Aerolineas Argentinas Adds To Fleet

We would be remiss if we did not mention that Aerolineas Argentinas continued its fleet modernization last month by closing on another aircraft lease.

Aircastle Limited has delivered one Airbus A330-200 aircraft on long-term lease to Aerolíneas Argentinas, the first of two deliveries for the carrier.

"Aircastle's flexible, relationship-oriented approach and our strategy to invest in creative and innovative structures add considerable value to both our client partnerships and Aircastle's shareholders,” Ron Wainshal, Aircastle's CEO, said in a statement. “We are looking forward to a long relationship with Aerolíneas, one of Latin America's premier carriers."

Aircastle Limited is a broker for airlines that helps to acquire, lease and sell commercial jet aircraft to carriers throughout the world. 

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The A330-200 is a modern wide-body configured to meet Aerolíneas Argentinas' long-haul requirements, and features the airline's new cabin interior with lie-flat seats in business class.  It will be used to replace older, less fuel-efficient aircraft.  A second Airbus A330-200 is scheduled to be delivered in January 2017.

"This transaction is historical for Aerolíneas due to the unprecedented conditions reached,” Isela Costantini, Aerolíneas Argentinas’ CEO, said. “The effort of a great team, as well, allows us to celebrate the arrival of this new group of Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which maintains our focus on sustainability and allows us to transport more passengers and offer a better service every day."

It’s all part of a larger plan to revamp the airline. Aerolineas Argentinas previously announced the opening of new routes centered around the city of Cordoba, about 400 miles from Buenos Aires. Last month the airline began six weekly flights, Sunday to Friday, from Cordoba to Rio Cuarto to Buenos Aires, resuming a connection that it had stopped operating 20 years ago. The new flights will depart Cordoba at 6:30 a.m., arriving in Rio Cuarto at 7:20 a.m., depart from that city at 8 a.m., and arriving in Buenos Aires at 9:10 a.m.

The reverse route, Buenos Aires-Río Cuarto-Cordoba departs at 8:25 p.m., arrives in Rio Cuarto at 9:50 p.m. and ends in Cordoba at 11:20 p.m. The airline reports that passengers’ interest in the new route is reflected in the percentage of reservations made for the first flights between Buenos Aires and Rio Cuarto, which exceeded 60 percent of the seats offered.