The Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) received an Embraer C-120 Brasilia, which will perform passenger transport and medical evacuation missions. With the arrival of this new aircraft, the FAU strengthens its operational capacity, now having two units of this model in its fleet.
The aircraft was presented at Air Base No. 1, located at Montevideo’s Carrasco International Airport (MDV), during a ceremony attended by Deputy Defense Minister Marcelo Montaner and Air Force Commander-in-Chief, General of the Air Luis de León.
Marcelo Montaner emphasized that «this is a very important addition because this aircraft has specific capabilities, such as medical transport.» The Embraer C-120 Brasilia is a Brazilian-manufactured aircraft designed for flights of up to six hours, boasting a cruising speed of 300 knots.
The Air Force Commander-in-Chief, Luis de León, stated that «for the Air Force, this is a strategically required asset, as we were replacing the Bandeirantes with a new platform. While this platform is already used, it is from 1999 and, in reality, meets the needs we already had with the other Brasilia, the FAU 550, providing us with strategic capacity in the sense that we now have two aircraft to meet our needs.»
«The capabilities of this aircraft for specialized transport and having a pressurized aircraft, when until now we only had the Hercules for those conditions, significantly enhance our ability to assist the public. The aircraft can operate across all of Uruguay and is prepared for that. It is a regional aircraft that can cover the entire region; we can reach Brazil without issues, as well as Santiago or any location in the Americas,» added Commander Luis de León.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-350177" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DSC04904-e1735255794678.jpg" alt="Embraer C-120 FAU 551" width="1200" height="800" />
The configuration of the new Embraer C-120, registered as FAU 551, can accommodate up to 30 passengers in its passenger transport version or switch to a layout that allows for 23 passengers and one stretcher. The stretcher, located in the rear of the cabin, is equipped to transport all types of patients.
The FAU 551 will complement the Air Force’s capacity alongside its Lockheed C-130 Hercules, with the advantage that the C-120 Brasilia features a pressurized cabin, improving travel conditions for patients. Additionally, the aircraft can operate in regional or small airports, facilitating medical evacuations for those in need, wherever they may be.

Uruguayan Air Force Enhances Fleet with New Embraer C-120 Brasilia for Medical Evacuations

The Paysandú «Tydeo Larre Borges» International Airport was officially inaugurated after a modernization process requiring an investment of $12.5 million. The event was attended by the President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, along with national and departmental authorities, including the Minister of National Defense, Armando Castaingdebat, and the Mayor of Paysandú, Nicolás Olivera.
According to <a href="https://aeropuertosuruguay.com.uy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aeropuertos Uruguay</a>, a subsidiary of Corporación América Airports, the works included the construction of a new 650 m² passenger terminal equipped with advanced technology and modern furnishings. Significant upgrades were also made to the aeronautical infrastructure, such as resurfacing the runway, a new apron, LED lighting, and an illumination system meeting international standards.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-02.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-349482" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-02.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-02.jpg 1500w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-02-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-02-1350x900.jpg 1350w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-02-768x512.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-02-150x100.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a>
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-03.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-349481" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-03.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-03.jpg 1500w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-03-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-03-1350x900.jpg 1350w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-03-768x512.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-03-150x100.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a>
President Lacalle Pou highlighted the positive impact of the renovated airport on connectivity and local pride: “This milestone not only serves practicality but also fosters pride in who we are,” he stated.
“An international airport is crucial for the life of a department. Being connected makes a difference because airports bring more opportunities. That’s why we are grateful to Aeropuertos Uruguay, who took the risk, dared, and is part of this process we all want and embrace,” said Nicolás Olivera, the Mayor of Paysandú.
The airport modernization also included a fiber-optic perimeter ring, a CCTV surveillance system, an automatic weather station, and a new fuel plant. Additionally, the old passenger terminal was refurbished for the National Air Police, and a new Fire Department station was built, equipped to handle emergencies.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-04.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-349480" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-04.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-04.jpg 1500w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-04-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-04-1350x900.jpg 1350w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-04-768x512.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-04-150x100.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a>
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-05.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-349479" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-05.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-05.jpg 1500w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-05-300x200.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-05-1350x900.jpg 1350w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-05-768x512.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/aeropuertos-uruguay-paysandu-05-150x100.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></a>
According to Aeropuertos Uruguay, the project is part of the National System of International Airports, which encompasses the modernization of six terminals across the country’s interior. Paysandú joins the already completed renovations in Carmelo, Rivera, Salto, and Melo, while works in Durazno are nearing completion.
Minister Castaingdebat stated that the new infrastructure would not only benefit passenger transport but also attract foreign investments to the department: “Today is a historic day for Paysandú and also for the interior of Uruguay.”

Inside the $12.5M Transformation of Paysandú International Airport

<a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/aerolineas-argentinas-cargo/">Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo</a> completed the transportation of an unusual and valuable shipment by delivering a Bugatti Chiron from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Montevideo (MVD), Uruguay. The operation was carried out aboard a Boeing 737-800 (BCF), registered as LV-KHQ.
The aircraft landed in Montevideo at 12:47 PM (local time) after a 9-hour and 37-minute flight, which included a stop in Lima. The exclusive vehicle, a <a href="https://www.bugatti.com/">Bugatti Chiron Sport «110 ans Bugatti»</a>, belonged to Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny. This model is one of only 20 units manufactured by the French automaker.
The operation was managed by Red Logistics, a company specializing in the transport of luxury automobiles, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stories/nicoovacca/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nico Vacca</a>, who deals in sports cars in Miami.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chiron.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-349180" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Chiron.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1445" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Chiron.jpg 1200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Chiron-249x300.jpg 249w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Chiron-747x900.jpg 747w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Chiron-768x925.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Chiron-150x181.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a>
Photo: Nico Vacca via Instagram
<figure id="attachment_349181" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-349181" style="width: 1190px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Bugatti.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-349181" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Bugatti.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="1263" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Bugatti.jpg 1200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Bugatti-285x300.jpg 285w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Bugatti-855x900.jpg 855w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Bugatti-768x808.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/12/Bugatti-150x158.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-349181" class="wp-caption-text">This model is one of the 20 units manufactured by the French automaker (Photo: Instagram @nicovacca)</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;
The car was acquired by businessman Oscar Fernández, an Argentine collector of sports cars, and will be showcased during the summer season in Punta del Este. Although the price of this Bugatti can reach 3.5 million dollars, the exact amount of the transaction has not been disclosed.
<h4>Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo today</h4>
For Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo, this operation represents an expansion of its experience in diversifying goods transportation. The airline operates regularly between Miami and Buenos Aires with its two Boeing 737 freighters, LV-CTC and LV-KHQ, conducting one to two weekly flights that sometimes include stops in Lima, Panama, Campinas/Viracopos, the Dominican Republic, and other destinations.
Additionally, in Argentina, the company works under logistics agreements to transport raw materials, such as salmon and seafood, from the southern regions of the country to El Calafate, Río Grande, and Ushuaia, as well as e-commerce goods.

