The Argentine Air Force, through LADE -Líneas Aéreas del Estado- will operate its Boeing 737-700 registered T-99 on Flybondi flights after reaching an agreement with the ultra-low-cost45 airline, as the company was affected by the lack of crews as a consequence of the third wave of COVID-19 infections, which also resulted in the delay in the arrival of its fifth Boeing 737-800.
The agreement, according to close sources, covers the operation of the T-99 with LADE crew -i.e. FAA personnel- on about 3 flights per day between now and January 21.
The Boeing 737-76N, registration T-99 and named «Islas Malvinas» joined the I Air Brigade, Transport Group I, in April 2021, and usually operates logistic transport flights for the Argentine Air Force or specific LADE operations (it is not part of the regular schedule on LADE routes, as the Saab 340, the Fokker F28 or the Twin Otter do). It has 141 single-class seats and was delivered to its first operator, Ethiopian Airlines, in March 2004.
The African airline kept it in its fleet until 2014, when it was transferred to SAS, operating it until 2020.
Flybondi will use the T-99 as a temporary measure after taking delivery, this morning of its fifth Boeing 737-800 registration LV-KCD.
The first flight of the T-99 for Flybondi was made this morning, between Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and San Miguel de Tucumán.
