ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas New Domestic Routes & Increased Frequencies

In an effort to stimulate Argentine domestic air travel to help meet Argentine President Mauricio Macri's goal of doubling the number of passengers traveling domestically by air in the next four years, Aerolineas Argentinas has introduced new routes and increased frequency on some existing services:

NEW ROUTES      

* La Rioja (IRJ) - Catamarca (CTC) - eff September 2016

Operated 4x/weekly using Austral E190's. 

* El Calafate (FTE) - Bariloche (BRC) - eff September 2016

Operated 1x/daily using 737-800's.

INCREASED FREQUENCIES

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Corrientes (CNQ) - eff 01Sep16

Increased service from 7x/weekly to 13x/weekly using Austral E190's 

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Catamarca (CTC) - eff October 2016

Increased service to 6x/weekly using Austral E190's

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - La Rioja (IRJ) - eff October 2016

Increased service to 9x/weekly using Austral E190's

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Parana (PRA) - eff October 2016

Increased service from 5x/weekly to 6x/weekly using Austral E190's

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Santa Fe (SFN) - eff October 2016

Increased service from 6x/weekly to 11/weekly using Austral E190's

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Santa Rosa (RSA) - eff October 2016

Increased service from 5x/weekly to 6x/weekly using Austral E190's

* Cordoba (COR) - Iguazu (IGR) - eff October 2016

Increased service to 5x/weekly using Austral E190's

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160901/avn-160901.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160922/avn-160922.html

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas retired two A340's from its fleet in recent months

LV-CEK in the all-white scheme that it apparently wore throughout its career with Aerolineas Argentinas. (Phil Perry Collection) 

Aerolineas Argentinas A340-312 - LV-CEK (c/n 094)

Departed Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA) on the evening of 05Sep16 arriving in Florida the following morning.  This aircraft was an early-build A340 having originally been delivered to Air Mauritius on 31Mar95 where it served for 15 years prior to joining Aerolineas on 17May10.  

Aerolineas Argentinas A340-313X - LV-CSE (c/n 126)

Flew its last service with the airline on 14Sep16 and was apparently stored at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) soon thereafter.  This example was delivered to Singapore Airlines on 24Apr96 and also flew for Cathay Pacific before joining Aerolineas on 08Jan12. 

Both of the above A340's will be replaced by one of the many A330's that Aerolineas is due to receive in the coming years.

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2016/09/devolucion-de-un-avion.html
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a340-94.htm
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/search/label/LV-CSE
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a340-126.htm

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Norwegian Air Argentina created: Possible Plans to fly Domestic & International LCC Service

Norwegian Long Haul CEO Bjorn Kos and other company executives visited Argentina in early October and met with Argentine Minister of Tourism Gustavo Santos, Minister of Transport Guillermo Dietrich and Aeropuertos Argentinos 2000 CEO Eduardo Eurnekian to reportedly discuss proposed long-haul Low Cost Carrier (LCC) service by Norwegian from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Oslo (OSL), London and Paris using 787-8's or 787-9's.  

The airline's interest in operating low-cost domestic Argentine services initially appeared to be minimal due to the many hurdles to overcome in establishing such service but Mr. Kos and his colleagues were persuaded to visit Cordoba (COR) and Chubut during their visit to Argentina to get a better idea of important "interior" points of the country. 

Norwegian attended the December 27 Route Hearing only as an "observer" but indications have been that the carrier would like to start LCC domestic service in Argentina in late 2017 with 6-10 737-800's or MAX 8's and 200-300 employees from bases in Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) and Aeroparque (AEP) and Cordoba (COR), like so many other airlines due to its central Argentina location and being the second largest city in the country, plus possibly Mendoza (MDZ) too.  

This was followed by the official registration of Norwegian Air Argentina on 26Jan17 capitalized with US$ 100,000 for 99 years with a board composed of three Argentine directors.   

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161013/avn-161013.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161222/avn-161222.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170202/avn-170202.html

ROUTE UPDATE: American Jet seeks Major Route Expansion at December 27 Public Route Hearings

American Jet Fairchild SA227DC Metro 23, LV-GPK (c/n DC-891B), taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 17Nov16.  This aircraft is a relatively new acquisition having joined the carrier in June 2016. (Phil Perry Photo)

American Jet is an Argentine company offering a wide variety of aviation services including corporate charters, medical emergency flights, FBO services, special projects (aerial photography, access to remote locations, etc.), third-party aircraft management and regularly scheduled airline services emanating from Neuquen (NQN), which have been operated off-and-on over the years.   