Aerolíneas Argentinas Cargo Delivers Bugatti Chiron from Miami to Uruguay

<a href="https://www.skyairline.com">SKY Airline</a> inaugurated a new route between Montevideo (MVD) and Rio de Janeiro/Galeão (GIG), becoming the third between Uruguay and Brazil. This connection complements the existing flights to Salvador (SSA) and Florianópolis (FLN), and brings the total number of routes from Montevideo to five, alongside Lima (LIM) and Santiago (SCL). Now, the airline operates around 20 weekly flights at the airport serving the Uruguayan capital.
In the absence of a local airline, Uruguay has promoted the arrival of foreign carriers to strengthen connectivity with neighboring countries. The new route to Rio de Janeiro aims to serve both Uruguayan and Argentine tourists in anticipation of a summer season expected to set records on Brazilian beaches.
SKY will fly between Montevideo and Rio de Janeiro four times per week between December 16, 2024, and April 21, 2025.
<ul>
<li>Flight H2 645 GIG 15:05 &#8211; 18:20 MVD / Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.</li>
<li>Flight H2 644 MVD 11:10 &#8211; 13:55 GIG / Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.</li>
</ul>
According to the Cirium platform, for the first time, three airlines will operate on the same route, including GOL with four weekly flights and JetSMART with between 5 and 9 flights per week. The route carried 104,280 passengers between January and October 2024, with an occupancy rate of 83%, according to ANAC Brazil.
<h3>SKY Airline in Montevideo</h3>
SKY Airline is the carrier with the largest offering of destinations at Carrasco International Airport, although it ranks fourth in seat capacity, with a market share of 10.4%.
The company operates regular flights from Montevideo to:
<ul>
<li>Florianópolis, three weekly flights, from December to March, seasonal route.</li>
<li>Lima, three weekly flights.</li>
<li>Rio de Janeiro, four weekly flights, from December to April, seasonal route.</li>
<li>Salvador de Bahía, three weekly flights, from December to April, reduced to two flights per week.</li>
<li>Santiago, seven weekly flights (in the summer season), reduced to between two and four flights per week.</li>
</ul>

SKY Airline strengthens connectivity: launches new Montevideo–Rio de Janeiro service

<a href="https://www.skyairline.com/es/argentina">SKY Airline</a> inauguró una nueva ruta entre Montevideo (MVD) y Río de Janeiro/Galeão (GIG), siendo la tercera entre Uruguay y Brasil. Esta conexión complementa los vuelos ya existentes a <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/07/sky-inauguro-sus-vuelos-entre-santiago-y-salvador-de-bahia/">Salvador (SSA)</a> y <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/01/sky-inauguro-sus-vuelos-entre-lima-montevideo-y-florianopolis/">Florianópolis (FLN)</a>, y eleva a cinco el total de rutas desde Montevideo, junto a Lima (LIM) y Santiago (SCL). Ahora, la aerolínea opera alrededor de 20 vuelos semanales en el aeropuerto que sirve a la capital uruguaya.
Ante la ausencia de una aerolínea local, Uruguay ha promovido la llegada de compañías extranjeras para fortalecer la conectividad con países vecinos. La nueva ruta a Río de Janeiro busca atender tanto a turistas uruguayos como argentinos de cara a una temporada de verano que apunta a ser récord en las playas brasileñas.
SKY volará entre Montevideo y Río de Janeiro cuatro veces por semana entre el 16 de diciembre de 2024 y el 21 de abril de 2025.
<ul>
<li>vuelo H2 645 GIG 15:05 &#8211; 18:20 MVD / lunes, miércoles, viernes y domingos.</li>
<li>vuelo H2 644 MVD 11:10 &#8211; 13:55 GIG / lunes, miércoles, viernes y domingos.</li>
</ul>
De acuerdo a la plataforma Cirium, por primera vez, habrá tres aerolíneas operando en una misma ruta, que incluye GOL con cuatro vuelos semanales y JetSMART con entre 5 y 9 vuelos por semana. La ruta movilizó 104.280 pasajeros entre enero y octubre de 2024, con una ocupación del 83%, según ANAC Brasil.
<h3>SKY Airline en Montevideo</h3>
SKY Airline es la aerolínea con mayor oferta de destinos en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco, aunque ocupa el cuarto lugar en la de asientos, con una cuota del 10,4% de mercado.
La empresa vuela de manera regular desde Montevideo hacia:
<ul>
<li>Florianópolis, tres vuelos semanales, de diciembre a marzo, ruta de temporada.</li>
<li>Lima, tres vuelos semanales.</li>
<li>Río de Janeiro, cuatro vuelos semanales, de diciembre a abril, ruta de temporada.</li>
<li>Salvador de Bahía, tres vuelos semanales, de diciembre a abril y reduce a dos vuelos por semana.</li>
<li>Santiago, siete vuelos semanales (en temporada de verano) y reduce a entre dos y cuatro vuelos por semana.</li>
</ul>

