Judge lifts limits on flight operations at El Palomar (EPA) opening way for Flybondi to consolidate Buenos Aires services

Lifting of Restrictions on Flight Operations at El Palomar (EPA)

On 10Apr18, Judge Nestor Barral lifted restrictions on the number of flight operations by commercial carriers at the El Palomar (EPA) airport / air base located west of Buenos Aires and used by new Argentine LCC (Low-Cost Carrier) Flybondi for its flights servicing that city.  Previously, on 10Jan18, Federal Judge Martina Forns of the San Martin district had imposed a temporary injunction on flights at EPA pending the results of an environmental impact study determining the likely effects of commercial flights on the residential neighborhoods adjacent to the airfield.  This order was partly nullified by another legal finding on 01Feb18 limiting flight operations to six daily movements (takeoffs or landings) at EPA while the environmental impact study was being conducted.  

Flybondi Buenos Aires Flights split at Two Airports

With Flybondi being the only airline operating out of El Palomar (EPA), this measure effectively allowed the LCC to operate all three of the daily permitted takeoffs and all three landings but all of its additional flights serving the Buenos Aires region had to be flown out of Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).  This led to the carrier having two operational bases in the Buenos Aires area with all of the extra costs that this implies plus a somewhat chaotic and confusing situation for passengers due to the uncertainty of which airport flights would depart from / arrive at.        

Consolidation of Flights at El Palomar (EPA)

Immediately after the order lifting the injunction, Flybondi started the process of shifting its operations at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) to El Palomar (EPA), consolidating all of its flights serving Buenos Aires at the low-cost facility west of the city.  As of Saturday, April 14, the airline had five departures from EPA and seven on Sunday, April 15 serving all seven domestic destinations that it serves from EPA; Bariloche (BRC), Cordoba (COR), Corrientes (CNQ), Jujuy (JUJ), Mendoza (MDZ), Neuquen (NQN) and Tucuman (TUC). 

The lifting of the injunction also allows other carriers to start service from El Palomar (EPA).

Neighborhood Opposition

"Stop Flybondi", a group of residents from neighborhoods bordering El Palomar, such as the town of El Palomar to the south and Hurlingham to the north,  opposes commercial service at the airport and denounced the lifting of the temporary injunction as arbitrary and having no legal merit, going on to criticize the lack of noise mitigation measures and alleging collusion by the court with the Argentine federal government to promote the growth of commercial air traffic in the country without regard to laws that might limit such expansion. 

El Palomar (EPA) Airport Upgrade

The Argentine federal government has undertaken a 1,600 million (1.6 billion) peso project (approx. US$ 80 million) adapting El Palomar (EPA) for commercial operations in three stages:

1) 209 million pesos towards an upgrade of the existing small civil terminal for the start of commercial operations (already completed)

2) The renovation of hangars previously used by the military with two floors to be used for shops, automatic check-in kiosks, self-service baggage belts and customs and immigration facilities.  Work on this conversion is planned to start in July. 

3) Construction of an all-new purpose-built passenger terminal on the southwest side of the airport with capacity of up to 1 million passengers per annum.          

Source:

https://aviacionline.com/2018/04/levantan-la-cautelar-sobre-el-palomar-y-flybondi-tiene-via-o-pista-libre-para-operar-alli/
       

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Polar Lineas Aereas, proposed new Argentine start-up carrier, granted route authorities

Polar Lineas Aereas S.A., which proposed to fly 44 domestic routes and 31 international routes at the 06Sep17 Argentine route hearings, yesterday was granted the right to fly many of its requested routes by the Argentine Ministry of Transport.  

The airline's request consisted of both passenger and cargo routes focusing heavily on the San Luis province airports of San Luis (LUQ), Villa Mercedes (VME) and Merlo (RLO) including also many routes from Buenos Aires, Cordoba (COR) and La Plata (LPG).  Proposed international routes were mostly within South America but extended as far as Europe and Asia.  Approved international rights are reportedly mostly within South America.  

The route awards are for domestic and international non-scheduled flights, are valid for 15 years and subject to the airline being approved for an Air Operator Certificate and starting service within 180 days after having obtained the latter.

