Aerolineas Argentinas is Argentina’s principle domestic and international airline. This national airline operates 70% of Argentina’s domestic traffic and 40% of international flights from Ministro Pistarini International Airport located in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires. Aerolinas Argentinas and LAN Airlines are the only Latin American Airlines that fly to Oceania.
The airline’s history began in 1929 when carrier Aeroposta commenced operations. The wide span of the country made the Argentine government establish an airline company for fast transportation between the countryside and larger cities to transport passengers and mail. Mendoza and Posadas were the first two destinations.
LASO and LANE airlines were added which contributed to a triple increase in air routes. The two airlines merged to form LADE airline. It was the tail end of World War II and commercial aviation was on the brink of explosive growth. The first Douglas DC-3s arrived in Argentina in 1946 and the country’s first intercontinental airline, FAMA was created. All these airlines merged under the name Aerolineas Argentinas in 1949 and commenced operations on 7 December 1950. Ministro Pistarini airport was then constructed by the government. The airline’s growth was attributed to a key player, Alfonso Aliaga Garcia and Dirk Wessel Van Layden, an ex-pilot with French carrier Aeropostale.
DC-3 was an invaluable asset for Aerolineas Argentinas and other airlines worldwide. Domestic destinations were accessible and FAMA’s international routes were frequented. Soon Douglas DC-4s were added for flight services to Santiago in Chile, Lima, Santa Cruz and Sao Paulo. DC-6 came into operation in 1950s and included night flights for the first time. Aerolineas Argentinas was soon seen in New York’s Idlewild airport and in Havana, Lisbon, London Heathrow, Dakar and Rio de Janeiro. At the end of the decade, Comet IV jet had begun commercial jet services worldwide. Airline President Juan Jose Guiraldes persuaded Argentina’s President Arturo Frondizi to buy six of the new planes and on March 2, 1959, ‘Tres Marias’ became the first jet airplane flown by Aerolineas that landed at Ministro Pistarini International Airport. Steady growth continued during 1960s and the arrival of the Boeing 747s, 737s and 727s was in 1970s.
The Argentina government authorized the privatization of the airline on 27 December 1989 and in 1990 Iberia acquired a 30% stake which soon increased to 83.5%. Due to poor financial performance, Iberia reduced its stake to 20% which was transferred to a subsidiary of Interinvest. In July 1998, American Airlines acquired 10% stake in Interinvest giving it an 8.5% stake in Aerolineas Argentinas. Later American Airlines disposed of its stake and Iberia reduced its stake in Interinvest to 10%. Aerolineas Argentinas was driven to an almost terminal crisis in 2001. Grupo Marsans acquired 92% in 2001 and committed to inject $50m capital, which was realized on 6 November 2001 with a transatlantic service to Madrid. Aerolineas Argentinas is the only airline in Latin America which has Airbus A380s and A350s.
In October 2001, control of Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral was given to Air Comet, a group of Spanish private carriers Spanair, Air Plus Comet and travel operator Viajes Marsans, who acquired 92.1% of the shares. At the brink of closure in 2001, Aerolineas Argentinas had a debt restructuring with creditors. |
