The Government of Argentina has begun an extensive effort to modernize the national airline Aerolineas Argentinas and domestic carrier Austral. President Cristina Kirchner unveiled a new Boeing 737/700 last week, the first new airplane bought for Aerolineas Argentinas in 16 years. The airline and its sister airline Austral were nationalized in December 2008 to maintain the airline to high standards.
The fleet, one of the oldest in the world, is being rapidly updated. A second Boeing 737/700 will be delivered at the end of June and Aerolineas will soon count on nine other similar aircraft that will be leased, to be handed over before the end of the year.
In addition, the Secretary of Transportation of Argentina has announced the purchase of 15-20 new Airbus A330 and A 340 aircraft for long-haul travel to improve connections with international markets. Domestic carrier Austral will be updated following the signing of an agreement in May with the government of Brazil to purchase 20 Embraer 190 aircraft, to be delivered at a rate of two a month starting in early 2010. The Embraer aircraft will be configured to Austral’s specifications of 96 comfortably spaced seats in two classes.
