Argentine carrier Southern Winds is preparing to enhance services on high-density domestic routes and expand its international network.
The Cordoba-based airline, until recently a regional operator, is raising frequencies to Santiago to 15 a week and will launch services to Asunción, Porto Alegre and Santa Cruz de la Sierra this year. It is set to launch flights this month between Buenos Aires and Miami, with services to Madrid and New York to be added soon.
The carrier's international route network strategy, which is designed to increase its foreign currency income, was fine-tuned earlier this year after promising results from the Santiago route. Although this service accounts for less than 8% of the carrier's capacity, it has generated over 13% of first quarter revenue.
The carrier has leased two Boeing 767-300ERs from International Lease Finance for its US and Madrid routes and has contracted Air Atlanta Icelandic to fly them to evade the expected downgrading of Argentina to Category 2 status under the US Federal Aviation Administration's International Aviation Safety Assessment Programme.
Two Boeing 737-200s are expected to be delivered on lease this month for its shorter international routes and high-demand domestic services. More 737s may be acquired pending an evaluation and renegotiation of the airline's Bombardier CRJ100 leasing arrangements.
Source: Flight International
