Aeroposta Argentina
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Predecessor | Compagnie Générale Aéropostale |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Founder | Marcel Bouilloux-Lafont, Vincent Almandos Almonacid |
| Fate | Merged into Aerolíneas Argentinas in 1949 |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, South America |
Key people | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Buenos Aires director), Jean Mermoz (chief pilot) |
| Products | Mail and passenger airline services |
- This entry includes content translated by machine from the Spanish Wikipedia article Aeroposta Argentina S.A.
Aeroposta Argentina S.A. was an early Argentine airline founded in 1927 as a branch of the French mail carrier Aéropostale. It extended Aéropostale’s mail service network across South America by initiating domestic routes to Asuncion, Paraguay; Santiago de Chile; and southern Argentine locations such as Bahía Blanca, Comodoro Rivadavia, and Rio Gallegos.
Notable personalities included French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who acted as the company’s Buenos Aires director and flew Aeroposta’s first flight on November 1, 1929, alongside chief pilot Jean Mermoz. Initial operations focused on exploring flight paths and establishing emergency landing sites and refueling stations. Saint-Exupéry’s time in Argentina influenced his acclaimed novel Night Flight, which was later adapted into a Hollywood movie.
By 1929, scheduled flights connected more Argentine cities such as Posadas and Mendoza, with expansions to Comodoro Rivadavia, San Antonio Oeste, and Río Gallegos occurring in 1930. Aeroposta held the position of Argentina’s only airline until 1946 when other competitors entered the market.
In 1949, Aeroposta combined forces with ALFA (Sociedad Mixta Aviación del Litoral Fluvial Argentino), FAMA (Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina), and ZONDA (Zonas Oeste y Norte de Aerolíneas Argentinas) to create the national airline Aerolíneas Argentinas.
Originating company: Lignes Aériennes Latécoère
Established in September 1919, Lignes Aériennes Latécoère inaugurated its first scheduled air route for postal delivery between France and Morocco, linking Toulouse with Moroccan cities including Barcelona and Alicante. Its founder, Pierre-Georges Latécoère, also created the "Compagnie Générale d'Entreprise Aéronautique" and later founded the "Société Industrielle des Avions Latécoère" in May 1922.
To extend air service from Casablanca to Dakar, Captain Joseph Roig piloted three Bréguet XIV biplanes along Africa’s western coast, arriving in Dakar by May 22, 1923. Pursuing Pierre G. Latécoère’s vision, Roig was dispatched to South America in May 1924 to investigate potential routes linking Natal, Brazil, with Buenos Aires. In Buenos Aires, Roig coordinated with civil aviation authorities to establish the city as a terminus for a future South American mail line connected to France.
The project received backing from President Dr. Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear, allowing Roig to conduct a reconnaissance flight from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires in January 1925 accompanied by pilots Paul Vachet, Étienne Lafay, Victor Hamm, and mechanics Gauthier, Estival, and Chevalier. Despite adverse weather conditions in March 1925, aerial surveys between Rio de Janeiro and Recife were carried out to facilitate future transatlantic routes. By June 1925, regular mail flights operated between Toulouse, Casablanca, and Dakar.
To support expansion into South America financially, Pierre Georges Latécoère traveled to Rio de Janeiro in December 1926 where he met French entrepreneur Marcel-Lafont Bouilloux. In January 1927, alongside Argentine aviator Vincent Almandos Almonacid, they obtained President Alvear’s approval for an airmail contract. On February 8, 1927, Almonacid signed an agreement with Argentina’s Director General of Posts for regional airmail services; this was officially confirmed by presidential decree on June 10.
The negotiations concluded on April 11, 1927, when Marcel Bouilloux-Lafont purchased a 93% stake in Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Aéronautiques for 30 million francs. He assumed control of the company and committed to acquiring Latécoère aircraft models 25s, 26s, and 28s. Later that year, on December 12, the company was renamed Compagnie Générale Aéropostale.
Formation of Aeroposta Argentina S.A.
On August 13, 1926, an Executive Order revised Argentine aviation laws, banning foreign enterprises from operating within Argentine airspace and assigning the War Office the responsibility to oversee civil aircraft used for non-military purposes. To adhere to these new regulations, Vicente Almandos Almonacid proposed creating a domestic airline company, receiving endorsement from President Dr. Marcelo T. Alvear and prominent legal experts.
The founding document of Aeroposta Argentina S.A. was executed on September 5, 1927, establishing Argentina as a subsidiary of the French "Compagnie Générale Aéropostale." Among the founders were Agustin Melian (representing Marcel Bouilloux-Lafont), Alberto Dodero, Gaston Fouvell Lleau Rigo, Alejandro Behety Menendez, Luis Nicol, Guillermo Padilla (head of Aeronautical Radio), Raul A. Razzio, Emmanuel Sieyes, and Almonacid himself. The headquarters were located at Calle Reconquista No. 240 in Buenos Aires.
