Aerolineas Argentinas
Aerolineas Argentinas is Argentina’s flag carrier and also the biggest domestic and international airline in the country. It accounts for 52% international flights and 83% domestic traffic from its hubs Ministro Pistarini International Airport and Jorge Newbery Domestic Airport. To date, Aerolineas Argentinas is one of only two (the other being LAN Airlines) Latin American airlines to offer flights to Oceania.
Its humble beginnings date back to 1929 when carrier Aeroposta started its operations to carry both passengers and mail by serving only two destinations, Mendoza and Posadas. Frenchmen Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and Jean Mermoz were among the first pilots of Aeroposta. The next year, in 1930, two more airlines, LASO and LANE, started operations serving several more cities and routes. These two airlines merged in 1945 to become LADE (Líneas Aéreas del Estado or State Airlines). In 1946, Argentina’s first intercontinental airline, the Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina (FAMA) was established and offered flights to Europe using Avro Yorks. In 1949, these airlines merged to form Aerolineas Argentinas and officially started operations in 1950. Without appropriate airport facilities, the government of Juan Peron built the Ministro Pistarini airport. General Juan Pistarini designed and directed its construction, hence the name of the airport.
Aerolineas Argentinas made history in 1980 when they carried out the first transpolar flight by a commercial airline using a Jumbo 747 plane. From Buenos Aires it landed in Rio Gallegos before flying over to South Pole reaching Auckland, New Zealand and ending its trip in Hong Kong, China. Pope John Paul II experienced Aerolineas Argentinas’ hospitality first in 1982 and then in 1987 boarding the Buenos Aires to Rome route on a Boeing 747 specially appointed for the Pontiff.
It is the longest serving operator of the Boeing 737-200 and the only operator of the Boeing 747-400 in the whole of Latin America.
Domestic and International Destinations
Aerolineas Argentinas flies to 56 destinations nationwide and worldwide with a fleet of Airbus A320-200 and A320-300, Boeing 737-200, 737-500 and 747-400. Its subsidiary Austral Lineas Aereas uses McDonnell Douglas aircraft.
Currently, Aerolineas Argentinas operates in South America, North America, Europe and Oceania. Its domestic destinations include Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Comodoro Rivadavia, Cordoba, Corrientes, El Calafate, Esquel, Formosa, Iguazu, Jujuy, La Rioja, Malargue, Mar Del Plata, Mendoza, Neuquen, Posadas, Resistencia, Rio Gallegos, Rio Grande, Rosario, Salta, San Carlos de Bariloche, San Martin de los Andes, San Juan, San Luis, San Rafael, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Trelew, Tucuman and Ushuaia.
For international destinations, Aerolineas Argentinas offer flights to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in Bolivia; Florianopolis, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil; Santiago in Chile; Bogota in Colombia; Asuncion in Paraguay; Lima in Peru; Montevideo and Punta del Este in Uruguay; Caracas in Venezuela; Miami in the USA; Madrid and Barcelona in Spain; Rome in Italy; Sydney in Australia and Auckland in New Zealand.
Aerolineas Plus
Aerolineas Argentinas’ frequent flyer program is called Aerolineas Plus. It offers perks and incentives to its loyal customers including free flights to several domestic and international destinations. It partners with Spanair, Hilton, NH Hotels, Avis, Hertz, Europcar and other associated companies. Register for free to get an Aerolíneas Plus Card and get accredited as a member.
Members can accumulate points every time they fly with Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral Lineas Aereas. Purchase of goods or use of services provided by its partners will also add up points whether you pay for it in cash or charge it through Aerolíneas Plus Visa Card and Banco Galicia's Aerolíneas Plus American Express and Aerolineas Plus Mastercard.
Club Condor
The executive class of Aerolineas Argentinas is called the Club Condor. This features the airline’s brand of distinctive service onboard. Whether you choose to board an Airbus 340 and 310 or Boeing 747 and 747-200, you can expect ultra-comfortable seats, personalized men’s and ladies’ toiletries, luxe blankets, classy dishes and up-to-date technology in leisure and entertainment amenities such as Satellite phones and audio and video provisions. Aside from that an exquisite menu and Argentine wine, imported liquor and champagne are served to complete your onboard experience. All these are complemented with the personalized service of the cabin crew, truly a brand of hospitality that Club Condor stands for.
