NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Flybondi reserves registrations for its first 4 737-800's

CORRECTION (updated 02Nov17): 

Flybondi's first aircraft will be 737-8AS/WL (c/n 33821/1698) to be registered LV-HKS

ORIGINAL POSTING:

According to the blog Linea ALA, Flybondi has reserved the registrations for its first four 737-800's, seemingly indicating that the airline is moving steadily forward in its plans to start service.

The first 737-800 that Flybondi will take delivery of is reportedly 737-86J (c/n 28071/133) which is scheduled to be registered as LV-HFR.  It was originally delivered to Air Berlin (Germany) in 1998 and is coming from Sun Express (Turkey).

The aircraft to follow are (in no specific order):

* 737-8BK/WL (c/n 33029/1945) to be registered LV-HFQ.  It was originally delivered to AJet (Cyprus) in 2006 and is coming from Sunwing Airlines (Canada).

* 737-8AS/WL (c/n 33821/1698) to be registered LV-HKS.  It was originally delivered to Ryanair (Ireland) in 2005 and is coming from Nok Air (Thailand).

* 737-88L (c/n 61300/6585) to be registered LV-HKN.  Curiously, it was only recently Nok Air (Thailand) on 19Sep17 and is apparently being passed on directly to Flybondi.

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/flybondi-paso-por-misiones.html

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/10/flybondi.html

http://www.airfleets.net

Andes paints "Vamos Argentina" logo on its second 737-800, LV-HHK

POST UPDATE ON 26NOV17:  Andes Lineas Aereas 737-800, LV-HHK (c/n 30567/ 761), sporting a special "Vamos Argentina" sticker at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Nov17.  (Phil Perry Photo)   

Andes Lineas Aereas, a privately-owned Argentine carrier with a fleet of approx. five MD-80 series aircraft plus two 737-800's which were delivered earlier this year, painted a "Vamos Argentina" (Let's Go Argentina) sticker on its second 737-800, LV-HHK (c/n 30567/761), in support of the national football/soccer team's efforts to qualify for the Football/Soccer World Cup finals in Russia 2018.

The aircraft flew a charter with the Argentine national team from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Guayaquil (GYE) on 08Oct17 for its match with Ecuador on 10Oct17, which it won 3-1, qualifying Argentina for the finals in Russia next year.   

The sticker will hopefully stay on the aircraft until after the tournament, which will conclude on 15Jul18 in Moscow.

Additional Photos:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/10/nuevo-logojet.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/10/la-seleccion-en-andes.html

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Avianca Argentina starting scheduled service on 21Nov17 from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to Rosario (ROS)

After flying several charters for Argentina's two most important professional football/soccer teams, Boca Juniors and River Plate, in recent months, Avianca Argentina has started selling tickets on its website for its first scheduled flights:

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Rosario (ROS) eff 21Nov17

To be operated 12x/weekly with ATR-72-600's.

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) eff 28Nov17

To be operated 2x/daily with ATR-72-600's increasing to 4x/daily on weekdays and 3x/daily on weekends eff 25Dec17 for the summer season. 

Airfares start at AR$ 1156 (US$ 66) round-trip to Rosario (ROS) and AR$ 1496 (US$ 84) round-trip to Mar del Plata (MDQ).

Avianca Argentina earlier this year took delivery of the first two of 12 ATR-72-600's that it has on order, LV-GUG (c/n 1343) and LV-GUH (c/n 1395). 

Sources:

http://aeropuertomardelplata.blogspot.com.ar/2017/08/avianca-y-su-primer-vuelo-mdq.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/avianca-superclasico.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/river-vuela-por-avianca.html

http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/09/avianca-argentina-desembarca-en-rosario-desde-noviembre/
http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/10/avianca-argentina-habilito-la-comercializacion-de-sus-primeras-rutas/

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Flybondi to start operating first route Cordoba (COR) - Iguazu (IGR) eff 15Nov17

Flybondi CEO Julian Cook announced on 25Sep17 that the new Argentine Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) will start service flying from Cordoba (COR) to Iguazu Falls (IGR) 2x/weekly on 15Nov17 using the sole 737-800 that it expects to take delivery of on 01Nov17.      