Possible aircraft types include the Airbus A319, A340, Boeing 737 and even the McDonnell Douglas DC-10, although there are few of the latter in operation anywhere in the world and none operating passenger flights.

Polar's reported business plan is to operate a network of cargo routes within Argentina that in turn would feed an international network of cargo flights from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA) where the freight would connect to US domestic flights.

Polar was awarded the rights because, according to Argentine Minister of Transport Guillermo Dietrich, the carrier proposes a "novel" network of routes not currently covered by other airlines.  The Transport Ministry expects that the carrier might invest up to US$ 650 million and employ 1,200 workers in its operation.   

Polar is owned by Daniel Barbosa, who previously operated CATA, an Argentine domestic airline that flew passenger and cargo flights using Fairchild FH-227's between 1986-2006.  Various Argentine media outlets have associated Polar Lineas Aereas with Polar Air Cargo of the United States but the editor of this blog could not find any news reports emanating from outside Argentina that suggested such a connection. 

Full details on Polar's presentation at the 06Sep17 route hearings:

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Polar Lineas Aereas to request 75 routes at 06Sep17 Route Hearings

Sources:

https://www.infobae.com/economia/finanzas-y-negocios/2018/04/09/hoy-la-autorizaron-a-volar-y-ya-hay-polemica-con-polar-la-nueva-low-cost-argentina/

NEW AIRLINE PLANS: Azul Uruguay launch suspended due to Azul refocus on Brazil

Azul Uruguay, the new airline which was planning to start service out of Montevideo (MVD) in March this year, was put on hold by its parent company, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, in late December 2017.

Three new ATR-72-600's, (c/n 1342) that was to be registered CX-URA, (c/n 1360) that was to be CX-URB and (c/n 1367) to be CX-URY, were at the aircraft manufacturer's factory in Toulouse, France already earmarked to join Azul Uruguay but have since been reassigned to the fleet of Azul in Brazil. 

The start-up of Azul Uruguay was rumored to be suspended due to objections by its parent company to the certification procedures of the Uruguayan DINACIA aviation authority that took 16 months to license the now-defunct Alas Uruguay in 2015-16.  However, Azul Brazil said in a statement that the new division's start-up was due to a reassignment of resources to expansion in Brazil due to the country's nascent recovery from the economic recession of recent years.

Sources:

http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/columnistas/sergio-antonio-herrera/item/25476-azul-uruguay-por-enquanto-nao-viu

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171221/avn-171221.html

http://www.portaldeamerica.com/index.php/columnistas/sergio-antonio-herrera/item/25521-azul

PHOTO GALLERY: Derelict aircraft at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) in late 2017

Three abandoned aircraft have sat forlornly for months on the southeast side of Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) near the military sector commonly used for government VIP flights, including those of the Argentine president.    

The 737-200 and Learjet profile photos below were taken on 08Oct17 and the Turbo Commander and Learjet nose photos were taken on 26Nov17, all by blog editor Phil Perry.  The aircraft were spotted still at this location on 31Mar18. 

Former American Falcon 737-200, LV-WGX (c/n 21358/498), has been abandoned at Aeroparque for over a decade, at first on the west side of the airfield just north of the hangars there before the move to its present location on the southeast side.  (Phil Perry Photo)

LV-WGX was delivered to Gulf Air of Bahrain in 1977 where it flew until joining the Aerolineas Argentinas fleet in 1994.  It eventually joined the Argentine carrier American Falcon in 2000 where it flew until 2003 before being stored at Aeroparque in 2005 where it has been ever since.  

Rockwell 680V Turbo Commander, LV-OFX (c/n 680V-1681-63), was also on the west side of Aeroparque until its recent move to the southeast side.  (Phil Perry Photo)

LV-OFX first flew over 50 years ago in 1967 and was delivered directly to the Argentine Army's "Aviacion de Ejercito" as AE-104 before assuming its present civilian identity LV-OFX in 1980 and flying for a trio of operators, including Air Amigos, Banco Juncal and Empesur S.A.  It was finally embargoed in 1995 and abandoned soon thereafter.   

