In search of promoting the tourism, Argentina advances with the open skies policy. In the six months of Javier Milei’s administration, seven memoranda were signed in this regard. The last agreement was with Colombiawhich was added to the list already made up of Chile, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay and Paraguay.
DNU 70/23 enabled the deregulation of the air market and The Government seeks to increase the connections between the different countries. From the Ministry of Transportation they point out that these agreements are going to generate a greater offer of flights and therefore, a Price reduction.
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The different bilateral understandings They seek to increase the flow of flights between the two countries that sign it, boost tourism and, at the same time, generate new conditions to attract investments in the sector.
The signing of the agreement implies that Any airline can fly to different destinations in both countries without restriction frequency or capacity. The most recent was signed on Thursday, June 13, by which the airline Avianca will link the cities of Buenos Aires and Medellín with a new direct flightto “strengthen connectivity.”
The Secretary of Transportation, Franco Moggeta, stated that the open skies policy ““It is beginning to materialize with new routes, new frequencies and with more companies that want to fly in Argentina.”
In the first six months of Javier Milei’s administration, the Executive launched this policy with Chile, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay and Colombia. (Photo: EFE / Enrique Garcia Medina)
Open skies: what Javier Milei’s plan for the air market is about
In the first six months of Javier’s management Milei, the Government made progress in signing agreements with firms from seven countries in the region. There are two that stand out from the rest. These are the memoranda with Chile and Uruguay, in which the Executive gave them the possibility of Airlines can do in the future domestic flights within Argentinawith its own planes and crews.
So, Argentinian airlines, Flybondi either JetSmart Argentina They could take off from Aeroparque or Ezeiza, land in Santiago de Chile or Montevideo, make other internal stops in those countries and return to Buenos Aires, for example. The same for the Chile and Uruguay lines.
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When will the new air routes between Argentina and the region begin?
After the signing of the open skies memoranda with countries in the region, the airlines are the ones that define when they can offer the new routes. Below is what has been reported so far:
- Brazil. Through a bilateral agreement, current limitations have been removed to the number of flights between Argentina and Brazil. It was set at 170 weekly flights per country. For the winter season, Blue resumes flights to the country after four years with a route San Pablo-Bariloche with up to five weekly frequencies. Since July, LATAM Airlines The direct route between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires will operate again.
- Chili. Chilean air Sky Airlines made an interline agreement with Aerolíneas Argentinas to connect more than 60 cities region of. It will start from the second semester. In addition, a new route was added: Santiago-Mendoza.
- Colombia. Avianca added a daily frequency in June Medellín-Buenos Aires. It joins the Bogotá-Buenos Aires route.
- Peru. Following an agreement, limitations on the number of flights between the Argentina and Peru. Prior to the understanding, there were 28 weekly flights. Since December, LATAM Airlines The non-stop service will operate again between Rosario-Lima and Salta-Lima.
An open skies policy arises when foreign airline companies operate in national territory and vice versa, as a result of an agreement involved. (Photo: X / @AeropuertosAR)
- Uruguay. JetSmart began to connect the Buenos Aires airport with Carrasco. Before the agreement to extend air routes between Argentina and Uruguay, there were three routes: Buenos Aires-Montevideowith 30 weekly frequencies; Buenos Aires-Punta del Este and Bariloche-Montevideoboth with 14 weekly frequencies on average.
- Paraguay. Paranair incorporated a new air route between both countries. Is about Asunción-Córdoba.
- Ecuador. With the new understanding, weekly flight frequencies went from seven to unlimited. Currently, only one airline offers a direct route between Quito and Buenos Aires.
What the “open skies” policy means and what Javier Milei’s DNU repeals
A policy of Open skies It arises when foreign airline companies operate in national territory and vice versa, with an agreement involved. DNU 70/23 repealed law 19,030, approved in 1971, which regulated air transportation policies.
It also provided that domestic flights had to be covered by national airlines. Thus, it granted Aerolíneas Argentinas 50% of those operations and prevented other companies from operating on the same route.
The decree also introduced changes to the Aeronautical Code: it allows foreign planes and crew to operate in Argentina. Furthermore, the decree dictates that the rates “are freely set by the companies and without any restrictions.”
