It looks like El Palomar is closed permanently

[antipodean]

AR is possibly the greatest graft scheme ever invented in this country. And graft schemes only work when costs can be inflated - something that a low cost carrier shines a light on and puts at risk.

 

[HenryNisental]

This seems like a political vendetta, since this airport was opened up by the previous Macri gov'mt.

 

[Jerbo]

AR is possibly the greatest graft scheme ever invented in this country. And graft schemes only work when costs can be inflated - something that a low cost carrier shines a light on and puts at risk.

Tell us what you know about the Palomar history? Some of us don't know about the sordid past you speak of.

 

[Renzi]

AR is possibly the greatest graft scheme ever invented in this country. And graft schemes only work when costs can be inflated - something that a low cost carrier shines a light on and puts at risk.

I think you're getting quite carried away. AR is also a SkyTeam member (along with other reputable airlines like KLM and Air France) and has a code share with Delta for some flights out of EZE (for these, Delta sets the price). If it was half as bad as you make it out to be, that wouldn't be the case.

Palomar was only serviced by two international airlines (both of which were given the option of moving far in advance), and only functioned as a commercial airport within the past two years. Considereing the state of the market, there isn't much of a justification for having three international airports. Besides, small airports are seeing a reduction in service globally, is it also a Peronist conspiracy that American has cut service to small towns in Iowa?

 

[dsp27]

I read they have promised Flybondi they will fly out of Aeroparque once it opens in a few months. Except for international flights which would remain in EZE. Not a horrible deal if you ask me.

 

[antipodean]

Tell us what you know about the Palomar history? Some of us don't know about the sordid past you speak of.

Past or present?

Think of all the long-standing suppliers that AR has getting paid at a premium to deliver basic products.

Think of all the employees that AR has and will not reduce meaning they carry on average 6 pilots on Madrid flights. Or 3 flight attendants minimum on an E190 jet instead of the required 2.

Think of the other major state owned companies providing essential services like fuel and ramp at EZE, also at monopoly prices. At El Palomar at least the LCCs could break free from some of those controlling some services at AEP and EZE (Example, how many thousands of dollars do you think it costs an airline to put pax on a bus, of the only company allowed to provide this service in Argentina, to take them from the terminal to the plane at AEP or EZE? Or pay for push back from same company if at a finger pier... Answer prices that are not conducive to an LCC model.)

While AR always runs at a loss and typically depends millions of dollars a day in government handouts to stay in the air, while charging consistently premium prices, it sure knows how to spend that money. And a lot of Argentines benefit from that spend, formally and informally like most big businesses in Argentina. When something highlights that it’s current employment practices or spend may be a wasteful use of state resources it goes in defensive mode along with its friends in Peronist governments and unions.

Skyteam membership or not, doesn’t mean a company is not corrupt. Look at South African Airways headlines, member of Star Alliance. Or the former Garuda Indonesia (Skyteam) President now doing time for bribes and money laundering. Or Korean Air (Skyteam) embezzlement cases. Or Kenya Airways in 2016 (Skyteam) when they realized many of the corporate employees were involved in fake contracts and inflated prices incurring millions of dollars in annual losses.
The reality of the world is much less rose-tinted than government propaganda and marketing videos make out.