MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

South Wind and Lafsa ambitious plans

Argentine airlines Southern Winds and Líneas Aéreas Federales SA, (an Argentine government managed company of three failed airlines that still has to take off) announced in Buenos Aires they will be jointly flying three times a week to Mexico City and the international sea resort of Cancún beginning next December.

Southern Winds also expects to incorporate two additional Boeing 737-200 that belonged to the Brazilian carrier Varig, which will be flying to Mar del Plata, Chapelco and Iguazú Falls, as well as reinforcing the Cordoba and Bariloche routes.

Christian Maggio, a member of SW board added that the company is currently negotiating in Europe the incorporation of a third Boeing 767 to increase the number of flights to Miami and Spain, as well as another two 737-300 for domestic routes.

Jorge Baravalle president of Federales airways said the company had requested authorization to fly to Bariloche, El Calafate, Iguazú, Puerto Madryn, Comodoro Rivadavia, Cordoba, Mendoza, Salta, Tucuman, Ushuaia and "Islas Malvinas" (Falklands), and expects to have four Boeing 737-200 running before the end of the year.

However, is spite of the ambitious announcements Lafsa with 850 employees has yet to fly, and Southern Winds receives a government monthly support in fuel equivalent to 1,1 million US dollars.

Lafsa was created from three failed airlines by President Kirchner's administration with the objective of selling it to the private sector once it becomes operational.