The Argentine Secretariat of Transportation announced today that three airlines have been authorized to increase their presence in the South American country, which, they assured, «will bring greater competitiveness to the Argentine air transport sector», as stated in a press release. Many of these routes had been previously disclosed weeks or months ago.
According to the agency, SKY Airline has been authorized to operate under the fifth freedom of the air between São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) – San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC), with a stopover in Santiago (SCL), Chile. The airline had announced this route last September, highlighting that passengers would not need to deplane during the stopover in the Chilean capital. This authorization is in addition to the new route between Santiago and El Calafate, announced three months ago and approved last week by the Argentine government.
The second airline is JetSMART, which, through its Lima subsidiary, will be able to operate daily flights to Buenos Aires. This also means an increase to two daily flights between the two capitals, as JetSMART Argentina currently operates this route from Aeroparque. The ultra-low-cost carrier had requested this increase in March 2023 from Peru’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC).
Finally, Arajet has been authorized to fly between Punta Cana and Buenos Aires. However, this connection began earlier in November, replacing the Santo Domingo – Buenos Aires route. Starting in December, the frequency will increase from 7 to 8 weekly flights, taking advantage of the southern hemisphere’s summer peak season.
According to the provision, the authorization falls within Argentina’s bilateral agreements with various countries, including the Memorandum of Understanding and the Air Services Agreement signed with Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. These regulations establish the conditions for operations between the nations and outline the designation of carriers authorized by their respective aeronautical authorities.
The measure, part of the «Open Skies» policy, aims to «enhance the competitiveness of the air sector and is framed within the deregulation policies promoted by the Secretariat of Transportation of the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Deregulation and State Transformation of Argentina», emphasized the Secretariat in a statement. In all cases, it is highlighted that frequencies will be unlimited, allowing airlines to adjust their operations according to commercial needs and seasonality.
More flights or fewer flights in Argentina?
While the international market has been developing, there are also some setbacks with two airlines canceling three routes to Buenos Aires, either due to low occupancy or diversification in their operations.
JetSMART canceled its connections to Montevideo and Curitiba at the end of September due to occupancies below 40%. Meanwhile, GOL Linhas Aéreas will suspend its direct flights between Bogotá and Buenos Aires in February, replacing them with a stopover in Brasilia after inaugurating a nonstop route with Ezeiza.
Despite these reductions, both companies are making adjustments. JetSMART added three Airbus A320ceo aircraft to reinforce its domestic flights and connections to Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis. GOL, on the other hand, has adapted its strategy in partnership with Avianca, which has increased its frequencies on routes such as Bogotá-Buenos Aires.
Despite these changes, a record season for international flights is expected, driven by increased frequencies from airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, GOL, LATAM, JetSMART, Flybondi, and Aerolíneas Argentinas.