SKY Airline sumó su tercer destino en Brasil desde Uruguay

The Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) in Asunción, Paraguay, added a new, unprecedented route to Recife (REC), operated by Azul Linhas Aéreas. The Brazilian airline will offer weekly flights until February 2, 2025, marking the only option for direct connectivity between Paraguay and northeastern Brazil.
The company will operate every Sunday with Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, configured for 136 passengers, providing a total of 2,176 seats from December to February.
<ul>
<li>AD 8762 REC 09:15 &#8211; 13:55 ASU</li>
<li>AD 8763 ASU 15:10 &#8211; 19:30 REC</li>
</ul>
According to César Grandolfo, Azul&#8217;s Institutional Relations Manager, this strategic connection strengthens the airline&#8217;s international network, promoting an increase in visitor flow and commercial exchange between the two countries.
<h3>Importance of Recife and Azul Linhas Aéreas</h3>
Recife, Azul&#8217;s main base in northeastern Brazil, connects to 43 domestic and five international destinations, solidifying itself as a major operations hub. The fleet at this base includes models such as the Cessna Caravan, Airbus A320neo, A330neo, Embraer 195, and Embraer E2.
Joaquín Rodríguez, General Director of Aena Brasil Airports, highlighted that the new connection with Asunción strengthens the international offering of Recife International Airport, which now features routes to seven international destinations, including Lisbon, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Buenos Aires (Ezeiza and Aeroparque), Santiago de Chile, and Montevideo.
On the other hand, Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, serving Asunción, has increased to seven Brazilian destinations for this summer season. Azul will have the largest route offering, connecting with Campinas/Viracopos (VCP), Curitiba (CWB), Florianópolis (FLN), and Recife.
Next is Paranair, which, during the summer season, will link Florianópolis and Rio de Janeiro/Galeão (GIG). LATAM, with 11 weekly flights, and GOL, with 6 per week, will connect the Paraguayan capital with São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU).

Azul Linhas Aéreas launches first-ever Asunción–Recife route with weekly flights

El Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi (ASU) en Asunción, Paraguay, sumó una nueva ruta inédita a Recife (REC), operada por Azul Linhas Aéreas. La aerolínea brasileña ofrecerá vuelos semanales hasta el 2 de febrero de 2025, en la que será la única opción de conectividad directa entre Paraguay y el noreste de Brasil.
La empresa volará cada domingo con aviones Embraer 195-E2, configurados para 136 pasajeros, para una oferta de 2.176 asientos entre diciembre a febrero.
<ul>
<li>AD 8762 REC 09:15 &#8211; 13:55 ASU</li>
<li>AD 8763 ASU 15:10 &#8211; 19:30 REC</li>
</ul>
Según César Grandolfo, gerente de Relaciones Institucionales de Azul, esta conexión estratégica refuerza la red internacional de la aerolínea, fomentando el aumento del flujo de visitantes y el intercambio comercial entre ambos países.
<h3>Importancia de Recife y Azul Linhas Aéreas</h3>
Recife, la principal base de Azul en el noreste de Brasil, conecta con 43 destinos nacionales y cinco internacionales, consolidándose como un importante centro de operaciones. La flota en esta base incluye modelos como el Cessna Caravan, Airbus A320neo, A330neo, Embraer 195 y Embraer E2.
Joaquín Rodríguez, director general de Aeropuertos de Aena Brasil, subrayó que la nueva conexión con Asunción fortalece la oferta internacional del Aeropuerto Internacional de Recife, que ahora cuenta con rutas hacia siete destinos internacionales, incluyendo Lisboa, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Buenos Aires (Ezeiza y Aeroparque), Santiago de Chile y Montevideo.
Por otro lado, el Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi, que sirve a Asunción, ha incrementado a siete destinos brasileños para esta temporada de verano. Azul tendrá la mayor oferta de rutas, al conectar con Campinas/Viracopos (VCP), <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/12/el-primer-vuelo-entre-asuncion-y-curitiba-tuvo-ocupacion-plena/">Curitiba (CWB),</a> Florianópolis (FLN) y Recife.
Le sigue <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2023/07/paranair-volara-entre-asuncion-y-rio-de-janeiro/">Paranair</a> que, durante la temporada de verano, enlazará Florianópolis y Río de Janeiro/Galeao (GIG). LATAM, con 11 vuelos semanales, y GOL ,con 6 por semana, enlazará la capital paraguaya con São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU).

Azul agrega la ruta Asunción – Recife y llega a cuatro conexiones directas entre Brasil y Paraguay

<a href="https://www.latam.com">LATAM</a> has resumed its flights between Santiago (SCL) and Punta del Este (PDP) in Uruguay, which will operate during the summer season until March 16, 2025, with three weekly flights on Airbus A320 aircraft, with a capacity of 174 seats. The airline will offer a total of 15,660 seats during the three months of operations.
LATAM operated in Punta del Este until February 2022, connecting twice weekly with Santiago and São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU), Brazil.
<h4>LATAM flight schedule to Punta del Este</h4>
<ul>
<li>Santiago – Punta del Este flight LA 431 SCL 07:00 – 09:20 PDP / Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.</li>
<li>Punta del Este – Santiago flight LA 431 PDP 10:20 – 12:55 SCL / Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.</li>
</ul>
LATAM is the leading airline operating in Uruguay in terms of seat capacity and frequencies, covering 21% and 22% of the market share, according to the Cirium platform. Currently, it flies from Montevideo to Lima (7 weekly flights), Santiago (14 weekly flights), and São Paulo (21 weekly flights), totaling 42 flights per week.
Punta del Este, meanwhile, reconnects with Chile. Currently, its international flights are operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas to Buenos Aires/Aeroparque and Azul to São Paulo/Guarulhos. During the summer season, it is joined by <a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/paranair/">Paranair</a>, with flights to Asunción, Paraguay, and to Campinas/Viracopos with Azul.