Mendoza (MDZ) to Iguazu Falls (IGR), possibly via Cordoba (COR), is expected to start at approximately the same time.  

Although Flybondi announced that its main operational base would be at El Palomar (EPA) airport (which is also an Argentine Air Force base) just to the west of the city of Buenos Aires, the airline has also signed agreements with the provinces of Cordoba, Corrientes and Misiones (details not revealed) to provide air service from the main cities of these regions to Buenos Aires.   

Flights out of the city of Corrientes (CNQ) to El Palomar (EPA) are planned to start in January 2018 7x/weekly with long-range plans for the carrier to fly the route 17x/weekly by 2021.        

Service from the Misiones city of Posadas (PSS) to El Palomar (EPA) is scheduled for January 2018 on a 1x/daily basis.

The above routes would depend on El Palomar (EPA) being authorized and ready for airline operations by January, which would seem optimistic.  The flights would presumably be routed to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) as an alternative until El Palomar (EPA) is ready.

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/flybondi-paso-por-misiones.html
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/09/flybondi-despegaria-mitad-noviembre-desde-cordoba/
http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/09/ultimas-novedades-de-flybondi-desde-corrientes-y-misiones/

FLEET UPDATE: Fuerza Aerea Argentina 737-500 T-04 returns to VIP service

Republica Argentina 737-5H6, T-04, (c/n 26456/2527) lands at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 15Aug14.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

Fuerza Aerea Argentina 737-5H6, T-04 (c/n 26456/2527), has returned to service flying for the Agrupacion Aerea Presidencial (presidential transport group) after a couple of years grounded at El Palomar Air Base near Buenos Aires undergoing heavy maintenance, including both engines being changed.  

The aircraft was originally delivered to Malaysian Airlines System in 1993 continuing on to fly for Air France in 1999 before joining Aerolineas Argentinas as LV-AYE in 2004 and then the Argentine Air Force in April 2014, after spending two years in storage following its withdrawal from service by the national carrier in 2012.  

T-04 was intended to replace the country's primary presidential transport 757 T-01 that had been due for very expensive maintenance leading to its grounding.  However, T-04 soon needed maintenance work too, which was recently completed at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) followed by several test flights and the aircraft resuming its governmental VIP transport role on 29Sep17 when it flew Argentine President Mauricio Macri and other government officials from Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to San Luis (LUQ) and Mendoza (MDZ).   

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/un-dia-volvio-el-t-04.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/search?q=t-04

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas' long-range fleet plans A340, A330, 737 MAX 8

Aerolineas Argentinas A340-313X, LV-FPV (c/n 193), in Skyteam colors will be one of the last two Aerolineas A340's to be retired from the fleet. (Phil Perry Collection)

Aerolineas Argentinas officially has six A340-300's remaining in its fleet but two are reportedly parked in the desert in the United States with two more to be retired in the coming months and two more with recently renovated interiors expected to stay in service with the Argentine national airline for another year.  

Referring to airfleets.net, A340-313X, LV-CSD (c/n 123) and A340-313X, LV-CSF (c/n 128) both ex-Singapore and Cathay Pacific examples, are apparently the aircraft that will be retired in December 2017 and March 2018.

The two A340-300's on lease from Iberia, A340-313X, LV-FPU (c/n 170) and A340-313X, LV-FPV (c/n 193), the latter painted in Skyteam colors, have had their interiors remodeled and will stay in service until December 2018, reportedly flying mostly from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Cancun (CUN), Barcelona (BCN) and Madrid (MAD).  

The carrier's A330's will cover Aerolineas' other intercontinental routes to Miami (MIA), New York-Kennedy (JFK) and Rome-Fiumicino (FCO).  Once the A340's are gone, the A330's will operate all of Aerolineas' intercontinental routes plus many routes in the Americas that are beyond the range of the carrier's 737-800 fleet, at least until Aerolineas starts taking delivery of the longer-range 737 MAX 8, which will be deployed on routes such as Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Bogota (BOG) and Punta Cana (PUJ).    

