FLEET UPDATE: Several Aerolineas Argentinas A340-211's left the fleet in recent months

A340-312, LV-BMT (c/n 48), which had left Aerolineas service in November 2013 was scrapped at the Goodyear, Arizona airport in July.  The aircraft entered service in 1994 with Air Mauritius and also flew with Air Jamaica and Air Canada before joining Aerolineas in 2007.    

A340-211, LV-ZPX (c/n 80), flew from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Victorville (VCV) airport in California on 13Aug14.  The aircraft had been stored at EZE since May 2014 in basic Aerolineas colors but without titles.  This aircraft is noteworthy for having operated the last Aerolineas Argentinas service to Sydney (SYD) on 01Apr14 and some unusual charters, such as the high-level Argentine government group to Vietnam on 26Oct12.   
     
A340-211, LV-ZPJ (c/n 74) left Argentina on 21Aug14 to Victorville having been stored since May 2014.  

A340-211, LV-ZPO (c/n 63) flew its last commercial service for Aerolineas on 05Sep14 and wasted no time in leaving Argentina for Victorville on 08Sep14. The timing of the aircraft's retirement was reportedly due to its requiring a major check, an expensive procedure which would have been uneconomical taking into consideration the aircraft's age and reduced market value.   

A340-211, LV-ZRA (c/n 85), the last of the four A340-200 series taken delivery of by Aerolineas in 1999, was stored in March 2014 and is reportedly still parked at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).  

All four of the above A340-211's were delivered to Cathay Pacific in 1994/95 and flew for Philippine Airlines prior to joining the Aerolineas fleet in 1999.  They are being replaced on Aerolineas' long-haul routes by A330's.  There are few A340-200 series left in service worldwide.  
Aerolineas still operates several A340-300 series and there have been rumors during the last year that one A340 would be retained for use by the Fuerza Aerea Argentina, presumably in a VIP transport role.

This blog's editor thanks Linea ALA for the complete information on the recent movements of the above aircraft.

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/adios-un-airbus-340.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/se-fue-otro-mas.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/varias-de-aerolineas-argentinas.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/09/aerolineas-argentinas-novedades.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2011/01/airbus-340-en-aerolineas-argentinas.html
http://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/sigue-el-exodo-de-los-a340.html
http://www.airfleets.net/home/

Alas Uruguay: Continues to Organize, Receiving One 737-300 in December

Alas Uruguay, the airline being started by former PLUNA employees, continues to organize with the start-up reportedly being in the second of five steps of certification by the Uruguayan Civil Aviation Directorate (DINACIA - Direccion Nacional de Aviacion Civil e Infraestructura Aeronautica) as of October.  

The carrier is said to have leased one 134/138-seat 737-300 from Ukraine with up to three more expected from the U.S.  The first example, reportedly UR-GAN (c/n 28569/2996) and currently operating with Ukraine International Airlines, is due in Montevideo (MVD) on December 15.  Typical lease payments for this type of aircraft range from US$ 80,000 - 130,000 monthly. 

Alas plans to start with charter flights followed by scheduled services to some of the former destinations operated to by PLUNA, some of which are currently served by BQB Lineas Aereas. These would include Asuncion, Paraguay, Santiago, Chile and several Brazilian points, including Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, but the "make-or-break" route for Alas will be the highly-profitable "Air Bridge" between Montevideo (MVD) and Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).  Alas considers itself the successor airline to PLUNA and appears to be assuming that it will inherit the latter's route rights but some of the MVD-AEP slots have been granted to BQB, albeit on a temporary basis, while most of them have been taken over by Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral.  Taking the rights from BQB will presumably not be easy and negotiating with the Argentine authorities will be even more difficult. 

Alas' marketing strategy remains to be seen and will largely depend on the routes it operates but there has been talk of agreements with the Amadeus and SABRE global distribution systems.  

The carrier is being organized as a cooperative starting with 50 employees with eventual plans for 225 staff.  Start-up funding will come primarily from a US$ 15 million loan from the FONDES Uruguayan government development fund to be granted in five installments subject to the carrier meeting performance goals. The fund has already handed over the first installment of US$ 400,000.  The government has also declared Alas Uruguay to be of "national interest" qualifying the airline for tax exemptions.
    

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140731/avn-140731.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141002/avn-141002.html
http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/287801/alas-uruguay-arrendo-un-avion-que-llegara-el-15-de-diciembre/
http://www.elpais.com.uy/economia/gente-negocios/alas-uruguay-despegara-vuelos-charters.html
http://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/alas-uruguay-despega-bendicion-mujica.html
http://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/alas-uruguay-anuncio-que-empezara.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn141016/avn-141016.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737-28569.htm

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of three new 737-800's, LV-FUB, LV-FQZ and LV-FUC, between August and November

Boeing delivered the following three aircraft to Aerolineas Argentinas between August and November of this year: 

737-8HX, LV-FUB (c/n 39893/5056) was delivered on 29Aug14.