LATAM Brings Back Santiago to Punta del Este Flights for Summer Season

<a href="https://www.latamairlines.com/ar/es">LATAM</a> reanudó sus vuelos entre Santiago (SCL) y Punta del Este (PDP) en Uruguay, que estarán vigentes durante la temporada de verano hasta el 16 de marzo de 2025, con tres operaciones semanales en aeronaves Airbus A320, con capacidad para 174 asientos. La empresa brindará una oferta de 15.660 asientos durante los tres meses de operaciones.
LATAM operó en Punta del Este hasta febrero de 2022, conectando dos veces por semana con Santiago y São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU), Brasil.
Ver también: <a href="http://aviacionline.com2023/11/latam-aumentara-sus-vuelos-a-uruguay/">LATAM aumentará sus vuelos a Uruguay</a>
<h3>Programación de los vuelos de LATAM a Punta del Este</h3>
<ul>
<li>Santiago – Punta del Este vuelo LA 431 SCL 07:00 – 09:20 PDP / jueves, viernes y domingo.</li>
<li>Punta del Este – Santiago vuelo LA 431 PDP 10:20 – 12:55 SCL / jueves, viernes y domingo.</li>
</ul>
LATAM es la principal aerolínea que opera en Uruguay en cuanto a oferta de asientos y frecuencias, abarcando el 21% y 22% del share, según la plataforma Cirium. Actualmente, vuela desde Montevideo hacia Lima (7 vuelos semanales), Santiago (14 vuelos semanales) y São Paulo (21 vuelos semanales); lo que totaliza 42 vuelos por semana.
Punta del Este, en tanto, retoma su conexión con Chile. Actualmente, sus vuelos internacionales están a cargo de Aerolíneas Argentinas, hacia Buenos Aires/Aeroparque, y Azul, hacia São Paulo/Guarulhos. En temporada de verano se une <a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/paranair/">Paranair</a> con vuelos a Asunción, Paraguay, y hacia Campinas/Viracopos con Azul.

LATAM inauguró sus vuelos a Punta del Este

On October 8, 2024, the Montevideo-Salto air route, operated by the airline Paranair, began connecting two of the main cities in Uruguay&#8217;s interior. In its first month of operations, the results were positive, with a total of 1,000 passengers transported, according to <a href="https://aeropuertosuruguay.com.uy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aeropuertos Uruguay</a>, the company managing the Salto airport concession. The new route, which offers two weekly flights and marked the resumption of domestic flights in Uruguay after more than a decade, achieved an average load factor of 72%.
During the initial period, there were 28 movements, 14 flights between Montevideo and Salto, and 14 in the opposite direction. The route, operated with CRJ-200 aircraft with a capacity for 50 passengers, has departures on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Flights leave Montevideo on Tuesdays at 8:50 a.m., returning from Salto at 10:40 a.m. On Thursdays, flights depart from the capital at 7:00 p.m., with a return at 8:45 p.m.
Aeropuertos Uruguay highlights that this operation is part of a modernization and development plan that includes improvements at several airports in the country, including Salto’s, which has been renovated as part of this strategy.
«We are very proud of the success of the Montevideo-Salto route, as these results confirm that there is demand and that it is an attractive market for a commercial airline. It shows that with a foundation of world-class new infrastructure and the daily work we are doing for connectivity, results can be achieved that benefit the entire country,» said Matías Carluccio, Commercial Manager of Aeropuertos Uruguay.
The company, which is part of Corporación América Airports, noted that passengers flying between Salto and Montevideo enjoy exclusive benefits such as promotional prices on Europcar vehicle rentals at Carrasco and Salto airports, discounts on Taxis Naranja and Taxis Aeropuerto services, as well as free parking access at both terminals.
Aeropuertos Uruguay expects this route to continue consolidating and further stimulating both tourism and economic development in the region.

Paranair Connects Montevideo and Salto: 1,000 Passengers in First Month

El 8 de octubre de 2024, la ruta aérea Montevideo-Salto, operada por la aerolínea Paranair, empezó a conectar dos de las principales ciudades del interior de Uruguay. En el primer mes de operaciones, los resultados fueron positivos, con un total de mil pasajeros transportados, según informaron desde <a href="https://aeropuertosuruguay.com.uy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aeropuertos Uruguay</a>, empresa que tiene a su cargo la concesión del aeropuerto de Salto. La nueva ruta, que cuenta con dos vuelos semanales y marcó el reinicio de vuelos de cabotaje en Uruguay después de más de una década, logró un factor de ocupación promedio del 72% considerando desde su inicio y hasta el 21 de noviembre.
Ver también: <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/10/salto-y-montevideo-volvieron-a-estar-conectadas-con-vuelos-regulares/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Salto y Montevideo volvieron a estar conectadas con vuelos regulares</a>
En el periodo inicial, se realizaron 28 movimientos, 14 vuelos entre Montevideo y Salto, y 14 en sentido inverso. La ruta, operada por aeronaves CRJ-200 con capacidad para 50 pasajeros, tiene salidas los martes y jueves. Los vuelos parten desde Montevideo los martes a las 08:50 horas, regresando desde Salto a las 10:40 horas. Los jueves, la frecuencia es a las 19:00 horas desde la capital, con retorno a las 20:45 horas.
Aeropuertos Uruguay destaca que esta operación forma parte de un plan de modernización y desarrollo que incluye mejoras en varios aeropuertos del país, incluidos los de Salto, que han sido renovados como parte de esta estrategia.
«Estamos muy orgullosos del éxito de la ruta Montevideo &#8211; Salto, ya que estos resultados confirman que hay demanda y que es un mercado atractivo para una aerolínea comercial. Es señal de que con la base de una nueva infraestructura de primer nivel y el trabajo diario que venimos haciendo para la conectividad se obtienen resultados que son beneficiosos para todo el país», dijo Matías Carluccio, gerente comercial de Aeropuertos Uruguay.
La empresa, que forma parte de Corporación América Airports, señaló que los pasajeros que vuelen entre Salto y Montevideo tienen beneficios exclusivos como precios promocionales en el alquiler de vehículos de Europcar en los aeropuertos de Carrasco y Salto, descuentos en los servicios de Taxis Naranja y Taxis Aeropuerto, así como acceso gratuito al estacionamiento en ambas terminales.
Aeropuertos Uruguay espera que esta ruta siga consolidándose y continúe estimulando tanto el turismo como el desarrollo económico en la región.