Sources:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/09/aerolineas-recibio-ultimo-boeing-737-800-los-max/

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170914/avn-170914.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170921/avn-170921.html

http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Aerolineas%20Argentinas-active-a340.htm

ROUTE UPDATES: LATAM Chile, LATAM Brasil, Air Europa

* Santiago (SCL) - Punta del Este (PDP) - eff 04Jan18 - 25Feb18 - Seasonal Summer Service

LATAM Chile will operate between Santiago (SCL) and this Uruguayan beach resort 2x/weekly with A320 aircraft in competition with the Chilean LCC, Sky Airline.

* Montevideo (MVD) - Florianopolis (FLN) - eff 06Jan18 - 25Feb18 - Seasonal Summer Service

LATAM Brasil will operate between Montevideo (MVD) and this Brazilian beach resort 1x/weekly with A320 aircraft.

* Cordoba (COR) - Asuncion (ASU) - eff 03Mar18 - Equipment Change to 787-8

Air Europa is due to replace its current A330-200 service on this route with the 787-8 on 03Mar18, initially only until 24Mar18 but indications are that the change will be permanent.   

Sources:

http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/274518/latam-chile-adds-seasonal-punta-del-este-service-in-1q18/ via Eric Trum
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/274519/latam-brasil-adds-florianopolis-montevideo-in-1q18/ via Eric Trum
http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/air-europa-volara-en-dreamliner-cordoba.html

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Flybondi planning to receive first 737-800 on November 1

Flybondi 737-800 in initially proposed scheme (upper image) and modified scheme (lower image) with the only apparent difference being the yellow band sweeping down the tail reaching the lower fuselage.  

Flybondi recently announced that it expects to take delivery of its first aircraft, a 737-800 from Singapore, which should arrive in Argentina on 01Nov17. 

The airline has not made any specific route start-up announcements but reportedly has pilots undergoing simulator training in Sao Paulo and flight attendants hired for its planned Cordoba base.   

Flybondi says that it is negotiating leases for 10 737-800's to be delivered by the end of 2018 with 6 more aircraft to be added each year for a total of 30 in service by 2021.

Source:

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/09/flybondi-promete-primer-avion-1o-noviembre/
http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn170921/avn-170921.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Copa, Sky, Azul, Cubana

* Cordoba (COR) - Panama City (PTY) - eff 02Dec17 - Adding Second Daily Flight

Copa will add a second daily 737-800 flight from Cordoba (COR) to its hub in Panama City (PTY), joining the many other international flights starting up from Argentina's second-largest city. 

With this flight, Copa will operate 46 weekly frequencies from Argentina to Panama City (PTY) composed of 7x/weekly from Rosario (ROS), 14/weekly from Cordoba (COR), 21/weekly from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) (increasing from 17x/weekly soon), and 4x/weekly from Mendoza (MDZ), which is a new service to be added on 16Nov17.         

* Santiago (SCL) - Punta del Este (PDP) - eff 13Dec17-11Mar18

Sky Airline will switch two of its existing five weekly flights between Santiago (SCL) and Montevideo (MVD) to the Uruguayan summer resort of Punta del Este (PDP) for three months during the southern hemisphere summer season to be operated with A319 aircraft.      

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Belo Horizonte (CNF) - eff 15Dec17 - One of two daily frequencies to be operated with A320neo

Azul operates two daily flights on this route with 118-seat E195's but one of them will be upgraded to the 174-seat A320neo, signaling high demand and success on the route, which it started flying in March of this year.   

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Havana (HAV) - eff 19Dec17 - Adding second weekly frequency

Cubana will add a second-weekly Ilyushin Il-96-300 flight between Ezeiza (EZE) and Havana (HAV), stopping in Santa Clara, Cuba (SNU).  The existing 1x/weekly flight stops in Cayo Coco, Cuba (CCC) prior to arriving in Havana (HAV).    

