Aerolíneas Argentinas adds 18 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to its fleet

State-owned carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas has announced the purchase of 14 new Boeing aircraft and four Airbus jets as part of a renewal plan involving an investment of more than US$65 million.

The airline, which currently operates 82 aircraft, will take delivery of two Boeing 737 Max 8 jets in 2026 and the rest between 2027 and 2029, a company source told AFP on Friday.

The centrepiece of the acquisition is the addition of four Airbus A330 Neo aircraft, described as a highly reliable model for long-haul operations.

The investment plan also includes upgrading cabin interiors on aircraft already in service and installing Wi-Fi connectivity across the entire fleet.

According to a company statement, this is the firm’s first investment project funded with its own resources. Aerolíneas Argentinas was privatised in 1990 in favour of Spain’s Iberia and later renationalised in 2008 under ex-president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

“With this milestone, Aerolíneas Argentinas confirms it has become a company with the capacity to invest and to plan ahead using its own funds,” said its president, Fabián Lombardo.

The 2024 balance sheet showed profits of US$56.6 million, achieved amid an adjustment plan that included cutting 1,500 jobs, almost 13 percent of its workforce.

The carrier currently serves 37 domestic destinations and 22 international routes across Latin America, the United States and Europe.

President Javier Milei’s government had included Aerolíneas Argentinas on a list of companies marked for privatisation, but the initiative failed to secure approval in Congress – a necessary step for any sale to go ahead.

– TIMES/AFP