Based at the airport serving the west central city of Neuquen (NQN) near the Chilean border and at San Fernando (FDO) north of Buenos Aires, American Jet operates a fleet of corporate jets, business turboprops, and helicopters plus some Fairchild Metros and an ATR-42.  It has also flown Dornier 228 19-seat turboprops, which still appear on the company's website though the editor of this blog believes that they are no longer flying with the carrier.      

Joining four other existing or proposed Argentine carriers; American Jet submitted route requests to the ANAC Argentine aviation authority for its December 27 Route Hearings; all of them originating from Neuquen (NQN) with most of them being far-flung requiring aircraft with much longer range than the Metros and ATR-42 in the existing American Jet fleet.  The question would be what type of aircraft the carrier would acquire to operate some of these routes if they are awarded the rights to fly them.

Rumors following the Route Hearings were that the two existing operators that submitted route requests; American Jet and Andes Lineas Aereas plus new entrant Avianca Argentina would be awarded some route rights with the two "paper" airlines, Alas del Sur and Flybondi to possibly be awarded rights after the next Route Hearings scheduled for March.          

1) NEUQUÉN – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – RÍO GALLEGOS – EL CALAFATE – RÍO GRANDE – USHUAIA and v.v.

2) NEUQUÉN – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – ISLAS MALVINAS and v.v.

3) NEUQUÉN – TEMUCO (CHILE) – SANTIAGO DE CHILE and v.v.

4) NEUQUÉN – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – RÍO GALLEGOS – PUNTA ARENAS (CHILE) and v.v.

5) NEUQUÉN – MALARGÜE – MENDOZA – TUCUMÁN – SALTA – TARIJA (BOLIVIA) and v.v.

6) NEUQUÉN – CÓRDOBA – SAN MIGUEL DE TUCUMÁN – SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA and v.v.

7) NEUQUÉN – CÓRDOBA – RESISTENCIA – ASUNCIÓN and v.v.

8) NEUQUÉN – ROSARIO – PUERTO IGUAZÚ and v.v.

9) NEUQUÉN – ROSARIO – BUENOS AIRES AEROPARQUE – PUNTA DEL ESTE and v.v.

10) NEUQUÉN – BAHÍA BLANCA – MAR DEL PLATA – BUENOS AIRES and v.v.

11) NEUQUÉN – CÓRDOBA – ROSARIO – PORTO ALEGRE and v.v.

12) NEUQUÉN – SANTA ROSA – BUENOS AIRES and v.v.

13) NEUQUÉN – SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE – EL CALAFATE – USHUAIA and v.v.

Sources:

http://americanjet.com.ar/es/

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Jet
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2016/12/todos-los-pedidos-oficiales-nuevas-rutas-volar-la-argentina/

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170112/avn-170112.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2016/07/lv-gpk-fairchild-sa227dc-metro-23-cn-dc.html

ROUTE UPDATE: Andes Lineas Aereas seeks to Expand Scheduled Services at December 27 Route Hearings

Andes Lineas Aereas MD-83, LV-WGM (c/n 49784/1627), taxis at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 10Dec15.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Fleet History

Andes Lineas Aereas started operating in 2006 flying mostly MD-80's from its northern Argentina base of Salta (SLA).  It has operated a fleet of approx. fifteen MD-80 series aircraft since then, with seven examples currently in service, plus two A320's on wet lease from Vueling for a short time in early 2012 and two CRJ-900's in 2010-11. 

Scheduled Flights

Andes has operated mostly scheduled flights from Salta (SLA) to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) with continuing service to Puerto Madryn (PMY) in Patagonia. Jujuy (JUJ) was also added to the route system in recent months.

New service recently started: 

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Cordoba (COR) - eff 12Dec16

   Operated 10x/weekly using MD-80's

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - eff 02Jan17

   Operated 5x/weekly using MD-80's.  Summer seasonal service.

