Aerolíneas Argentinas is set to receive three Boeing 737 MAX which were originally intended for Ukraine International Airlines (UIA); however, due to the Russian invasion, UIA could not take delivery of them.
In late March, it was announced that Aerolíneas Argentinas has reserved five registrations with the Argentine aeronautical authorities. These include two Airbus A330-200 aircraft (LV-KHT and LV-KHU), formerly operated by South African Airways, and three Boeing 737 MAX aircraft (LV-KIT, KIU, and KIV).
The Three Ukrainian Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft
Pablo Ceriani, Aerolíneas Argentinas’ CEO, confirmed that in 2023 the company will receive three additional Boeing 737-8 aircraft, bringing the total number of aircraft of the same model to ten by the end of this year. These will be joined by the aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025, raising the total number to 17.
According to internal sources of the company, the aircraft will be sent for painting tasks to the Fábrica Argentina de Aviones (FAdeA) in Córdoba.
Also Read: [Photo Gallery] LV-KEJ, the New Boeing 737 MAX of Aerolíneas Argentinas
The state-owned company negotiated for the Boeing 737 MAX non-taken units in the United States from various airlines, including Belavia, S7 Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines, among others. According to the blog 737-max-production, there are more than a dozen undelivered Boeing 737 aircraft.
The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will be leased under an agreement with ICBC Aircraft and were manufactured in 2019. Their previous Ukrainian registrations were UR-MXC, UR-MXB, and UR-MXA.
Aerolíneas Argentinas’ Boeing 737 MAX current fleet
Aerolíneas Argentinas currently operates seven Boeing 737-8 aircraft (LV-HKV, -HKW, -HKU, -GVE, -GVD, -KEI, and KEJ), serving domestic and regional flights, including one of the longest routes for this model.
According to Cirium, the link between Buenos Aires and Punta Cana (PUJ), Dominican Republic, is currently the third-longest route operated by a Boeing 737 MAX, covering a distance of 6,000 kilometers.
Other regional routes regularly served by the aircraft include São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Santiago de Chile, and, starting from July, Lima.
On a domestic level, Aerolíneas Argentinas flies to Comodoro Rivadavia, Córdoba, Corrientes, El Calafate, Mendoza, Neuquén, Puerto Iguazú, Puerto Madryn, San Juan, Salta, San Carlos de Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes, Río Grande, Trelew, Tucumán, and Ushuaia.
