The mayor of Reconquista, in the northern part of Santa Fe province, Argentina, presented a project to encourage American Jet to establish flights between Teniente Daniel Jukic Airport (RCQ) and Buenos Aires/Aeroparque (AEP), starting in March 2025.
According to the document, the goal is to improve connectivity in northern Santa Fe, boosting economic activity in the agro-industrial hub and tourism. Local media reported that American Jet would operate four weekly flights using Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner 23 aircraft, with a capacity of 19 passengers.
It is worth noting that in April 2024, Aerolíneas Argentinas canceled its flights to Reconquista after the Santa Fe provincial government decided not to pursue additional agreements requiring financial support to sustain the route.
This is not the first time Reconquista has subsidized connectivity between Reconquista and Buenos Aires, with support from regional business entities. Prior to Aerolíneas Argentinas, LADE operated biweekly flights in 2023, and in the past, financial support was also provided to Avianca Argentina, Aerochaco-Macair, and Flyest.
This new agreement with American Jet follows the airline’s announcement that it will add nine aircraft seating between 50 and 100 passengers by 2025, without specifying the models. Additionally, in November, Argentina simplified procedures to facilitate the development of regional aviation.
According to the Reconquista municipality, the potential agreement with American Jet comes amid meetings with Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 authorities to maintain the current operational structure and personnel, along with airport police, EANA, healthcare, and fire services.
Reactions from the neighboring city of Avellaneda
The mayor of Avellaneda, Gonzalo Braidot, shared further details about the negotiations to resume regular flights to Reconquista in an interview with the local outlet ReconquistaHoy. He explained that meetings with American Jet and regional business leaders progressed with concrete proposals to subsidize operations. A financing scheme was proposed in which the region would contribute $30,000 monthly for 18 months until the flights become self-sustaining through ticket sales. This scheme would be divided into three parts: one-third contributed by the business sector, another third by participating municipalities and local lawmakers, and the final third by the province, managed through the Regional Development Association (ADR).
Braidot emphasized that while there was consensus on the funding scheme, specific amounts to be covered by each municipality or legislator still needed to be defined. He also highlighted that the funding would require formalization through approvals from Municipal Councils and the ADR as the entity responsible for channeling funds to the airline. He also revealed that the Business Chamber chose to postpone initial test flights to March 2025, as historical data for December was unfavorable for guaranteeing immediate success.
Finally, Braidot expressed dissatisfaction with the announcement by Reconquista’s mayor, Amadeo Vallejos, regarding the project, as there was no final consensus or formal agreements signed. According to the Avellaneda mayor, this complicated negotiations by creating the impression of a unilateral move, despite the effort being intended as a collective initiative among several localities.
The Province of Santa Fe connects with American Jet
Reconquista is not the only city approaching American Jet. The municipality of Santa Fe (the provincial capital) held meetings with the airline for potential operations at Sauce Viejo International Airport, potentially bringing back a second airline connecting to Buenos Aires.
Currently, Aerolíneas Argentinas is the only carrier operating in Santa Fe (capital), with twelve weekly flights on Embraer 190 aircraft.
Between November 2018 and March 2020, Flyest operated 4–5 weekly flights using CRJ 200 aircraft, which continued to Sunchales (NCJ). Previously, between June 2018 and June 2019, Avianca Argentina operated twelve weekly flights using ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Sol Líneas Aéreas operated from 2007 to 2016, using Saab 340 aircraft, including triangular routes with Rafaela and Rosario. Before that, Aero VIP operated until 2003, LAER (Línea Aérea de Entre Ríos) until 2002, and Líneas Aéreas Federales Sociedad Anónima (LAFSA) until 2003.
In other words, since 2020, Sauce Viejo has not had a second airline option.