Charter Flights

Charters have been a very important source of business for Andes, especially flights carrying professional sports teams to many points throughout South America and high school graduation trips from airports all over Argentina to Bariloche (BRC) in Patagonia near the Chilean border, especially on behalf of student tour operator "Travel Rock", with one MD-80 even being painted in a special scheme depicting the travel company complete with billboard titles.          

December 27 Route Hearings

Andes, like several other carriers, is seeking to grow in the newly liberalized Argentine air transportation environment.  To that end, it filed for seven new scheduled routes at the ANAC's December 27 Route Hearings, considerably fewer than the other four carriers present.  

Interestingly, this included predictable domestic routes linking significant Argentine cities but Andes also requested international rights to Lima (LIM), Santiago (SCL) and Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU).  If granted, these would be the first international routes that Andes has operated on a scheduled basis.

Rumor has it that Andes, being an established carrier that has been operating for over ten years, will be one of the airlines awarded new route rights.

Routes requested:

1) BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – RESISTENCIA – POSADAS – PUERTO IGUAZÚ and v.v.

2) BUENOS AIRES – TUCUMÁN – SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO – SALTA – JUJUY and v.v.

3) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – MENDOZA – NEUQUÉN – BARILOCHE and v.v.

4) BUENOS AIRES – PUERTO MADRYN – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – EL CALAFATE – USHUAIA and v.v.

5) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – SANTIAGO DE CHILE and v.v.

6) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – LIMA and v.v.

7) BUENOS AIRES – CÓRDOBA – SAO PAULO and v.v.   
  
Sources:

http://www.andesonline.com/
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Andes%20Lineas%20Aereas.htm
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2016/12/todos-los-pedidos-oficiales-nuevas-rutas-volar-la-argentina/ 
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161110/avn-161110.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170105/avn-170105.html

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Avianca Argentina Tucuman (TUC) Hub Plans & Receives First ATR-72-600

The formation of Avianca Argentina was announced in early 2016 with plans to start service in 2017 using six ATR-72-600's focusing on hubs in Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Cordoba (COR) on the basis of a US$ 320 million investment.  

Tucuman (TUC) Hub 

There have been new developments since then including plans to establish a hub at the airport of the northern Argentine city of Tucuman (TUC) using 3-4 ATR-72-600's operating up to 25 daily flights connecting cities in central and eastern Argentina with northern and western communities, including Salta (SLA) 5x/day, Cordoba 3x/day, Catamarca (CTC), La Rioja (IRJ), Mendoza (MDZ), Posadas (PSS), Puerto Iguazu (IGR), Resistencia (RES), Rosario (ROS), San Juan (UAQ), and Santiago del Estero (SDE). 

International connections would also be operated, including Asuncion (ASU), Florianopolis (FLN), Santa Cruz de la Sierra (VVI) and possibly Iguique (IQQ) and Lima (LIM), the latter presumably by sister carrier Avianca Peru using ERJ-190's. 

The Tucuman (TUC) hub would start in July 2017 after a 90-day period during which the airport would be closed while it underwent a major maintenance and upgrade project.

Tucuman Subsidy & Potential Problems

Establishing the hub would entail a US$ 80 million investment and create 250 jobs with the province of Tucuman providing US$ 5-15 million in guarantees for flights falling short of 65% load factors.  

This subsidy might run into opposition from the Argentine national government, which is trying to move away from the heavy subsidies of various industries by the previous presidency, especially with regard to air transportation where Aerolineas Argentinas has received billions (thousands of millions) of US$ in subsidies since its re-nationalization in 2008.  Also, other carriers serving Tucuman (TUC) might demand equal treatment although the Tucuman government has responded that they offered other airlines similar incentives as Avianca Argentina to operate on less-traveled routes but the carriers were only interested in flying the profitable mainline trunk routes between major cities. 
    
Public Route Hearings - December 27

Most recently, Avianca Argentina, along with four other airlines; Alas del Sur, American Jet, Andes Lineas Aereas and Flybondi, submitted route requests at public route hearings conducted by the ANAC Argentine aviation authority on December 27.    

Surprisingly, the 16 routes that Avianca Argentina requested did not include any flights to the proposed Cordoba (COR) and Tucuman (TUC) hubs, much less the multiple services that would be consistent with hub operations, with the focus instead being on flights emanating from Buenos Aires.  However, there will apparently be a second round of hearings in March, during which routes from Cordoba (COR) and Tucuman (TUC) are expected to be requested, probably for starting service later in the year after the Buenos Aires routes have been established.       