Vuelos entre Montevideo y Salto alcanzan un 72% de ocupación

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) &#8211; 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 &#8211; Buenos Aires route. Starting in December, the frequency will increase from 7 to 8 weekly flights, taking advantage of the southern hemisphere&#8217;s summer peak season.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-346197" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Flightmap-GRU-SCL-BRC-LIM-EZE_PUJ-EZE.png" alt="" width="1200" height="600" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-GRU-SCL-BRC-LIM-EZE_PUJ-EZE.png 1200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-GRU-SCL-BRC-LIM-EZE_PUJ-EZE-300x150.png 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-GRU-SCL-BRC-LIM-EZE_PUJ-EZE-768x384.png 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-GRU-SCL-BRC-LIM-EZE_PUJ-EZE-150x75.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
According to the provision, the authorization falls within Argentina&#8217;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 <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/03/cielos-abiertos-la-politica-aerocomercial-que-se-viene/">«Open Skies»</a> 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.
<h4>More flights or fewer flights in Argentina?</h4>
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.

Open Skies: SKY, JetSMART, and Arajet Boost Operations in Argentina

<a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/american-airlines/">American Airlines</a> resumed its flights to <a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/montevideo/page/2/">Montevideo (MVD),</a> Uruguay, from Miami (MIA) for the summer season. Additionally, the airline announced a 14% increase in operations compared to the previous season.
The company resumed its flights on November 22, 2024, which will continue until March 29, 2025. Unlike the 2023/24 season, the schedule will increase to one daily flight between December 18 and February 13.
<ul>
<li>Flight AA 989 MIA 11:00 – 09:55 (+1) MVD / Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.</li>
<li>Flight AA 984 MVD 23:25 – 06:50 (+1) MIA / Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.</li>
</ul>
Schedule from November 22 to December 17, and February 14 to March 29.
According to the Cirium platform, American Airlines will offer 40,716 seats during the five months of operation, compared to 35,568 in 2023/24. The flights will be operated with Boeing 787-8 aircraft, configured for 234 passengers: 20 Flagship Business, 28 Premium Economy, 48 Main Cabin Extra, and 138 Economy.
See Also: <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/jetsmart-joins-american-airlines-aadvantage-mileage-program/">JetSMART joins American Airlines’ AAdvantage mileage program</a>
<h4>Montevideo flight schedule</h4>
Carrasco International Airport is the main gateway to and from Montevideo, which handled more than 1,763,352 passengers in 2023. According to Cirium&#8217;s schedule, 2024 is expected to surpass the previous year’s and 2019’s levels, as more than 2.6 million seats have been scheduled.
In January 2025, the peak month of the summer season, 12 airlines will connect Montevideo to 17 destinations, with a 3.8% increase in seat availability compared to the same month in 2024. Compared to the previous season, missing destinations include San Carlos de Bariloche by Aerolíneas Argentinas and Porto Alegre by Azul.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-345997" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD.png" alt="" width="1200" height="600" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD.png 1200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD-300x150.png 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD-768x384.png 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD-150x75.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
<ul>
<li>Aerolíneas Argentinas
<ul>
<li>Buenos Aires/Aeroparque, with Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, and Embraer 190.</li>
<li>Buenos Aires/Ezeiza, with Embraer 190.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Air Europa with Boeing 787-9
<ul>
<li>Madrid, 4 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>American Airlines, summer season with Boeing 787-8.
<ul>
<li>Miami, 3-7 weekly flights</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Azul, Embraer 195-E2
<ul>
<li>Curitiba, 2 weekly flights.</li>
<li>Florianópolis, 2 weekly flights, from December 16 to March 2.</li>
<li>Recife, 2 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Avianca with Airbus A320neo.
<ul>
<li>Bogotá, 4 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copa Airlines with Boeing 737 MAX 9
<ul>
<li>Panama City/Tocumen, 21 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>GOL Linhas Aéreas with Boeing 737 MAX 8
<ul>
<li>Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, 4 weekly flights.</li>
<li>São Paulo/Guarulhos, 7 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Iberia with Airbus A330-200
<ul>
<li>Madrid, 7 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>JetSMART with A320neo and A321neo.
<ul>
<li>Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, 5-7 weekly flights.</li>
<li>Santiago, 5 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>LATAM
<ul>
<li>Lima, 7 weekly flights with A319/A320.</li>
<li>Santiago, 14 weekly flights with A320/A321.</li>
<li>São Paulo/Guarulhos, 20 weekly flights with A320/A321.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Paranair with CRJ 200
<ul>
<li>Asunción, 10 weekly flights.</li>
<li>Salto, 2 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>SKY Airline with A320neo
<ul>
<li>Florianópolis, 3 weekly flights, from December 2 to March 31.</li>
<li>Lima, 2-3 weekly flights, ending March 31.</li>
<li>Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, 4 weekly flights, from December 16 to April 21.</li>
<li>Salvador, 2-3 weekly flights.</li>
<li>Santiago, 4-7 weekly flights.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Montevideo Welcomes Daily Flights from Miami: American Airlines’ New Schedule

