Aero 2000
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Defunct | 2020 |
| Fate | Ceased operations and returned leased aircraft |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina, international destinations including Lima, Miami, Punta del Este, Santiago, São Paulo |
| Products | Air transport services |
| Owner | LATAM Airlines Group (49%), Argentine investors (51%) |
| Parent | LATAM Airlines Group |
'Aero 2000 S.A., operating under the name LATAM Airlines Argentina and previously known as LAN Argentina, was an airline headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It formed part of the LATAM Airlines Group and ranked as the country's second-largest carrier before halting its services.
History
Initially functioning as Aero 2000 prior to its acquisition by LAN Airlines, the airline became an affiliate member of the Oneworld alliance on April 1, 2007, and departed from the alliance on May 1, 2020. The ownership structure consisted of LATAM Airlines Group holding 49%, with Argentine investors owning the remaining 51%.
In August 2013, judicial authorities prevented the government’s effort to end LAN's long-term lease agreement at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, a vital operational base.
After the consolidation of LAN and TAM Linhas Aéreas into LATAM Airlines, LAN Argentina adopted the new brand identity LATAM Argentina.
LATAM Airlines incurred fines exceeding $22 million related to a bribery scandal in Argentina dating back a decade, involving illicit payments connected to labor disputes. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission levied a $9.4 million penalty for insufficient accounting controls, while the Department of Justice imposed a $12.75 million criminal fine for breaching the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
In May 2020, LATAM Airlines Group initiated Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings; however, its subsidiaries in Argentina and Paraguay were excluded from this filing.
On June 17, 2020, LATAM Airlines Group declared the immediate shutdown of LATAM Argentina’s operations, returning leased aircraft and terminating all staff. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted Latin American carriers due to limited governmental aid and stringent travel restrictions. Before ceasing operations, LATAM Argentina accounted for roughly 16% of domestic flights within Argentina, serving as the primary rival to national flag carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas, which controlled about 63% of the market.
Destinations
LATAM Argentina provided scheduled domestic services from Buenos Aires to major Argentine destinations such as Bariloche, Córdoba, Comodoro Rivadavia, El Calafate, Mendoza, Puerto Iguazú, Neuquén, Río Gallegos, Salta, San Juan, Tucumán, and Ushuaia. Its international network linked Buenos Aires with cities including Lima, Miami, Punta del Este, Santiago, and São Paulo. The airline's principal hubs were Jorge Newbery Airport for short-haul flights and Ministro Pistarini International Airport for long-haul routes, both located in Buenos Aires.
Fleet
At the time operations ceased in June 2020, LATAM Argentina operated a fleet consisting of 13 Airbus A320-200 aircraft, each outfitted with 168 economy class seats. These aircraft were subsequently returned to LATAM Chile.
| Aircraft | In service |
Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y |
Total | ||||
| Airbus A320-200 | 13 | — | — | 168 | 168 | Returned to LATAM Chile |
| Total | 13 | — | ||||
Retired fleet
In the past, LATAM Argentina's fleet consisted of five leased Boeing 737-200 aircraft operated between 2005 and 2008, alongside eleven Boeing 767-300ER planes that were in service from 2006 until 2019.
| Aircraft | Quantity | Entry into Service | Withdrawal | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200 | 5 | 2005 | 2008 | 4 leased from LAN Airlines |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 11 | 2006 | 2019 |