After the successful summer season, LADE, the Argentine Air Force’s development airline, decided to maintain its operations at Villa Reynolds Airport, which serves Villa Mercedes, and to Conlara Valley International Airport, which serves the surroundings of Merlo, until August with the possibility of extending it for the whole year.
Between January and March LADE operated one flight a week to both destinations from Buenos Aires/Aeroparque (AEP), which in certain weeks increased to two flights a week, given the good reception by tourists and residents of the area.
The flights were operated in Fokker F28 (TC-52) and/or Boeing 737-700 (TC-99). According to the Secretary of Transportation of San Luis, the flights reached occupancies of 90% or higher.
Recently, the staff of the company Líneas Aéreas del Estado (LADE) in San Luis trained members of the Aeronautical Development Entity (EDA) and the Municipality of Villa Mercedes on the use of the ticket sales system as well as the check-in procedure.
In order to maintain tourism and business activity in the province, the Secretary of State for Transportation of San Luis confirmed 15 new flights.
The 15 new dates will take place on April 8, 13, 17 and 29; May 9 and 27; June 17 and 21; July 8, 18 and 31; and August 12, 15, 26 and 29.
Schedules
| Flight | From | Departure | To | Arrival |
| TC 100 | Buenos Aires/Aeroparque (AEP) | 10:20 | Valle de Conlara/Merlo (SRC) | 11:30 |
| TC 100 | Valle de Conlara/Merlo (SRC) | 12:30 | Villa Mercedes (RLO) | 13:00 |
| TC 101 | Villa Mercedes (RLO) | 13:00 | Buenos Aires/Aeroparque (AEP) | 15:10 |
To purchase tickets, those interested may do so in the coming days when the different options are enabled, either via the web (www.lade.com.ar) or in person at the offices of the Ente Desarrollo Aeronáutico (EDA) local N°9 of EDIRO, Valle del Conlara International Airport, Villa Mercedes Tourist Office (Urquiza 33) and authorized travel agencies.
For further information, please contact via WhatsApp 266 5248085.
Other LADE flights
In addition to San Luis, from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) LADE also operates to San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC) with a stopover in Bahía Blanca (BHI) and Mar del Plata (MDQ) with a weekly flight.
Currently, its main hub is Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD), where it concentrates most of its services. From this airport, it flies to Río Gallegos (RGL), Río Grande (RGA), and Ushuaia (USH) twice a week (Mondays and Fridays) in Saab 340 aircraft.
In addition, Río Gallegos has twelve weekly flights to Río Grande in Twin Otter aircraft.
It has a «milk» flight every Tuesday, which goes from Comodoro Rivadavia (CRD) to Mendoza (MDZ) after a stopover in Trelew (REL), Bahía Blanca (BHI), Neuquén (NQN), and Malargue (LGS); and the return flight is on Thursdays, operated in Saab 340 aircraft.
LADE’s commercial fleet
According to Aeropuertos Argentinos 2000’s information system, they are currently operating to such destinations with the following aircraft:
- Saab 340 (TC-32), with a capacity for 34 passengers.
- Twin Otter Series 400 (TC-86), with a capacity for 19 passengers.
- Fokker 28 «Fellowship» (TC-52), with a capacity for 79 passengers.
- Boeing 737-700 (TC-99), with a capacity for 133 passengers.
LADE has other Saab 340 and Twin Otter aircraft for military and special functions of the Argentine Air Force (FAA).
See also: Ministry of Defense explains charter flights agreement between LADE and Flybondi