<a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/american-airlines/">American Airlines </a> reanudó sus vuelos a <a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/montevideo/page/2/">Montevideo (MVD),</a> Uruguay, desde Miami (MIA) de cara a la temporada de verano. Además, la aerolínea informó que aumentará un 14% las operaciones en comparación con la temporada anterior.
La empresa reanudó sus vuelos el 22 de noviembre de 2024, los cuales se extenderán hasta el 29 de marzo de 2025. A diferencia de la temporada 2023/24, la programación aumentará a un vuelo diario entre el 18 de diciembre y el 13 de febrero.
<ul>
<li>Vuelo AA 989 MIA 11:00 – 09:55 (+1) MVD / miércoles, viernes y domingos.</li>
<li>vuelo AA 984 MVD 23:25 – 06:50 (+1) MIA / lunes, jueves y sábados.</li>
</ul>
Programación del 22 de noviembre al 17 de diciembre, y de 14 de febrero al 29 de marzo.
Según la plataforma Cirium, American Airlines brindará una oferta de 40,716 asientos en los cinco meses de operación, contra los 35,568 de 2023/24. Los vuelos serán realizados con Boeing 787-8, configurados para 234 pasajeros: 20 Flagship Business, 28 en Premium Economy, 48 en Main Cabin y 138 en Económica.
Ver También: <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/09/jetsmart-ingresa-al-programa-de-millas-aadvantage-de-american-airlines/">JetSMART ingresa al programa de millas AAdvantage de American Airlines</a>
<h3>Programación de los vuelos de Montevideo</h3>
El Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco es la principal puerta de entrada y salida de Montevideo, que en 2023 movilizó más de 1,763,352 pasajeros. Según la programación expuesta por Cirium, se espera que el 2024 supere los niveles del año anterior y de 2019, dado que se ha programado una oferta de más de 2,6 millones de asientos.
Para enero de 2025, el mes pico de la temporada de verano, estarán presentes 12 aerolíneas que conectarán a Montevideo con 17 destinos, con una oferta de asientos 3,8% superior al mismo mes de 2024. En comparación a la anterior temporada, los destinos faltantes son San Carlos de Bariloche por parte de Aerolíneas Argentinas y Porto Alegre de Azul.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-345997" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD.png" alt="" width="1200" height="600" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD.png 1200w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD-300x150.png 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD-768x384.png 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Flightmap-SCL-MVD-LIM-GIG-MVD-GRU_FLN-MVD-REC_ASU-MVD-STY_MIA-MVD-MAD_PTY-MVD-BOG_BUE-MVD-SSA_CWB-MVD-150x75.png 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
<ul>
<li>Aerolíneas Argentinas
<ul>
<li>Buenos Aires/Aeroparque, con Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800 y Embraer 190.</li>
<li>Buenos Aires/Ezeiza, Embraer 190.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Air Europa con Boeing 787-9
<ul>
<li>Madrid, 4 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>American Airlines, temporada de verano con Boeing 787-8.
<ul>
<li>Miami, 3-7 vuelos semanales</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Azul, Embraer 195-E2
<ul>
<li>Curitiba, 2 vuelos semanales.</li>
<li>Florianópolis, 2 vuelos semanales, del 16 de diciembre al 2 de marzo.</li>
<li>Recife, 2 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Avianca con Airbus A320neo.
<ul>
<li>Bogotá, 4 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Copa Airlines con Boeing 737 MAX 9
<ul>
<li>Ciudad de Panamá/Tocumen, 21 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>GOL Linhas Aereas con Boeing 737 MAX 8
<ul>
<li>Río de Janeiro/Galeão, 4 vuelos semanales.</li>
<li>São Paulo/Guarulhos, 7 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Iberia con Airbus A330-200
<ul>
<li>Madrid, 7 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>JetSMART con A320neo y A321neo.
<ul>
<li>Río de Janeiro/Galeão, 5-7 vuelos semanales.</li>
<li>Santiago, 5 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>LATAM
<ul>
<li>Lima, 7 vuelos semanales con A319/A320.</li>
<li>Santiago, 14 vuelos semanales con A320/A321.</li>
<li>São Paulo/Guarulhos, 20 vuelos semanales con A320/A321.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Paranair con CRJ 200
<ul>
<li>Asunción, 10 vuelos semanales.</li>
<li><a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/08/uruguay-autoriza-a-paranair-a-volar-entre-asuncion-montevideo-y-salto/">Salto, 2 vuelos semanales</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>SKY Airline con A320neo
<ul>
<li>Florianópolis, 3 vuelos semanales, del 2 de diciembre al 31 de marzo.</li>
<li>Lima, 2-3 vuelos semanales, finaliza el 31 de marzo.</li>
<li>Río de Janeiro/Galeão, 4 vuelos semanales, del 16 de diciembre al 21 de abril.</li>
<li>Salvador, 2-3 vuelos semanales.</li>
<li>Santiago, 4-7 vuelos semanales.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

American Airlines inauguró sus vuelos de temporada a Montevideo

The Uruguayan government denied receiving notifications about asset seizures in Luxembourg related to the Pluna case and the international arbitration with Latin American Regional Aviation Holding S.R.L. (LARAH). In a statement issued yesterday, Tuesday, the Uruguayan state stated that “it does not accept the criminal immunity requested by LARAH for those accused of aggravated fraud during their management of Pluna” and reiterated its commitment to comply with the arbitration award issued in February 2024.
<h4>Context of the arbitration</h4>
Uruguay has been negotiating with LARAH since May 2024 with the aim of complying with the award of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), which obliges the state to pay compensation in the Pluna case. According to the government statement, Uruguay consistently expressed its willingness to meet its legal obligations and offered an economic proposal that LARAH found satisfactory.
However, negotiations broke down on November 14 when LARAH demanded that Uruguay cease criminal proceedings against three former Pluna executives: Hugo Sebastián Hirsch, Arturo Álvarez Demalde, and Matías Campiani. “This is inadmissible for Uruguay, as for any rule-of-law state, and also violates the principles of separation of powers and the technical independence of prosecutors”, the document stated.
Uruguay asserted that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 15, 2012, between the state, Sociedad Aeronáutica Oriental (SAO), and South American Regional Aviation Holding (SARAH)—direct or indirect shareholders of LARAH—remains in effect. This document establishes SAO and SARAH’s obligation to hold the Uruguayan state harmless against legal actions related to Pluna.
As a result, Uruguay considers that any payment arising from the award must be covered by LARAH through the obligations stipulated in the MoU.
Despite disagreements with LARAH, Uruguay reiterated its intent to comply with the arbitration award and expressed willingness to explore amicable solutions that respect the Constitution and laws. “Uruguay always maintains its commitment to fulfilling all its legal obligations but is unwilling to accept conditions that flagrantly violate the Constitution and laws”, the statement concluded.
This declaration follows reports of the seizure of Uruguayan assets in Luxembourg, a procedure for which the government claims it has not received formal notification.
See also: <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/11/pluna-airlines-arbitration-fallout-uruguays-assets-targeted-in-luxembourg/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PLUNA: Uruguay’s assets seized in Luxembourg</a>