Learjet 35, LV-ZZF (c/n 35-049), sits engineless with its flying days behind it.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

LV-ZZF first flew in 1976 and was delivered to Arab Wings of Jordan, going on to fly for several operators in the US and Canada before joining Baires Fly in Argentina in April 2003 with its present identity.  

Front nose-on shot of LV-ZZF.  (Phil Perry Photo)

LV-ZZF when it was still operational flying for Baires Fly at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 29Oct10.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

Sources:

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/05/lv-wgx-boeing-737-2p6-cn-21358498.html

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2012/01/lv-ofx-rockwell-680v-turbo-commander-cn.html

http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2011/01/lv-zzf-learjet-35-cn-35-049.html

PHOTO GALLERY: Ex-Macair Jetstream 32's at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Nov17

Engineless ex-Macair Jetstream 32, LV-ZOW (c/n 869), near the military sector on the southeast side of Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 26Nov17.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Ex-Macair Jetstream 32, LV-ZRL (c/n 928), in the same military area on the southeast side of Aeroparque on 26Nov17, also engineless and apparently at the end of its service life.  (Phil Perry Photo) 

Both LV-ZOW and LV-ZRL were reportedly no longer at AEP on 16Dec17, being presumably taken away for scrapping.

Macair operated a total of six Jetstream 32's, which will be the subject of a posting in the near future. 

LV-ZOW (c/n 869) first flew on 06Nov89 and was delivered to American Eagle in 1990, going on to AeroVip in Argentina in 1999 where it flew under several brands, including Aerolineas Argentinas Express, LAPA Vip and ARG Express, before joining Macair in 2007.     

LV-ZRL (c/n 928) first flew on 02Apr91, also being delivered to American Eagle before going on to CC Air where it operated on behalf of US Airways Express in the Carolinas region of the southern United States.  The aircraft went on to join AeroVip in Argentina in 1999, flying under several brands, including Aerolineas Argentinas Express, LAPA Vip and ARG Express and also flying in AeroVip's house colors before joining Macair in 2007.      

Sources:

http://linea-ala.blogspot.com.ar/2017/11/ya-no-volaran.html
https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2018/01/roll-out-n-344-fleet-list.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/11/lv-zow-bae-jetstream-313212-cn-869.html
http://loudandclearisnotenought.blogspot.com.ar/2010/11/lv-zrl-bae-jetstream-31-cn-928.html

ROUTE UPDATES: American announces Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Los Angeles (LAX) eff 19Dec18 + Cordoba (COR) - Miami (MIA) eff 02Apr19

Rumors had been circulating for about two weeks in the Argentine travel and aviation blog "Sir Chandler" that two big route announcements would be made soon and they were released today with both new routes to be operated by American Airlines.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Los Angeles (LAX) - eff 19Dec18 - 3x/weekly

To be operated with 787-9's.  It is expected that connections to Asia via American's Los Angeles (LAX) hub for business travelers is one of the main rationales behind the new service.  

This route was previously flown by Aerolineas Argentinas with A310's in the 1990's via Lima (LIM) or Mexico City (MEX).  

Some readers of other blogs have commented that the new service might take away passengers from American's existing daily service from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) and recall AA's flights between EZE and Chicago O'Hare (ORD) that operated for a couple of years in the late 2000's before being suspended.       
     
* Cordoba (COR) - Miami (MIA) - eff 02Apr19 - 4x/weekly

To be operated with 767-300's.  This route has been flown off-and-on several times by Aerolineas Argentinas over the last few decades using 707's, 727-200's and 737-200's on routings that included stops in Argentina and airports in other countries along the Pacific coast on the way up to Miami, also nonstop with 747's, and most recently using A340-300's between 04Jul15 and 29May16.   

Speculation by the editor of this blog about the viability of Cordoba (COR) - Miami (MIA) service by American:

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2016/07/route-updates-american-airlines-from.html

History of service on the COR-MIA route by Aerolineas Argentinas:

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2016/07/route-updates-history-of-aerolineas.html

Summary of the most recent Aerolineas flights between the two cities:

http://argentina-airline-news.blogspot.com.ar/2016/07/route-updates-aerolineas-argentinas.html

COPA and LATAM currently offer service from Cordoba (COR) to approx. 25-30 destinations in North America, Central America and the Caribbean through their respective hubs but American will connect Cordoba (COR) with approx. 100 destinations in the same regions though Miami (MIA) with the vast majority of them being in the US.
   