Sources:

http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/08/copa-airlines-suma-un-segundo-vuelo-diario-entre-cordoba-y-panama/
http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/primera-plana/item/24865-cambios-en-vuelos-y-frecuencias-de-sky
http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/09/azul-aumenta-la-capacidad-en-su-ruta-a-buenos-aires-al-incorporar-el-a320neo/
http://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/274569/cubana-boosts-argentina-service-from-dec-2017/  via Eric Trum

NEW AIRLINE PLANS & FLEET UPDATE: Azul Uruguay to take delivery of two ATR-72-600's as it prepares for the start of service

Start-up airline Azul Uruguay expects to take delivery of two new ATR-72-600's in the next month or two, CX-URA (c/n 1342) and CX-URY (c/n 1367), both apparently on lease from Nordic Aviation Capital.  A third ATR-72-600, CX-URB (c/n 1360), is reportedly undergoing flight tests at the ATR facility in Toulouse, France.         

The Uruguayan division of parent airline Azul of Brazil is going through the process of getting the aircraft certified for airline service by the Uruguayan aviation authorities and contracting personnel for the start of operations. Possible routes include Montevideo (MVD) to Cordoba (COR), Porto Alegre (POA), Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), and the coveted "Air Bridge" to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).     

Sources:

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/uruguay-se-pinta-de-azul.html

https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/roll-out-n-338-fleet-list.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Amaszonas, United, Avianca

* Cordoba (COR) - Santa Cruz (VVI) - eff 14Sep17 - POSTPONED

The Amaszonas group of airlines recently started flying from Cordoba (COR) to Montevideo (MVD) and was scheduled to also start CRJ-200 service from the central Argentine city to Santa Cruz (VVI) on a 3x/weekly basis on 14Sep17 but this route has been postponed until at least December. 

.  

* Newark (EWR) - Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - eff 29Oct17 - UPGAUGING TO 767-400 

United announced in June that it would restart this route, which it dropped in September 2013, with 767-300's 1x/daily eff 29Oct17 but recently indicated that it would upgrade the equipment to 767-400's.  

This change appears targeted at the business travel market because the 767-400 has more premium-class seats with 39 vs. 30 in business and 70 vs. 29 premium economy compared to the 767-300.  Both aircraft types have virtually the same number of economy-class seats with 133 for the 767-400 vs. 135 for the 767-300.   

* Cordoba (COR) - Lima (LIM) - eff 17Nov17

This airline will start service from Cordoba (COR) to its Lima (LIM) hub 1x/daily using A320's in November competing head-to-head with LATAM from the same city to the Peruvian capital's airport, where LATAM also has a hub.

Sources:

http://www.aviacionline.com/2017/09/amaszonas-pospuso-el-inicio-de-sus-vuelos-entre-cordoba-y-santa-cruz-de-la-sierra/

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/08/confirmado-desde-noviembre-avianca-taca.html

http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2017/08/united-agrando-avion-arrancar-volar-nueva-york/

FLEET UPDATE: Aerolineas Argentinas receives two more 737-800's

Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of its 30th and 31st 737-800 series aircraft when 737-887 LV-GVB (c/n 60500/6549) and 737-887 LV-GVC (c/n 60501/6568) departed the US on 29Aug17 and 11Sep17, respectively, both arriving in Argentina one day later.  Both aircraft routed from Boeing Field (BFI) near Seattle to Punta Cana (PUJ) and Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE).

These are the last 737-800's that Aerolineas will take delivery of with the next 737 deliveries to be the carrier's first MAX 8 models, to be registered LV-GVD (c/n 64207/line number ?) and LV-GVE (c/n 64208/line number ?) for delivery in November and December 2017, respectively.   

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/08/otro-mas-llego.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/otro-jet-esta-llegando.html
http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/08/aerolineas-argentinas-ultimas-novedades.html