MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Aerolineas could be returning to the “Argentine fold”

“Aerolineas Argentinas will recover the levels of prestige and quality service”, said Pascual

The Spanish tourism operator Marsans which has a majority stake in Aerolineas Argentinas announced in Buenos Aires the intention of making the flag air carrier “ever more Argentine”, and simultaneously taking advantage of the expertise and opportunities the Spanish group can offer.

In an official communiqué from the company released Thursday in Buenos Aires, Marsans and its main shareholder Gonzalo Pascual declare that the statement only reinforces previous communications on the matter transmitted to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her husband and antecessor former president Nestor Kirchner. Pacual argues that "the situation of the Argentine commercial air market requires of a great national (Argentine) company, solidly embedded, to which efforts from all must contribute: government, unions and all the staff working in the company". This way, according to Pascual Aerolineas Argentinas "will count with the future collaboration from groups and people who have a renowned professional and business capacity". "We're certain that along this way Aerolineas Argentinas will recover the levels of prestige and quality service which enable it to attract a greater number of passengers thus helping with the best possible tourism and economic development of Argentina". Pascual said he was committed with the other major partners to take all the necessary measures to make out of Aerolineas "the great Argentine flag carrier". The Argentine government holds a 5% stake in Aerolineas and its subsidiaries, which are under the control of Spain's Marsans since October 2001. Since last mid year Aerolineas Argentinas and its affiliates have been exposed to multiple and increasing labor disputes and conflicts over working salaries and working conditions. However since some of the union leaders involved in Aerolineas industrial disputes also happen to be working for the Kirchner administration in the civil aeronautics office, there is growing speculation that it could all be a plot to gradually recover the Argentine flag carrier for the Argentine government.