Summary

American Airlines currently operates from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to Miami (MIA) 2x/daily, to New York Kennedy (JFK) 1x/daily and Dallas-Ft. Worth 1x/daily for a total of 4x/daily flights and 28x/weekly.  Additionally, in the southern hemisphere summer high season from October or December (has varied by year) to March, the carrier operates a third daily flight between EZE and MIA. 

The new EZE-LAX and COR-MIA services will add another 7x/weekly flights for a total of 35x/weekly year-round flights by American between Argentina and the US.     

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/american-airlines-anuncia-sus-nuevas-rutas-cordoba-miami-y-buenos-aires-los-angeles/
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/03/habra-vuelos-directos-a-los-angeles-con-un-787-de-american-airlines/
http://www.sirchandler.com.ar/2018/03/american-airlines-volara-directo-a-cordoba-desde-miami/

VERY RARE PHOTO: Aeroflot Yak-40 CCCP-87791 at Montevideo (MVD) in March 1972

Aeroflot Yak-40, CCCP-87791 (c/n 9920203), at Montevideo (MVD) in March 1972, believed to be on the 24th of the month (46 years ago today), during a sales tour visiting several Latin American countries.  Note the derelict C-46 in the background on the left and the 707, believed to be of Pan American, on the right.  (Phil Perry Photo)

Just over 1,000 Yak-40's were built by Russian aircraft manufacturer Yakovlev between 1967 and 1981 with the type being operated mostly by Russian/Soviet airlines and military plus their Soviet bloc allies but with many also seeing service with carriers in Africa, Asia, Latin America (such as Bolivia and Peru) and even a handful flying in western Europe (Greece, Italy and West Germany). 

The Yak-40 had three jet engines and could carry 24-32 passengers over a range of 780nm/1,450km with a full passenger load and 970nm/1,800km with max fuel and had a maximum cruise speed of 297kt/550km.  There were 45 examples reportedly still in service in 2013 with probably a handful still flying today.  It could be considered the very first small regional jet.

As far as the editor knows, there were no Yak-40's sold in Latin America as a direct result of the 1972 sales tour of the region. 

UPDATED 07Apr18:  Carlos Abella has written with more information on the Yak-40's 1972 South American sales tour.  According to the British aviation magazine Flight International, in addition to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, the Yak-40 visited Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru with the Soviets claiming that they garnered an order for five examples from Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, although there is no evidence that these were ever delivered. 

Flight International - 07Oct71 - page 2063 

UPDATED 25Mar18:  Good friend Carlos Abella, editor of the excellent Argentine aviation blog Rollout Spotting with exhaustive and detailed coverage of many subjects of interest related to Argentine and Latin American aviation history and current developments, posted this article several years ago with many details about the Aeroflot Yak-40's 1972 South American sales tour:

Rollout Spotting: Aeroflot Yak-40 at Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) on 06Mar72

In summary, the Yak-40 visited both Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile with the idea of selling the aircraft to airlines of these two countries. 

The then Chilean socialist government of President Salvador Allende was considering adding Russian-built Ilyushin IL-62 long-range jets to the fleet of the government-owned national airline LAN Chile (today's LATAM) given the country's close relationship with the Soviet Union. The Yak-40 was flown to Santiago to pitch this aircraft type too.

Argentina's political situation at the time was not very conducive to increasing commercial ties with the USSR with most business leaders being right-leaning but the English aviation publication Flight International reported that the small regional airline, Aerochaco, based in the northern city of Reconquista, Chaco province ordered two Yak-40's with an option for one more.  However, the Argentine government would not allow the aircraft to operate on the Argentine register due to its not being certificated by the US Federal Aviation Administration.  Also, the Yak's operating economics were apparently poor being small for a jet-powered aircraft with only 24-32 seats.  

A turboprop Antonov 32 was apparently later also demonstrated to the airline but neither type entered service with Aerochaco.  

Aerochaco later went on to operate two Fairchild Hiller FH-227's (stretched model of the Dutch F-27).     

