted to Mendoza (MDZ) due to fog at EZE and also at the usual alternate airports of Montevideo (MVD) and Cordoba (COR).  Even Rosario (ROS), which would be a possible alternate was fogged in.   

As a result, the 777-200 diverted to Mendoza (MDZ) some 700 miles (1120km) due west of Buenos Aires along the Andes mountains near the Chilean border. The aircraft arrived at MDZ at 09:57am and did not depart until 12:31am of 15Jul14 finally arriving at EZE at 1:15am. The long delay was presumably due to flight crew rest regulations.

Photo of N778AZ at Mendoza (MDZ) (scroll down):

http://todalaaviacion.blogspot.com.ar/2014/07/galeria-fotografica-aviones-avistados.html

Sources:

http://todalaaviacion.blogspot.com.ar/2014/07/galeria-fotografica-aviones-avistados.html
http://todalaaviacion.blogspot.com.ar/2014/07/galeria-fotografica-aviones-avistados.html