The routes requested on December 27: 

1) BUENOS AIRES – SANTA FE – BUENOS AIRES

2) BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – BUENOS AIRES

3) BUENOS AIRES – PUERTO MADRYN – BUENOS AIRES

4) BUENOS AIRES – VIEDMA – PUERTO MADRYN – BUENOS AIRES

5) BUENOS AIRES – MAR DEL PLATA – BUENOS AIRES

6) BUENOS AIRES – PUERTO MADRYN – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – PUERTO MADRYN – BUENOS AIRES

7) BUENOS AIRES – MONTEVIDEO – BUENOS AIRES

8) BUENOS AIRES – SAN LUIS – RÍO CUARTO – BUENOS AIRES

9) BUENOS AIRES – SANTA ROSA – BUENOS AIRES

10) BUENOS AIRES – BAHÍA BLANCA – BUENOS AIRES

11) BUENOS AIRES – CONCORDIA – PASO DE LOS LIBRES – BUENOS AIRES

12) BUENOS AIRES – CONCORDIA – PARANÁ – BUENOS AIRES

13) BUENOS AIRES – PORTO ALEGRE – BUENOS AIRES

14) BUENOS AIRES – SUNCHALES – RECONQUISTA – SUNCHALES – BUENOS AIRES

15) BUENOS AIRES – TANDIL – BUENOS AIRES

16) BUENOS AIRES – SUNCHALES – VILLA MARÍA – BUENOS AIRES

First ATR-72-600 Delivered

Avianca Argentina's first ATR-72-600, LV-GUG (c/n 1343) arrived at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on the evening of 18Jan17 from Punta del Este (PDP) where it had laid over the previous night on its multi-stop delivery flight from the Aerospatiale factory in Toulouse, France.  

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161117/avn-161117.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161124/avn-161124.html
http://www.puntal.com.ar/noticia.php?id=230512
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161201/avn-161201.html
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2016/11/tucuman-firma-acuerdo-avianca-armar-hub/
http://www.aviacionline.com/2016/11/avianca-argentina-instalara-un-hub-en-tucuman/
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2016/12/todos-los-pedidos-oficiales-nuevas-rutas-volar-la-argentina/
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161229/avn-161229.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/01/llego-la-argentina.html

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Alas del Sur is another LCC candidate in Argentina

Artist's image of Alas del Sur A320. (Sir Chandler blog)

Alas del Sur recently surfaced as another candidate to establish a Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) operation in Argentina under the new liberalized air services environment introduced by Argentine President Mauricio Macri since he took office in December 2015.

The carrier already operates as a charter and air taxi service in Argentina but is seeking authorization to operate regularly scheduled air services, both domestic and international, working with Chinese business partners and US$ 100 million in start-up capital.  

Business Plan - 2017

The airline's business plan calls for it to start service in April 2017 flying three A320 aircraft from a Cordoba (COR) base to six domestic points; Bariloche (BRC), Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Mendoza (MDZ), Neuquen (NQN), Puerto Iguazu (IGR) and Salta (SLA) plus three regional South American destinations; Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG), Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), and Santiago (SCL).  By year-end 2017, Alas expects to have six A320's in service. 

Three 777's are also planned for intercontinental service from Cordoba (COR) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Madrid (MAD) and Beijing (PEK). 

Alas would start with 547 employees and projects US$ 73 million revenue in its first year.   

Business Plan - 2022

By 2022, Alas projects having 1,460 employees and US$ 595 million in revenue while flying twelve A320's to 25 domestic points and 12 regional South American destinations.  Intercontinental flights would be flown by five 777's with Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Barcelona (BCN) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) being added to the route network. 

Subsequent to the above information, Alas submitted route requests to the ANAC Argentine aviation authority in early December, which were published in the "Official Bulletin" prior to public route hearings that were held on December 27 with five airlines participating; Alas del Sur, American Jet, Andes Lineas Aereas, Avianca Argentina and Flybondi. 

These route requests expanded considerably on those announced in the original business plan and would be for possible operation during the next 15 years showing the maximum number of stops.  More than likely, the number of routes and number of legs on each route that would actually be flown would be far fewer than those shown:   

Argentina Domestic

1) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO and v.v.

2) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – TRELEW – PUERTO MADRYN – BARILOCHE – NEUQUÉN – EL CALAFATE – USHUAIA and v.v.

3) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – VILLA GESELL – MAR DEL PLATA – BAHÍA BLANCA – TRELEW – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – RÍO GALLEGOS – RÍO GRANDE – USHUAIA and v.v.

4) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – NEUQUÉN – SAN MARTÍN DE LOS ANDES – ESQUEL and v.v.

5) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – RÍO CUARTO – SAN LUIS – MENDOZA – TUCUMÁN – SALTA – JUJUY and v.v.

6) CÓRDOBA – MENDOZA – NEUQUÉN – TRELEW – COMODORO RIVADAVIA – RÍO GALLEGOS – RÍO GRANDE and v.v.

7) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – MENDOZA – SAN RAFAEL – SAN JUAN – LA RIOJA – CATAMARCA – SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO and v.v.

8) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – BAHÍA BLANCA – SANTA ROSA – VIEDMA and v.v.

9) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – SANTA FE – POSADAS – PUERTO IGUAZÚ and v.v.

10) SALTA – PUERTO IGUAZÚ – EL CALAFATE – BARILOCHE – CÓRDOBA and v.v.

11) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – CORRIENTES – RESISTENCIA – FORMOSA and v.v.

12) SALTA – JUJUY – CATAMARCA – SAN JUAN – MENDOZA – CÓRDOBA – NEUQUÉN – PERITO MORENO and v.v.

International

13) CÓRDOBA – SALTA – SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA and v.v.

14) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – PORTO ALEGRE – SAO PAULO - RÍO DE JANEIRO and v.v.

15) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – LIMA – MIAMI and v.v.

16) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – ASUNCIÓN – MIAMI and v.v.

17) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA and v.v.

18) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – SANTIAGO DE CHILE – MIAMI and v.v.

19) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – ROSARIO – MONTEVIDEO – PUNTA DEL ESTE and v.v.

20) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – LOS ÁNGELES – SHANGHAI and v.v.

21) CÓRDOBA – BUENOS AIRES – BARCELONA – ROME and v.v.

Rumors following the public route hearings are that the two existing carriers, American Jet and Andes plus Avianca Argentina will be granted some route rights by the ANAC but that Alas del Sur and Flybondi will have to wait until the second round of route hearings scheduled for March 2017.  
Sources:

http://www.alasdelsurla.com/
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161006/avn-161006.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161013/avn-161013.html
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2016/12/todos-los-pedidos-oficiales-nuevas-rutas-volar-la-argentina/
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161208/avn-161208.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170112/avn-170112.html

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Flybondi Announced Plans in late September & at December 27 Route Hearings

Flybondi 737-800, LV-EAM, artist's image.  (Flybondi.com website) 

The proposed new Argentine low-cost carrier (LCC) Flybondi (translates roughly to flybus) was announced on 30Sep16 in an article appearing in Air Transport World.  The airline's CEO is Julian Cook, founder and ex-CEO of Swiss carrier FlyBaboo.  Backers that are putting together seed funding include Ryanair board member and ex-COO Michael Cawley, ex-Air Canada CEO Montie Brewer, and British Airways City Flyer Express founder and ex-chairman Robert Wright, together with a group of Argentine investors, chief of which would be Gaston Parisier, partner at BigBox, a retailer of "unique gift experiences".

Start-Up Plans

The carrier aims to raise US$ 75 million in start-up capital starting service in the third quarter of 2017 with 6 aircraft and 400 employees flying from El Palomar (EPA) near Buenos Aires to a dozen cities while selling tickets only online supplemented by sales of related travel services, including hotel stays, car rentals, vacation packages, etc.      

El Palomar (EPA)

Flybondi's base would be the secondary airport of El Palomar (EPA) on the western outskirts of Buenos Aires.  

The main objective of operating from this facility would be to avoid the monopoly services of ramp handling company Intercargo at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) with the problem reportedly not being high wages but low-productivity due to slow aircraft turnarounds currently averaging 70 minutes, which, though an improvement over previous longer turnarounds, is still far more than typical LCC turns of 30-40 minutes.  Slower turns usually translate to 1-2 fewer flights per aircraft per day with the corresponding loss in revenue. 

