On Thursday, Aerolíneas Argentinas confirmed it would employ its Airbus A330 fleet to operate long-haul flights from the Jorge Newbery Airfield (AEP) in Buenos Aires. In a press release, the flag carrier announced the destinations it would serve from this airfield starting August 7, 2023.
The brand new destinations served
Today, Aerolíneas Argentinas announced it would start flying from the Jorge Newbery Airfield to Miami (MIA), Latest York John F. Kennedy (JFK), El Calafate (FTE), Iguazú (IGR), and Ushuaia (USH) airports using its Airbus A330 fleet. The flights to those destinations will begin on August 7.
The airline already flies to Latest York and Miami with the Airbus A330-200 but does it from Buenos Aires’ most important international hub, Ezeiza International Airport (EZE). Meanwhile, it already flies to Calafate, Iguazú, and Ushuaia from AEP, however it does it by operating narrowbody jets, not widebodies.
Photo: HMBSoFL Photography/Shutterstock.
Within the case of the brand new Miami flights, Aerolíneas Argentinas will operate them on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. They’ll depart at 23:30 local time. The airline will operate three weekly return flights (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays) departing at 10:05 local time.
The brand new service between AEP and JFK could have three flights per week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, departing at 23:55. Return flights might be on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, departing from JFK at 15:25.
Pablo Ceriani, Chief Executive Officer at Aerolíneas Argentinas said,
Why is it controversial?
Nonetheless, opening long-haul flights from the Jorge Newbery Airfield has been seen as controversial. Aerolíneas Argentinas is seemingly getting an unfair advantage by having the ability to operate long-haul services from this hub, positioned near Buenos Aires downtown.
Photo: Carlos Yudica/Shutterstock.
Historically, the Jorge Newbery Airfield has only been authorized for domestic services. Only recently it was approved for some regional services across South America. For essentially the most of its history, the runway’s length was insufficient to receive long-haul widebody jets. Nonetheless, two years ago, the runway was prolonged by 590 meters, growing from 2,100 to just about 2,600 meters in length. It was also prolonged by 20 meters in width. With this expansion, it’s now able to receiving the A330-200, of which Aerolíneas Argentinas operates nine. Still, it is just not long enough to receive other widebody jets similar to the Boeing 767, 777, and 787s. Only the Boeing 777-2000 has a Maximum Take off Weight (MTOW) of two,530 meters, having the ability to depart from AEP’s runway.
As of June 2023, 4 airlines operate long-haul flights from the USA to Buenos Aires. All of them land at Ezeiza in the meanwhile. These airlines are American Airlines (flying from Dallas, Latest York, and Miami), Aerolíneas Argentinas, Delta (Atlanta), and United Airlines (Houston).
American Airlines employs the Boeing 787-8 for its services from Dallas and Miami and the Boeing 777-200 from Latest York and Miami. Delta employs its Boeing 767-400 fleet from Atlanta and United Airlines the Boeing 777 from Houston. None of those airlines has confirmed it might have an interest (or could give you the chance to) fly to AEP as a substitute of EZE.
In theory, all these three airlines could fly to AEP, since United and American operate Boeing 777s, and Delta has a small and declining A330-200 fleet. Nonetheless, relocating would mean additional costs for these airlines which have not shown interest in making such a move.
Would you wish to fly onboard Aerolíneas Argentinas A330 to the Jorge Newbery Airfield? Do you think that US carriers should begin flying to AEP? Tell us within the comments below.