Río Cuarto City Council Approves New Agreement with Aerolíneas Argentinas to Sustain Flights
The Río Cuarto City Council, located in southern Córdoba province, approved a new agreement last Thursday with Aerolíneas Argentinas, ensuring the continued operation of the airline at Las Higueras Airport.
The deal mirrors a similar arrangement already in place in Merlo, San Luis, guaranteeing that Aerolíneas Argentinas receives revenue equivalent to an 80% load factor. If the Río Cuarto–Buenos Aires flight operates at 65% occupancy, the municipality covers the remaining 15%.
Conversely, if flights exceed 80% occupancy, no funds are paid by the city, which receives targeted funding from the provincial government for this purpose.
The agreement was not without controversy. Local media reported that all opposition councilors voted against the measure, not because they questioned the need for air service, but due to concerns over transparency. Issues raised included the lack of clarity on how the municipality’s allotted tickets would be distributed, and how and when the provincial government would reimburse the city.
One councilor noted that during the summer season, the province contributed 18 million pesos to maintain service, and now, with a longer-term agreement in place, the total subsidy could reach 36 million pesos. This prompted questions about whether the funds might be better spent on other community needs.
Río Cuarto joined the Aerolíneas Argentinas network on September 5, 2016, initially via a triangular route with Córdoba (COR).
The route peaked in 2017 with 12 weekly flights (two daily on weekdays), and that year saw the highest passenger traffic with 55,524 travelers.
In early 2024, Aerolíneas suspended service to Río Cuarto during the low season, but resumed operations earlier than planned following a subsidy agreement with the city. A similar scenario unfolded later in the year when the airline announced it would cease operations as of January 1, only to return on January 20 after a new deal was signed.
Currently, Aerolíneas Argentinas operates three weekly flights between Buenos Aires/Aeroparque and Río Cuarto, using Embraer E190 aircraft, flying on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Meanwhile, Las Higueras Airport is set to undergo infrastructure upgrades valued at around USD 12 million, which include runway and taxiway renovations, in preparation for the arrival of F-16 fighter jets to the Río Cuarto Material Area (ARMACUAR or AMRIV), a maintenance base of the Argentine Air Force.
AUTOR
Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline. Base: ROS Origen: RES
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