Pluna Saga: Uruguay Reiterates Commitment to Arbitration Amidst Asset Seizure Allegations

El gobierno uruguayo negó haber recibido notificaciones sobre embargos de activos en Luxemburgo relacionados con el caso Pluna y el arbitraje internacional con Latin American Regional Aviation Holding S.R.L. (LARAH). En un comunicado emitido ayer martes, el Estado uruguayo sostuvo que “no acepta la indemnidad penal solicitada por LARAH para los acusados de estafa especialmente agravada por su gestión al frente de Pluna” y reiteró su compromiso de cumplir con el laudo arbitral emitido en febrero de 2024.
<h3>Contexto del arbitraje</h3>
Uruguay negoció con LARAH desde mayo de 2024 con el objetivo de cumplir con el laudo del Centro Internacional de Arreglo de Diferencias Relativas a Inversiones (CIADI), que obliga al Estado a pagar una compensación por el caso Pluna. Según el comunicado del gobierno, Uruguay manifestó en todo momento su disposición para cumplir con sus obligaciones legales y ofreció una propuesta económica que fue considerada satisfactoria por LARAH.
Sin embargo, las negociaciones se rompieron el 14 de noviembre cuando LARAH exigió que Uruguay cesara los procesos penales contra tres exdirectivos de Pluna: Hugo Sebastián Hirsch, Arturo Álvarez Demalde y Matías Campiani. “Esto es inadmisible para Uruguay, como para cualquier Estado de Derecho, además de ser violatorio de los principios de separación de poderes y la autonomía técnica de los fiscales”, señala el documento.
Uruguay afirmó que el Memorando de Entendimiento (MdE) firmado el 15 de junio de 2012 entre el Estado, Sociedad Aeronáutica Oriental (SAO) y South American Regional Aviation Holding (SARAH) —accionistas directos o indirectos de LARAH— sigue vigente. Dicho documento establece la obligación de SAO y SARAH de mantener indemne al Estado uruguayo frente a acciones legales relacionadas con Pluna.
En consecuencia, Uruguay considera que cualquier pago derivado del laudo debe ser cubierto por LARAH a través de las obligaciones estipuladas en el MdE.
Pese a los desacuerdos con LARAH, Uruguay reiteró su intención de cumplir con el laudo arbitral y afirmó estar dispuesto a explorar soluciones amistosas que respeten la Constitución y las leyes. “Uruguay mantiene siempre su compromiso de cumplir con todas sus obligaciones legales, pero no está dispuesto a aceptar condiciones que violentan flagrantemente la Constitución y las leyes”, concluye el comunicado.
Esta declaración se produce tras los informes sobre el embargo de activos uruguayos en Luxemburgo, un procedimiento del cual el gobierno afirma no haber recibido notificación formal.
Ver también: <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/11/pluna-embargan-activos-de-uruguay-en-luxemburgo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PLUNA: embargan activos de Uruguay en Luxemburgo</a>

PLUNA: Uruguay responde a informe sobre embargo de activos en Luxemburgo

The Latin America Regional Aviation Holding (LARAH) has intensified its legal dispute with Uruguay following the country’s failure to comply with the arbitral award related to the closure of Pluna. According to El Observador newspaper from Montevideo, the company initiated international judicial enforcement of the award on November 15 and seized bank accounts and assets belonging to the Uruguayan state in Luxembourg.
<h3>A Final and Binding Arbitration Award</h3>
In February 2024, <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/02/uruguay-es-condenado-a-pagar-usd-80-millones-por-el-cierre-de-pluna/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">an international arbitral tribunal ruled that Uruguay had «violated» its international commitments in 2012 by shutting down Pluna</a>, describing the country&#8217;s actions as «irrational, contradictory, and idiosyncratic, contrary to principles of reasonableness, transparency, and justice.» The award ordered Uruguay to pay $56.5 million to LARAH.
Uruguay did not appeal the ruling, rendering it «final and binding» in June 2024. Since then, LARAH has repeatedly requested payment, which has now increased to $61.1 million with accrued interest, according to company sources cited by El Observador in Montevideo.
Due to Uruguay’s non-compliance, LARAH proceeded to seize assets in Luxembourg, a key market where Uruguay’s international bonds are traded. The measure aims to secure the debt collection while judicial enforcement continues in other jurisdictions, including the United States. Sources cited by El Observador reported that interest on the award continues to accumulate at a rate of approximately $500,000 per month.
The Pluna case continues to generate international repercussions for Uruguay, both financially and reputationally. LARAH stated that it will persist in its legal actions until the full amount determined by the arbitral tribunal is paid. Meanwhile, the ongoing seizures and legal proceedings could impact Uruguay’s standing in international markets, given the importance of its sovereign bonds in Luxembourg.
The lawsuit was filed in 2019 by Caballero Verde, a Panamanian holding company that acquired Latin America Regional Aviation Holding (LARAH). LARAH had owned 75% of Pluna through Leadgate Investment at the time of the airline’s closure. The claim argued that Uruguay’s decision to nationalize and liquidate Pluna harmed the investors&#8217; interests and was not the result of any irregular actions by the shareholders, despite such allegations by officials in the administration of then-President José «Pepe» Mujica. Critics have pointed to the Mujica administration as bearing political responsibility for the airline’s closure, allegedly favoring other interests.
Since Leadgate took over Pluna in 2007—after the airline&#8217;s tumultuous privatization and failed management under VARIG—the company embarked on a modernization process. This included transitioning to a low-cost model, adding up to 13 CRJ-900 aircraft, and establishing a hub at Carrasco Airport to connect cities across the Southern Cone such as Buenos Aires, Campinas, Córdoba, Florianópolis, Foz do Iguaçu, Santiago de Chile, Asunción, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Brasília, and Porto Alegre. This strategy led to record-breaking passenger traffic and operational performance never before seen in Uruguay.
<figure id="attachment_233264" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-233264" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-233264" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012.jpg" alt="" width="1620" height="912" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012.jpg 1620w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-300x169.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-768x432.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-1536x865.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-233264" class="wp-caption-text">Flights at Montevideo Airport in march, 2012</figcaption></figure>
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However, in 2012, the Mujica administration, citing alleged mismanagement by Leadgate executives (claims that never progressed in court), proceeded to nationalize 100% of Pluna. The airline was subsequently liquidated, and a new company, <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2016/10/alas-uruguay-suspendio-sus-operaciones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alas Uruguay, was created, operating only between 2015 and 2016</a>.
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PLUNA Airlines Arbitration Fallout: Uruguay’s Assets Targeted In Luxembourg

