American Jet plans regional hub: flights to Patagonia and Chile announced
Santa Cruz's governor, Claudio Vidal, has signed an agreement with American Jet S.A. to establish a regional air hub connecting key towns in the province with Patagonia and Chile. The project aims to boost connectivity, transport, and regional development, with the first flights expected by mid-2025
The governor of Santa Cruz, Claudio Vidal, signed a letter of intent on Monday with American Jet S.A. to establish an air hub connecting the province's main towns with other regions of Patagonia and Chile.
The agreement, signed at Government House, was attended by Chief of Staff José Daniel Álvarez; Minister of Energy and Mining Jaime Álvarez; and Minister of Production, Commerce, and Industry Gustavo Martínez. Representing American Jet were Carlos Mendoza and Jorge Roberto Rodríguez, the company’s director.
According to the details provided, the hub will reactivate strategic routes linking cities such as Río Gallegos, El Calafate, Perito Moreno, Puerto San Julián, and Puerto Deseado with neighboring provinces, including Tierra del Fuego, Chubut, Río Negro, and Neuquén. Additionally, international flights to Chile are planned to facilitate the transportation of passengers, cargo, medical supplies, and regional products.
American Jet will handle the necessary investments to operate the hub. These include obtaining authorizations, training crew members, and hiring support staff. The first commercial flights are expected to commence between April and May 2025.
The initial phase of the project will last three years, with the potential for expanding routes and frequencies based on demand. The province committed to prioritizing future initiatives by the company aimed at expanding the network.
A map released by the Santa Cruz government highlights routes connecting Río Gallegos with El Calafate, San Julián, Perito Moreno, Bariloche, Río Grande, Ushuaia, Puerto Deseado, Comodoro Rivadavia, Neuquén, Puerto Madryn, Puerto Argentino, Punta Arenas, and Santiago de Chile.
During the announcement, Governor Vidal emphasized: “This is much more than connectivity; it is fulfilling our commitment to continue driving the economic, tourist, and social development of our province. This is just the beginning. We want every locality to have access to the connectivity it deserves.”
LADE, which decades ago maintained a strong presence in Río Gallegos, now connects the city with Río Grande, Ushuaia, El Calafate, Perito Moreno, and Comodoro Rivadavia twice a week.
A New Era for American Jet?
In mid-October, American Jet announced plans to operate regular flights on regional routes. The company stated it would incorporate nine aircraft with capacities of 50 to 100 seats early this year, alongside a recruitment drive for pilots, cabin crew, and mechanics.
Since then, no additional details have been disclosed, and the company has not responded to inquiries from Aviacionline.
Founded in 1983, American Jet has grown into the leading provider of charter flights for mining and oil companies, with aircraft based in Neuquén and Mendoza. The airline also operates out of Buenos Aires' Jorge Newbery Aeroparque and San Fernando Airport, catering to the executive jet market as well as sports and event delegations.
The company’s first steps into regular commercial aviation came in September 2016, when it requested 13 routes during Public Hearing No. 218. These routes included connections across Patagonia, Argentina, and neighboring countries:
- Neuquén – Comodoro Rivadavia – Río Gallegos – El Calafate – Río Grande – Ushuaia.
- Neuquén – Comodoro Rivadavia – Islas Malvinas.
- Neuquén – Temuco – Santiago de Chile.
- Neuquén – Comodoro Rivadavia – Río Gallegos – Punta Arenas.
- Neuquén – Malargüe – Mendoza – San Miguel de Tucumán – Salta – Tarija.
- Neuquén – Córdoba – San Miguel de Tucumán – Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
- Neuquén – Córdoba – Resistencia – Asunción.
- Neuquén – Rosario – Puerto Iguazú.
- Neuquén – Rosario – Buenos Aires – Punta del Este.
- Neuquén – Bahía Blanca – Mar del Plata – Buenos Aires.
- Neuquén – Córdoba – Rosario – Porto Alegre.
- Neuquén – Santa Rosa – Buenos Aires.
- Neuquén – Bariloche – El Calafate – Ushuaia.
In October 2016, the airline launched a route between Neuquén and Temuco (Chile) to capitalize on the surge of Argentine tourists shopping in the neighboring country.
By mid-2019, American Jet announced plans to operate regular flights, but adverse market conditions during the end of President Macri's term and the pandemic forced delays. The company only launched flights between Buenos Aires and Termas de Río Hondo in January 2020, just weeks before the aviation sector was brought to a halt globally.
During the pandemic, American Jet remained active due to the essential nature of its mining and oil operations. Afterward, it ventured into routes such as Buenos Aires – Mercedes (Corrientes), Buenos Aires – Punta del Este, and seasonal flights in 2022/2023. It also partnered with Alas La Rioja, a provincial airline aimed at improving connectivity in underserved areas.
Recent fleet additions include two Embraer ERJ-145s, a Learjet 60XR, and an ATR 42-600.
The current fleet consists of:
- Two Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III.
- Two Embraer ERJ-145.
- One ATR 42-300.
- One ATR 42-600.
- One Dornier 228-300.
- One Beechcraft 1900.
- One Learjet 60.
- One Learjet 31A.
- One Bell 429 helicopter
AUTOR
Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline.
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