MARIO FONSECA / RIO DE JANEIRO
Argentinian carrier looks to lease six used narrowbody and widebody aircraft
Argentinian regional carrier Southern Winds is reassessing its aggressive expansion plans in the wake of the 11 September events. It is now focusing its immediate attention on leasing six used narrowbody and widebody aircraft for planned new regional and international routes.
The airline is understood to be looking to lease an initial two Boeing 767-300ERs, possibly from Boeing Capital, and four 737-200s. Pegasus Aviation says it is negotiating to supply four ex-Aerolineas Argentinas 737s to Southern Winds after signing a letter of intent, while Varig sources say that the Brazilian carrier is also offering some of its soon-to-be-retired aircraft.
The Cordoba-based airline says it is revising plans post 11 September, and at the moment requires four medium-sized airliners for domestic and regional routes, along with a further two widebodies for its international routes. It had earlier announced plans to acquire up to 18 aircraft over the next three years, including 10 Airbus A340s, six 737-700s and two 757s.
In late September, Southern Winds received authorisation from the Argentinian Government to fly from Buenos Aires to Sïo Paulo, Madrid, Barcelona, Miami, New York, Rome, Milan, and Mexico City. According to the airline it had intended to inaugurate its international services with the Buenos Aires-Miami route, but the company is now re-evaluating that plan and is instead leaning towards the Buenos Aires-Sïo Paulo-Madrid route from the end of the year.
Domestically, Southern Winds has increased the number of direct flights from Cordoba to Calafate, Comodoro Rivadavia and Rio Gallegos in southern Argentina.
The airline claims to have achieved a $3.18 million profit for the last fiscal year to June 2001, helped in no small way by the difficulties experienced by fellow Argentinian airlines Aerolineas Argentinas and Lapa, the latter which has now been renamed ARG.
Source: Flight International