La Latin America Regional Aviation Holding (LARAH) intensificó su disputa legal con Uruguay tras el incumplimiento del pago del laudo arbitral relacionado con el cierre de Pluna. Según informó El Observador, el pasado 15 de noviembre la empresa inició la ejecución judicial internacional del laudo y embargó cuentas bancarias y activos del Estado uruguayo en Luxemburgo.
<h3>Un fallo arbitral final y definitivo</h3>
En febrero de 2024, <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/02/uruguay-es-condenado-a-pagar-usd-80-millones-por-el-cierre-de-pluna/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">un tribunal arbitral internacional dictaminó que Uruguay había «violado» sus compromisos internacionales en 2012 al cerrar Pluna</a>, calificando las acciones del país como «irracionales, contradictorias e idiosincráticas, contrarias a los principios de razonabilidad, transparencia y justicia». El laudo ordenó a Uruguay pagar 56,5 millones de dólares a LARAH.
El fallo no fue apelado por Uruguay, lo que lo convirtió en «final y definitivo» en junio de 2024. Desde entonces, LARAH ha solicitado en repetidas ocasiones el cumplimiento del pago, que con los intereses acumulados hasta la fecha asciende a 61,1 millones de dólares, de acuerdo con lo informado por fuentes de la compañía al diario El Observador de Montevideo.
Ante la falta de cumplimiento por parte de Uruguay, LARAH procedió a embargar activos en Luxemburgo, país donde se cotizan bonos internacionales emitidos por Uruguay. La medida busca asegurar el cobro de la deuda mientras se avanza con la ejecución judicial en otras jurisdicciones, incluyendo Estados Unidos. Las fuentes mencionadas por El Observador indicaron que los intereses generados por el laudo continúan acumulándose a un ritmo de aproximadamente 500.000 dólares por mes.
El caso Pluna continúa teniendo repercusiones internacionales para Uruguay, tanto a nivel financiero como reputacional. LARAH señaló que persistirá en sus acciones legales hasta recibir el pago total del monto establecido por el tribunal arbitral. Mientras tanto, los embargos y procedimientos en curso podrían afectar la percepción de Uruguay en los mercados internacionales, dada la importancia de los bonos soberanos en Luxemburgo.
La demanda había sido presentada en 2019 por Caballero Verde, un holding panameño que había adquirido a Latin American Regional Aviation Holding (LARAH), a su vez propietario del 75% de Pluna a través de Leadgate Investment al momento del cierre, alegando que la decisión del estado uruguayo de nacionalizar y liquidar Pluna perjudicó sus intereses y no fue producto de algún accionar irregular de los accionistas, como intentaron justificar entonces funcionarios del entonces gobierno de José «Pepe» Mujica, señalados por algunos sectores como el máximo responsable político del cierre de la histórica aerolínea para favorecer otros intereses.
Desde que Leadgate se hizo cargo de Pluna en 2007, que venía de un largo derrotero tras ser privatizada y caer en manos de la fallida VARIG, la empresa inició un proceso de modernización que la llevó a migrar a un modelo low-cost, incorporar hasta 13 aviones CRJ-900 y establecer un hub en el aeropuerto de Carrasco para conectar a ciudades del Cono Sur como Buenos Aires, Campinas, Córdoba, Florianópolis, Foz de Iguazú, Santiago de Chile, Asunción, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Brasilia y Porto Alegre. Esto le permitió alcanzar cifras récord en el tráfico de pasajeros, con un nivel de performance nunca antes visto en Uruguay.
<figure id="attachment_233264" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-233264" style="width: 1610px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-233264" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012.jpg" alt="" width="1620" height="912" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012.jpg 1620w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-300x169.jpg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-768x432.jpg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/02/PLUNA-MONTEVIDEO-URUGUAY-PANEL-DE-VUELOS-MARZO-2012-1536x865.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px" /></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-233264" class="wp-caption-text">Panel de vuelos del aeropuerto de Montevideo-Carrasco en marzo de 2012</figcaption></figure>
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Pero en 2012 el gobierno de Mujica, alegando desmanejos por parte de los ejecutivos de Leadgate (que nunca avanzaron judicialmente), procedió a estatizar el 100% de Pluna para posteriormente liquidarla y crear una nueva empresa denominada <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2016/10/alas-uruguay-suspendio-sus-operaciones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alas Uruguay que solo operó entre 2015 y 2016</a>.
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