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-40
http://www.airliners.net/aircraft-data/yakovlev-yak-40/386
https://aerospotter.blogspot.com.ar/2013/03/codling-en-aeroparque.html
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerochaco

Andes Lineas Aereas will fly families of Argentine soldiers fallen in the South Atlantic War to the islands on 26Mar18

Two chartered Andes Lineas Aereas MD-83's will fly from Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) to the Mt. Pleasant Royal Air Force base on the Malvinas/Falklands islands on 26Mar18 carrying 180 family members of 88 Argentine soldiers buried in the Argentine War Memorial Cemetery at Darwin. 

The 88 soldiers were identified last year by a team from the Argentine Forensic Society assisted by specialists from Australia, Chile, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and the International Red Cross through the use of DNA samples.  The British authorities will reportedly hand over personal belongings of the previously unidentified soldiers to the families.  

The charter of these aircraft and all of the costs on the islands associated with this journey are being paid for by Eduardo Eurnekian, president of Corporacion America, owner of Aeropuertos Argentina 2000, which runs most of the airports in Argentina that have airline service (and some that do not).  A Gulfstream business jet owned by Mr. Eurnekian and a chartered American Jet Fairchild Metro 23 freighter (also paid for by Mr. Eurnekian) will also fly to the islands, the latter carrying new tombstones with the fallen soldiers' names on them to replace the existing ones bearing the legend "Argentine Soldier only known to God".    

Sources:

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180222/avn-180222.html
https://www.clarin.com/politica/familiares-caidos-viajaran-darwin-aviones-privados-ezeiza-26-marzo_0_SyAc3Lxdz.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Route Changes - Pursuit of Profitability & Direct Domestic Connections - Part 2

* Cordoba (COR) - Bahia Blanca (BHI) - eff 03Apr18 - 5x/weekly

Flights to be operated by Austral E190's.  Bahia Blanca (BHI) is scheduled to be the 16th destination operated year-round by the Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral group from its Cordaba (COR) hub, and the 17th when counting Mar del Plata (MDQ), which is served on a seasonal summer basis. 

* Cordoba (COR) - Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) - eff XXApr18 - Route Cancelled

Suspended due to end of summer season. 

* Cordoba (COR) - Porto Seguro (BPS) - eff XXApr18 - Route Cancelled

Suspended due to the end of the summer season despite having continued 1x/weekly after the summer in 2017.

* Cordoba (COR) - Salvador (SSA) - eff XXApr18 - Route Cancelled

Suspended due to the end of the summer season despite having continued 1x/weekly after the summer in 2017.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Punta Cana (PUJ) - eff 01May18 - increase from 4x/weekly to 1x/daily

This route is currently operated 4x/weekly with A330's but will pass to 1x/daily service using Aerolineas' new 737 MAX 8's.  The long range of the MAX series allows for routes like EZE-PUJ to be served by smaller aircraft more frequently and will make routes that are too "thin" on passenger traffic to support  traditional long-range aircraft, economically viable (see Cordoba (COR) to Punta Cana (PUJ) below).

Long-range aircraft are generally large so that they can carry a lot of fuel but their size makes them burn a lot of fuel too, which means that they have to carry a large payload of passengers, cargo, or combination of both to be profitable.  But the new generation of 737 MAX aircraft burn a lot less fuel than their predecessors, the 737 NG series, so they can fly farther on the same amount of gas while only needing to fill 150-180 seats.

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Madrid (MAD) - eff XXJun18 - increase from 7x to 10x/weekly

This route is currently served mainly with A340-300's but the new flights will be operated by A330-200's. 

* Cordoba (COR) - Punta Cana (PUJ) - eff XXJul18 - 1x/weekly

This route, which is relatively "thin" on passenger traffic, is now economically viable using the long-range smaller 737 MAX 8 instead of a larger aircraft like the A330, which was previously necessary for a route of this length.   

* Cordoba (COR) - San Martin de los Andes (CPC) - eff July to September

  

This is a seasonal flight for the winter ski season.  