737-8BK, LV-FQZ (c/n 41563/5086) departed Boeing Field (BFI) near Seattle on 23Sep14 and overnighted in Caracas (CCS) before arriving at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on the afternoon of 24Sep14.

737-8SH, LV-FUC (c/n 41347/5169) was delivered to Aerolineas at Boeing Field (BFI) on 19Nov14, also flying via Caracas (CCS) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) arriving the next day. This aircraft is being leased from Air Lease Corporation.

With these three aircraft, Aerolineas now has 22 737-700's and 14 737-800's in its fleet. 

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/11/llega-un-nuevo-avion-para-aerolineas.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/varias-de-aerolineas-argentinas.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2014/09/dos-nuevos-que-llegan.html
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas-active-737ng.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas was set to increase its flights between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Lima (LIM) to 10x/week

Aerolineas Argentinas was set to increase its flights between Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Lima (LIM) to 10x/week effective 01Sep14 using 737-700's and -800's.

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140703/avn-140703.html  

PHOTO GALLERY: Argentine Fokker F-28's - #4 of 10+ - Aerolineas Argentinas LV-LRG (c/n 11046)

Aerolineas Argentinas F-28 Mk-1000, LV-LRG, (c/n 11046) at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).  (Phil Perry Collection)

LV-LRG was originally delivered to Germanair on 10Mar72 as D-AGAB being transferred to Aerolineas Argentinas as LV-LRG four years later on 24Mar76.
Like sistership LV-LOC (c/n 11083), LV-LRG was scheduled to join the fleet of Austral in August 1991 and SASA (Sudamericana de Aviacion S.A.) in April 1994 but neither transfer was completed.  The aircraft was broken up in June 1996. 
     
Source:

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/04/lv-lrg-fokker-f-28-fellowship-mk-1000.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Amaszonas of Bolivia was scheduled to extend Santa Cruz (VVI) - Asuncion (ASU) service to Montevideo (MVD) 3x/weekly

Amaszonas of Bolivia was scheduled to increase Santa Cruz (VVI) - Asuncion (ASU) service from 4x/weekly to daily and extend three of those flights to Montevideo (MVD) during the past southern hemisphere winter but has still not implemented the changes as of this writing on 14Oct14.  Aircraft to be used would come from Amaszonas seven-strong 50-seat CRJ-200 fleet. 

Bolivia and Uruguay have been without a direct air connection since at least 2007 when Lloyd Aereo Boliviano ceased operations.   

Sources:

http://www.amaszonas.com/ http://airlineroute.net/2014/04/23/z8-asumvd-jul14/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140501/avn-140501.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140703/avn-mn-140703/avn-mn-140703.html
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Amaszonas-active-crj.htm

PHOTO GALLERY: Argentine Fairchild Metros - #7 of 20+ - LV-RBR (c/n AC-416)

Alas Rionegrinas Fairchild Swearingen SA-227-AC Metro III, LV-RBR, (c/n AC-416) at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) sometime in the 1990's.  (Phil Perry Collection)

Metro AC-416 was first delivered to Midstate Airlines of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, USA (near Chicago) as N177MA in 1981 and operated with the commuter airline until its closing in 1989 after which it flew as a company plane for a couple of corporate operators before finally joining SAPSE (Servicios Aereos Patagonicos, S.E.), parent of Alas Rionegrinas as LV-RBR in 1991.  

AC-416 operated with Alas Rionegrinas until its closing in 1997 and its last known location was Viedma (VDM) in derelict condition.

Photo of this aircraft operating for Midstate Airlines at Chicago O'Hare (ORD) as N177AM in August 1986:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Midstate-Airlines/Fairchild-Swearingen-SA-227AC/0004822/L/&sid=94f4f0368bca1056966d694ed3ea6525

Source:

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/11/lv-rbr-fairchildswearingen-sa-226-metro.html

EDITORIAL: Potential Boeing 787 Routes to Argentina & Uruguay

With the ever-increasing number of Boeing 787's being delivered to airlines, new routes are opening up worldwide that were previously economically unviable due to limited demand, such as Boston (BOS) - Tokyo Narita (NRT) by Japan Air Lines and Boston (BOS) - Beijing (PEK) operated by Hainan Airlines.

The 787 is ideal for long-range routes with limited passenger traffic that until recently could only be operated by larger and less fuel-efficient airliners, such as the 767-300ER, A340-500, 747-400, etc., but that were too large for the amount of demand on such routes. 

Thinking of Argentina and Uruguay, several routes come to mind that are now served on a limited basis, less efficiently than they could be, or not served at all.      

Montevideo (MVD) - Miami (MIA) is currently flown by American Airlines with 767-300's daily in the southern hemisphere summer and 6x/weekly the rest of the year but could probably be served much more efficiently and profitably with the 787 as there are probably many dates when the present flights are not very full. 

