Airlines Norwegian Air Argentina outlines operational plans

Recently established airline Norwegian Air Argentina (NAA) has presented its intentions for domestic Argentinian operations.

The Low-Cost carrier, which is a full subsidiary airline of Norwegian, will inaugurate routes from Buenos Aires to Cordoba and Mendoza at first. Both routes will be opened on October 16, 2018. Norwegian Air Argentina said, that it has begun to sell tickets for the first flights. Later, the carrier will serve destinations like Bariloche, Neuquén, Salta and Iguazú.

All domestic flights will be operated by Boeing 737-800 Next Gen. aircraft, which have been registered into Argentinian registrations. This allows NAA to operate with an Argentinian Air Operator´s Certificate (AOC). The B737-800 can seat 189 passengers in a single-class configuration. All aircraft will feature a local hero on the tail.

Ole Christian Melhus, CEO of Norwegian Air Argentina commented: "The beginning of our sales and the early start-up of operations are our greatest milestone since the founding of Norwegian Air Argentina. We are very grateful to the Argentine authorities, as well as to our current and future passengers, who have given us a very important support for the establishment of Norwegian in the country."

The Minister of Transportation of the Nation, Guillermo Dietrich, added: "We are taking another step in the Revolution of the Airplanes, a revolution that has been growing very strongly throughout the country and, especially, in the provinces [...] And with new companies like this, that bet on Argentina, that make millions in investments, that buy new planes, that hire personnel, new opportunities in the sector will be opened."

As for the future, NAA plans to operate with 10-15 aircraft at the end of first year´s operations. The carrier hopes to then have transported around 2.2 million passengers on 246 weekly flights. In the period of five to ten years, Norwegian Air Argentina hopes to operate with 70 aircraft on over 100 routes. The airline hopes to serve international routes as well.

Norwegian Air Argentina is a subsidiary airline of Scandinavian Low-Cost giant Norwegian. It received its AOC in January 2018. Recently, a first B737-800 with Argentine registration arrived in the country. Base of operations will be at the Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires. The airport is located just 8km away from the city centre.