Initial Destinations

The likely initial destinations would be Bariloche BRC), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Cordoba (COR), El Calafate (FTE), Mendoza (MDZ), Neuquen (NQN), Puerto Iguazu (IGR), Resistencia (RES), Rio Gallegos (RGL), Salta (SLA), Tucuman, (TUC), and Ushuaia (USH).  Aircraft to be used would be either the A320 or 737-800 with the latter being pictured on the airline's website (see above).

Future Projections

Five years into its operation, Flybondi anticipates flying 8 million passengers annually on 25 aircraft with 1,500 employees to 40 domestic destinations and 34 regional South American points.      
Route Hearings

As of early December 2016, Flybondi submitted an official request for 35 domestic routes from El Palomar (EPA), 8 from Cordoba (COR), 7 from Rosario (ROS), 3 from Salta (SLA), 3 from Mendoza (MDZ), plus 43 international routes from 7 Argentine airports. 

The ANAC Argentine aviation authority held route hearings on 27Dec16 with five airlines participating; Alas del Sur, Andes Lineas Aereas, American Jet, Avianca Argentina and Flybondi. Most observers found Flybondi's presentation, though voluminous, lacking in substantial new information on its operational plans.   

Low-Cost Carrier Challenges in Argentina

* The biggest problem for possible LCC's is the low productivity of the Argentine airline workforce relative to those in Europe and the United States.  Wages are not the problem so much as work rules resulting in lower efficiency, with slow aircraft turnarounds of more than an hour being a particular problem.  The unions have fervently resisted changes to work rules, maybe because with Argentine wages being generally low to begin with, being pushed to be more productive could be perceived as excessive and unfair.    

* The state-run airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral, have opposed the rapid entry of LCC's into the Argentine air transportation market, mostly because their employees work under existing labor contracts and work rules. Low-cost carriers entering the market with lower labor costs and more flexible work rules would offer much lower airfares than AR and AU, taking passengers away from them or forcing the state carriers to lower airfares, either of which would result in even heavier financial losses than the latter are already incurring.

* The Argentine government has minimum airfare levels in effect which it has been reluctant to rescind, mostly because of the losses that this would cause at Aerolineas and Austral.

* Argentina has high airport taxes and fees relative to neighboring countries, largely because air travel in Argentina is still seen as a form of transportation for the relatively wealthy with only 1 in 10 Argentines having flown.

Sources:

http://atwonline.com/daily-news/argentine-ultra-lcc-flybondi-plans-2017-launch
http://www.aviacionline.com/2016/10/flybondi-la-primera-ultra-low-cost-argentina/
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1943093-vuelos-low-cost-llega-flybondi-una-linea-aerea-de-bajo-costo-que-desafia-al-mercado-desde-el-nombre
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161103/avn-161103.html
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2016/12/flybondi-pidio-palomar-como-base-de-operaciones/
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170112/avn-170112.html

Alas Uruguay - Suspended Operations on October 25, Attempts at Sale Failed, AOC Revoked

After many months of losses, Alas Uruguay suspended operations on Monday, October 25, 2016. The airline had exhausted its US$ 15 million line of credit from the Uruguayan government FONDES development fund, accumulated US$ 4.9 million in unpaid bills with suppliers, and owed considerable backwages to employees.  

Alas' employees generally thought that the solution was for outside investors to inject capital into the company or for it to be taken over by another carrier with the main attraction being Alas' traffic rights on the lucrative Montevideo (MVD) - Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) "Air Bridge". While some employees thought that the company's best bet for a rescue was to keep operating while negotiating with prospective interested parties, at least to maintain the appearance of a viable operation, most believed that Alas should suspend operations to stem the heavy losses that were accumulating with no end in sight.

Alas took delivery of three 737-300's during its formative stages in 2015 with one, 737-33R, CX-OAB (c/n 28869/2887), being returned to the lessor Aergo Group on 25Aug16 and continuing on to the new Chilean airline, Latin American Wings.  Another aircraft 737-36N, CX-OAA (c/n 28569 / 2996) was returned to Aergo Group on 27Oct16, only two days after Alas ceased operations, and it also went on to Latin American Wings.  Its third 737-36N, CX-OAC (c/n 28563/2921) flew to Tucson (TUS) Arizona, USA on 04Nov16. 

