JACKSON FLORES / RIO DE JANEIRO
Argentinian flag carrier Aerolineas Argentinas is negotiating the lease of a further six Boeing 737-300s and is expanding its offshore network with a second European hub and a base in Miami.
The new 737s are earmarked for operation on the airline's high-density domestic routes and international services within South America. Their introduction will allow six Boeing MD-83/88s to be transferred to the carrier's Madrid hub and the new bases it is to set up in Athens and Miami.
Aerolineas operates three weekly flights from Madrid to London Gatwick and Paris Charles de Gaulle, and the fleet expansion will enable it to add Frankfurt, Milan and Vienna to the network. The Athens hub will initially serve Tunis, Istanbul and other Mediterranean and North African coastal destinations. The Miami operation is expected to link with Cancún, Punta Cana, St Maarten and other Caribbean destinations.
Sources at the airline confirm that it plans to go ahead with the delivery of four Airbus A340-600s that it has on order between 2004 and 2007, but is not expected to expand its short-haul fleet beyond the six 737-300s.
Aerolineas posted a net loss of $392.4 million during fiscal year 2001, but has managed to stem its financial haemorrhage and register operating profits in July and August. Its share of the domestic market has grown from 17% a year ago to 78%, as it benefited from the problems of rival local carriers AIRG and Dinar. Dinar recently suspended operations. Aerolineas expects to be out of bankruptcy protection by December.
Source: Flight International