Sources:

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/11/bahia-blanca-el-nuevo-destino-del-hub.html

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2018/03/novedades-aeronauticas-para-cordoba.html

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/276564/aerolineas-argentinas-punta-cana-service-changes-from-may-2018/ via Eric Trum

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2018/avn180215/avn-180215.html

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2018/03/novedades-aeronauticas-para-cordoba.html

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Route Changes - Pursuit of Profitability & Direct Domestic Connections - Part 1

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Caracas (CCS) - eff 28Jul17 - Route Cancelled

Aerolineas Airbus A330-200, LV-FNK (c/n 358), operated the carrier's last service to Caracas (CCS) on 28Jul17, flying the return sector on 29Jul17.  Like many other airlines, Aerolineas has suspended service indefinitely to the Venezuelan capital due to political unrest in the country and the retention by the self-proclaimed Bolivaran government of hard-currency ticket sales that collectively have cost foreign carriers several billions (thousand millions) of lost USD revenue in the last few years.     

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Bogota (BOG) - eff 09Aug17 - increase from 4x to 5x/weekly but back to 4x !

The suspension of the 1x/weekly service to Caracas freed up an A330 to be deployed on the EZE-BOG route allowing for one additional weekly flight on the sector.  However, it was announced in February that this route would go back to 4x/weekly.   

* Cordoba (COR) - Posadas (PSS) - eff 26Dec17 - 3x/weekly

Flights operated by Austral E190's.  Posadas (PSS) is the 15th destination operated year-round by the Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral group from its Cordaba (COR) hub, and the 16th when counting Mar del Plata (MDQ), which is served on a seasonal summer basis. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Barcelona (BCN) - eff 01Feb18 - Route Cancelled

The cancellation of this service was controversial as it was, according to Aerolineas Argentinas' president Mario Dell' Acqua, due to the weak financial performance of the route (presumably in the face of competition from new LCC Level on the route) and also the "lack of cooperation" from the carrier's labor unions that "aggravated" the situation.

* Bahia Blanca (BHI) - Neuquen (NQN) - eff 05Mar18 - 4x/weekly

Flights to be operated by Austral E190's.  This route was already operated in September and December 2017.  The airline has established a pattern where it will be operated most months of the year but will be replaced by Bahia Blanca (BHI) to Bariloche (BRC) during the summer and winter months (Bariloche is a lake and mountain resort).  

With this flight, Bahia Blanca (BHI) now has nonstop service to seven Argentine airports; Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) and Ezeiza (EZE), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Mar del Plata (MDQ), Neuquen (NQN), Trelew (REL) and Ushuaia (USH) with Cordoba (COR) to be added in April.   

Neuquen (NQN) now has nonstop flights to Bahia Blanca (BHI), Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP), Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), Cordoba (COR) and Mendoza (MDZ). 

Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral continues to implement the Argentine national government's air transportation policy of connecting "internal" cities directly with each other without having to connect through Buenos Aires.    

* Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) - Parana (PRA) - eff 06Mar18 - increase from 6x to 11x/weekly

All 11 flights operated by Austral E190's. 

* Jujuy (JUJ) - Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) - eff 24Mar18 - 30Jun18 - 1x/weekly

This flight was operated for a tour operator during the 2018 summer season and is now being flown again, at least until 30Jun18, with seats being sold directly to the general public.  The main purpose of the route is to promote inbound tourism to the high mountain desert region of northwest Argentina.  Flights operated by Aerolineas Argentinas 737-800's. 

* Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Porto Alegre (POA) - eff 03Apr18 - increase from 7x to 14x/weekly

Additional flights to be operated by Austral E190's complementing the existing 737-800 flights that depart EZE but return to Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP).

Sources:

https://aviacionline.com/2017/10/aerolineas-argentinas-suma-un-nuevo-vuelo-a-bogota-y-abandona-definitivamente-caracas/

https://aviacionline.com/2017/11/aerolineas-argentinas-confirma-a-posadas-como-nuevo-destino-del-hub-cordoba/

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/275981/aerolineas-argentinas-ends-barcelona-service-in-jan-2018/ via Eric Trum

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171130/avn-171130.html

https://aviacionline.com/2018/02/aerolineas-argentinas-reanuda-sus-vuelos-entre-neuquen-y-bahia-blanca/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-ya-opera-11-vuelos-semanales-entre-parana-y-buenos-aires/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-extiende-y-abre-la-comercializacion-de-sus-vuelos-entre-jujuy-y-san-pablo/

https://aviacionline.com/2018/03/aerolineas-argentinas-duplica-sus-vuelos-entre-buenos-aires-y-porto-alegre/

FLEET UPDATE: LATAM Argentina receives 16th A320, 19th aircraft overall

LATAM Argentina's 16th A320, LV-HQI (c/n 3319), landed at Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) on 11Mar18, joining the airline's fleet after flying from Mexico City (MEX) (via Lima (LIM)) where it had been painted in LATAM colors. 