Montevideo (MVD) - Madrid (MAD) service was dropped by Iberia in 2013 and picked up by Air Europa with Iberia currently scheduled to restart service.  If the 787 were flown on this route the service would probably be more profitable and stable and less marginal like it is now which has resulted in airlines adding/dropping the route.      

Cordoba (COR) - Miami (MIA) would be an ideal route for American Airlines with 787's.  Indeed, American was seriously looking to start this route in the early 2000's but put these plans on hold after the 2001 Argentine economic crisis.  Cordoba, with a population of 1.2 million people, is Argentina's second-largest city after Buenos Aires and is known for its universities, extensive farming and its manufacturing industry, especially automobiles.  It is also located in Argentina's geographic center with important cities nearby, such as Rosario, the nation's third-largest city which would probably provide passenger traffic to Miami flights from Cordoba. 

Cordoba (COR) - Madrid (MAD) was flown by Iberia with A340's for 15 months until January 2012 but the Spanish carrier dropped the route due to lack of aircraft and marginal profitability despite good passenger loads.  Air Europa would like to start this route through a connecting hub that it is planning to establish in Salvador, Brazil (SSA) for flights from Madrid to several South American cities but it has yet to gain approval from the Argentine aviation authorities.  This route would be ideal on a non-stop basis with the more fuel-efficient 787 probably being a lot more profitable and sustainable than the A340 was.

ROUTE UPDATE: Austral was set to introduce Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Florianopolis (FLN) Daily Service

Austral Lineas Aereas was set to introduce daily Embraer 190 service from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Florianopolis, Brazil (FLN) in August.  Sister airline Aerolineas Argentinas reportedly currently operates 1x/weekly service from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Florianopolis, Brazil (FLN) on Saturdays using 737-700's. 

The new service was scheduled to depart Ezeiza at 23:30 arriving at FLN in the early morning and arriving back in EZE at 04:20 thus putting the aircraft to use generating revenue when normally it would be parked overnight.

However, www.flightstats.com does not show either flight operating on any day of the week as of the day of this post.  

The new flights will see an increase of the Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral group's presence in Brazil which currently consists of 88 weekly flights.

Source:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140501/avn-140501.html          

PHOTO GALLERY: Argentine Fairchild Metros - #6 of 20+ - LV-MGF (c/n TC-253-201)

LAPA Fairchild Swearingen SA-226TC Metro II, LV-MGF, (c/n TC-253-201) in August 1979, apparently at an airport in Florida, USA.  (Phil Perry Collection)  

This aircraft first flew in 1978 and served with LAPA (Lineas Aereas Privadas Argentinas) for only one year before joining Inland Empire Airlines of California and eventually going on to fly for Britt Airways, Air Vantage and Superior Aviation.  Its last known operator was in 2009 where it flew for Carson Air of Canada as a freighter.

Photo of TC-253-201 flying for Inland Empire with registration N5457M in 1982. Note the similarity in paint scheme to LAPA:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Inland-Empire-Airlines/Swearingen-SA-226TC-Metro/1291631/L/&sid=b59c9f9540e9ffdb5ef63370535069ee

Photo flying for Britt Airways in 1989:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Britt-Airways/Swearingen-SA-226TC-Metro/0057375/L/&sid=b14140d1b265558d2195bfdb87ccf7d4

With Carson Air in 2009:

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Swearingen-SA-226TC-Metro/1519270/L/&sid=6869cc91e652d022c1eabb33f3d9c9af

Source:

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/11/lv-mgf-fairchildswearingen-sa-226-metro.html

ROUTE UPDATE: TAM increased Montevideo (MVD) to Brazil Service

TAM Airlines A320-232, PR-MBH, (c/n 2904)  (Phil Perry Photo)

TAM Airlines added three more flights per week from Montevideo (MVD) to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) effective 08Jun14 for a total of 3-4 flights per day plus it added new 4x/weekly service to Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), effective 30Jun14, both using the carrier's A320 equipment. 

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140508/avn-140508.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140703/avn-140703.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Iberia reinstated Madrid (MAD) - Montevideo (MVD) service on 01Sep14

A little over a year after dropping Madrid (MAD) - Montevideo (MVD) service when the carrier was going through financial difficulties, Iberia restarted the route on 01Sep14 3x/weekly with A340-300's.  The very first flight was operated by A340-642X, EC-LFS (c/n 1122) painted in the airline's new colors. 

Iberia's flights were Uruguay's only direct service to Europe at the time that the airline dropped the Madrid (MAD) route but Air Europa and Air France came in to fill the void shortly thereafter, the latter with same plane service to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) via Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).   

Sources:

http://airlineroute.net/2014/04/25/ib-mvd-sep14/ via Eric Trum
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140424/avn-140424.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2014/avn140904/avn-140904.html