Argentina's Flybondi Launches Massive Fleet Expansion with 10 ACMI Leased Aircraft
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Flybondi is gearing up for what could be its largest operation in its seven-year history. The ultra low-cost airline has announced the addition of 10 aircraft under an ACMI lease for the upcoming high summer season, a move that will allow it to operate an unprecedented volume of flights.
The aircraft will be incorporated starting December 1st, with at least five A320s arriving from Avion Express. In Córdoba, three planes from ETF Airways will arrive (reportedly Boeing 737-800s), and the company and model of the other two remaining aircraft that will complete the ten are yet to be determined. These will complement its own fleet of 14 Boeing 737-800s.
Of the total aircraft, seven will be based in Buenos Aires and three in Córdoba, significantly strengthening operations in the key inland hub. This deployment will enable the company to operate around 15,000 flights between December and March, with a projected offering of over 2.8 million seats. Federico Pastori, a company executive, described the plan as an "Epic Season."
This expansion plan is "the result of great internal work in recent months to restore and improve service quality," stated Mauricio Sana, CEO of Flybondi, during a press conference this Wednesday. The executive acknowledged that 2024 "was quite difficult and complex for us," referring to the high number of cancellations and delays which, although still present this year, are at a lower level.
The strategy is supported by the arrival of a new investor from the COC group, which provided "very strong backing" to the airline's project. The ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) lease model, also known as a wet lease, means that Flybondi hires the aircraft with its crew, maintenance, and insurance included, allowing for a rapid capacity increase for demand peaks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is an ACMI lease? It is a leasing agreement where an airline rents an aircraft that includes the complete crew, maintenance, and insurance. It is a flexible solution to increase capacity quickly without purchasing aircraft.
How many planes will Flybondi have in total during the summer? In addition to its current fleet of 14 Boeing 737-800s, it will add these 10 ACMI aircraft, operating with a total of 25 aircraft during the peak season.
Why is Flybondi undergoing this expansion now? The decision is a response to the need to improve service quality after a complex year, take advantage of the high demand of the summer season, and capitalize on the support of a new investor group.
Which airlines will provide the aircraft? Flybondi is already operating an aircraft from the Lithuanian specialist Avión Express on the route to Rio de Janeiro, proving the model's viability. It is expected that this or other similar companies will provide the additional aircraft.
Regional Expansion and Domestic Focus
Sana emphasized that this growth demonstrates a renewed "regional outlook," without neglecting the domestic market, which is the brand's origin. "Today we are operating an ACMI aircraft from Avión Express focused on the Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro route, and we have launched some routes to Paraguay," he commented.
The CEO stressed that the airline wants to see "more passengers in Argentina, but we are looking at the region again, which is becoming important for us again, it is important for the shareholders." According to Sana, the ability to carry out this ambitious expansion was possible "thanks to the processes of market opening."
With this injection of capacity, Flybondi aims not only to consolidate its position in the Argentine market but also to strengthen its presence on key international routes, competing more aggressively during the year's highest demand period.
When asked if Argentina's exchange rate movements, with a more expensive dollar, affected traffic from Brazil, Sana indicated that the flow has always been more of Argentinians going to that country, so there is no major impact, and they are even growing in both domestic and international passengers.
Another important piece of information from the Flybondi CEO was that they are evaluating the incorporation of larger or even smaller aircraft in their five-year plans to adjust to demand in certain current or potential markets.
Flybondi's New Routes
- Córdoba - Asunción starting December 12
- Córdoba - El Calafate starting December 12
- Córdoba - Iguazú starting December 6
- Córdoba - Ushuaia starting December 10
These will be added to those previously announced:
- Buenos Aires - Asunción starting December 1
- Buenos Aires - Encarnación starting December 1
- Iguazú - Lima starting December 1
- Córdoba - Rio de Janeiro starting December 2
- Córdoba - Florianópolis starting December 3
- Buenos Aires - Maceió starting December 15
- Buenos Aires - Salvador starting December 16
In parallel, as we reported last week, Flybondi will deploy a charter operation with more than 280 flights on these routes:
- Córdoba - Recife
- Córdoba - Maceió
- Córdoba - Florianópolis
- Córdoba - Rio de Janeiro
- Rosario - Maceió
- Rosario - Cabo Frío
- Salta - Florianópolis
- Buenos Aires - Ushuaia
In total, Flybondi will operate 32 routes during the summer season, of which 22 are domestic (7 without passing through Buenos Aires) and 10 are international, across 24 destinations (16 domestic and 7 international).
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