LV-HQI was originally delivered to LAN Airlines as CC-CQN in 2007 and went on to fly in Colombia before rejoining LAN (later LATAM Chile) in 2011.  LATAM Argentina has had a fairly stable fleet of 15 A320's in recent years so it is possible that the arrival of LV-HQI will not result in an addition to the carrier's fleet but will instead replace one of the airline's other A320's, either temporarily while the aircraft is undergoing maintenance or permanently.  The possibility of the latter is reinforced by LATAM Argentina's recently announced plans to drop all service to Bahia Blanca (BHI) and San Juan (UAQ) on 01Jun18.

In addition to its A320 fleet, LATAM Argentina has three 767-300's that it operates on the Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) - Miami (MIA) route 10x/weekly.    

Sources:

https://desdeelpatioblog.com/2018/03/11/la-llegada-del-nuevo-avion-de-latam-argentina/
http://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-a320-3319.htm

ROUTE UPDATES: Aerolineas Argentinas Seasonal Summer Service

* Seasonal Summer Service 

Aerolineas Argentinas / Austral were reported by various news outlets to be planning the following routes during the southern hemisphere summer months and presumably operated them though planned service occasionally does not materialize as announced:

* Cordoba (COR) - Mar del Plata (MDQ) - eff 10Dec17 - seasonal summer service

Flights were scheduled to be operated by Austral E190's 3x/weekly which transitioned to 7x/weekly when the peak summer arrived, presumably in January.

* Cordoba (COR) - Punta del Este (PDP) - eff 25Dec17 - seasonal summer service

Flights were scheduled to be operated by Austral E190's and Aerolineas Argentinas 737 series aircraft 4x/weekly. 

* Cordoba (COR) - Florianopolis (PDP) - eff 01Jan18 - seasonal summer service

Flights were planned to be operated by Austral E190's 3x/weekly.

* General Information on Seasonal Summer Service without detailed start dates, aircraft types etc.:    

* Jujuy (JUJ) - Sao Paulo - January & February - 1x/weekly

Service was presumably to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) with type of aircraft not announced.  These were charter flights contracted by the package tour operator Badino.  This service was significant in that it was to connect northwest Argentina directly with Brazil for inbound and outbound tourism without connecting through Buenos Aires Aeroparque (AEP) or Cordoba (COR).         

* Bahia Blanca (BHI) - Bariloche (BRC) - 4x/weekly

Was probably operated with Austral E190's as they are the aircraft type most commonly used in domestic routes connecting "interior" points directly to each other. 

* Mar del Plata (MDQ) summer service

Buenos Aires (presumably Aeroparque (AEP)) increase to 30 weekly flights.

Flights from Cordoba (COR), Mendoza (MDZ), Rosario (ROS), and Tucuman (TUC) were due to start in December presumably operated mostly by Austral E190's as in the past.

* Brazil summer service

Flights to Florianopolis (FLN) from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque and/or Ezeiza?), Cordoba (COR), Mendoza (MDZ), and Rosario (ROS).  

Flights to Rio de Janeiro Galeao (GIG) from Cordoba (COR) and Rosario (ROS).  

* Uruguay summer service

Flights to Punta del Este (PDP) from Cordoba (COR) and Rosario (ROS).

Flights to Punta del Este (PDP) from Buenos Aires (mostly or exclusively from Aeroparque) increasing from the typical 1x/daily offseason service to 32x/weekly in the peak January / February summer season.

Sources:

http://aeropuertocordoba.blogspot.com.ar/2017/09/novedades-aerocomerciales-en-cordoba_14.html

http://www.siscoma.com.ar/online/aviacion/2017/avn171102/avn-171102.html