Alas Uruguay's management negotiated with several parties in the months prior and after it ceased operating, including Amaszonas (Bolivia), Boliviana de Aviacion, Latin American Wings and Azul Linhas Aereas of Brazil, with some of them willing to take on at least some of Alas' debts and financial responsibilities but the carrier's heavy financial burdens proved too much to overcome. 

Uruguayan regulations allowed Alas Uruguay to keep its Air Operator Certificate for 60 days after it suspended operations pending a restart of flights but when this date passed in late December, the DINACIA Uruguayan aviation authority revoked Alas' AOC, rendering the carrier an entity unauthorized to operate with no discernible value to potential investors or buyers.

Sadly, Alas Uruguay appears to be permanently grounded after only nine months' flying.

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn160721/avn-160721.html
http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/columnistas/sergio-antonio-herrera/item/23064-alas-uruguay-del-glamour-a-la-verdad
http://www.elobservador.com.uy/alas-analiza-suspender-vuelos-comerciales-y-hacer-solo-charter-n946070
http://portaldeamerica.com/index.php/pda/editorial/item/23546-estado-de-situacion-de-alas-uruguay
http://portaldeamerica.com/index.php/pda/entrevistas-y-reportajes/item/23560-se-fue-el-primer-avion-que-trajo-alas-uruguay
http://portaldeamerica.com/index.php/pda/editorial/item/23570-alas-cortadas-de-tal-palo-tal-astilla-y-slots-disponibles-en-el-analisis-de-alas-uruguay
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161027/avn-161027.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161103/avn-161103.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161110/avn-161110.html
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2016/avn161229/avn-161229.html         

PHOTO: Avianca A330-200 at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 10Jan17

Avianca A330-243, N974AV (c/n 1208), parked at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) Terminal C on 10Jan17.  (Phil Perry Photo)

PHOTO GALLERY: LATAM Brasil A320neo PT-TMN at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 17Nov16

LATAM Brasil A320-271N, PT-TMN (c/n 7126), taxiing at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 17Nov16.  (Phil Perry Photo)

PT-TMN is one of only 32 A320neo's delivered worldwide as of 31Oct16 and only the third example delivered directly to airlines in the Americas so far, the other two carriers having received the A320 with new-generation engines being Frontier Airlines of the US and Viva Aerobus of Mexico.  

Both LATAM Brasil and Frontier have received examples with Pratt & Whitney PW1100 series engines and Viva Aerobus with CFM International LEAP-1A powerplants.  All three western hemisphere carriers had received only one A320neo each as of 31Oct16. 

Airbus currently holds orders for 58 A319neo's, 3,385 A320neo's and 1,375 A321neo's for a total of 5,171 orders for the A320neo family. 

Sources:

http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-7126.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Airbus_A320neo_family_orders_and_deliveries
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/frontier-airlines-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a320neo/
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/airbus-delivers-first-a320neo-to-mexicos-viva-aerobus/

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Avianca officially names Argentine affiliate Avian Lineas Aereas, orders 12 ATR-72-600's

Synergy Aerospace, majority owner of Avianca, announced at the annual ALTA Leaders' Forum (Latin American airlines association) in Mexico City today, that its Argentine affiliate, announced earlier this year, will be officially named Avian Lineas Aereas. 

The group also announced, as previously intended, that it placed an order for 12 ATR-72-600's with options on six more directly from the manufacturer with the first delivery expected before the end of 2016 and all 12 in service by January 2018.  

The carrier plans to focus operations on Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Cordoba (COR), the latter serving Argentina's second largest city and with a central geographical location that is suitable for hub operations.   

The carrier's marketing strategy will be "linking under-served communities in Argentina", not so much competing directly with the established carriers, Aerolineas Argentinas and LATAM Argentina. 

Service is expected to start in the first quarter of 2017, which is a surprise to the editor of this blog, since the carrier has apparently not even applied for any route rights yet.  

Sources:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/synergy-buys-up-to-18-atr-72-600s-for-argentine-subs-431469/ 
http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1956485-avianca-compro-12-aviones-para-empezar-a-operar-en-el-pais