On November 1, 1927, Paul Georges Pivot launched the Natal–Rio–Buenos Aires air route using a Latécoère 25 (F-AIOZ). This route was extended on March 1, 1928, when Jean Mermoz piloted a Latécoère 25 carrying mail along what became the longest airmail route worldwide at that time—13,600 km from Toulouse to Dakar—connecting Buenos Aires to Natal by sea until 1935; this service became known as the "Mermoz line."
In 1928, Almonacid chose Almonacid Pacheco, located approximately 35 km from Buenos Aires, as the site for constructing an airfield. The facility included three 30-meter tall antennas housing equipment from the LPD Radio Station "General Pacheco," which was later transferred to the Post and Telecommunications Department. This station played a crucial role in enabling early communication between bases and aircraft before radios were commonly installed onboard.
Buenos Aires to Asuncion, Paraguay Route
Two reconnaissance flights were conducted to evaluate this route:
- On April 3, 1928, Peter Ficarelli piloted a Bréguet XIV biplane departing from General Pacheco Aerodrome and flying through Rosario, Entre Rios, Corrientes, Chaco, and Formosa to assess suitable landing sites.
- On October 31, 1928, Paul Vachet, Chief Traffic Officer, flew a Bréguet XIV carrying copies of the newspaper La Prensa to Asuncion's airport by 18:00 hrs, thereby completing the establishment of the Buenos Aires–Asuncion air connection.
Starting January 1, 1929, Aeroposta commenced unofficial mail and passenger operations at 06:00 hrs from General Pacheco using two Latécoère 25 monoplanes:
- Paul and Peter Ficarelli Vachet flew on No. 619 (F-AIFX) accompanied by engineer Padilla and mechanic Gutierrez.
- Aviator Leonardo Selvetti with mechanic Ferrando and Mr. Di Sandro operated No. 631 (F-AIJZ), named "Colonel Bogado," transporting letters and copies of La Prensa.
Both aircraft stopped at Corrientes before landing at Campo Grande military airport in Paraguay in front of officials and a large crowd. These flights were considered "trial airmails" since they lacked formal authorization from Argentine authorities.
Following regulatory changes on February 27, 1929, official permission was granted for postal flights. Consequently, on March 22, Peter Ficarelli departed General Pacheco at 06:00 hrs on Argentina’s inaugural authorized mail flight.
Tragically, on August 16, 1929, Ficarelli lost his life near Asuncion after his Latécoère 25 (No. 619/F-AIFX) crashed under foggy conditions.
Buenos Aires – Mendoza – Santiago de Chile corridor
Between November 1928 and March 1929, Jean Mermoz and mechanic Alexandre Collenot undertook exploratory flights to determine the most efficient Andes crossing paths, operating a Latécoère 25 (No. 603, F-AIEH) en route from Buenos Aires to Santiago de Chile, with a focus on Mendoza, Argentina. Following a demanding landing on a mountain ledge and subsequent carburetor adjustments, they successfully arrived in Copiapó, Chile.
This mission validated the Potez 25 as the preferred aircraft for Andes airmail service due to its excellent climbing performance. Consequently, five Potez 25 units were procured: F-AJDX, F-AJDY, F-AIDZ, F-AJZR, and F-AJZS.
On July 14, 1929, Mermoz alongside Henri Guillaumet executed the inaugural Santiago–Mendoza mail flight utilizing a Potez 25. On June 13, 1930, Guillaumet survived a crash on the frozen Laguna del Diamante and endured an arduous journey out of the mountains. This event underscored Aeroposta Argentina’s trailblazing role and later inspired Jean-Jacques Annaud’s film Wings of Courage.
Buenos Aires – Bahía Blanca – Comodoro Rivadavia corridor
In September 1928, pilot-mechanic Peter Ficarelli Alfredo Vitolo performed reconnaissance missions to Comodoro Rivadavia using a Latécoère 25 and leveraging facilities at Bahia Blanca’s Aero Club. By February 1929, Paul Vachet advanced these efforts by initiating infrastructure development.
From October 29 to November 1, 1929, company director Antoine de Saint-Exupéry led final evaluation flights with pilot Rufino Luro Cambaceres aboard Latécoère 25 (F-AIQF), accompanied by Prospero Palazzo and Richard Gross in another Latécoère 25 (F-AIQL).
The Buenos Aires–Bahía Blanca–Comodoro Rivadavia line officially commenced operations on November 1, 1929, including stops at San Antonio Oeste (present-day Antoine de Saint Exupéry Airport) and Trelew. Saint-Exupéry captained the first flight transporting journalists and mail. The formal inauguration was conducted by Jean Mermoz, piloting a Latécoère 28 with company officials as passengers.
At Bahía Blanca, Richard Gross succeeded Palazzo as head of the Comodoro Rivadavia route. Initial operations were centered in Villa Harding Green, featuring a metal hangar, radio towers, meteorological station, and passenger facilities. Connections to Buenos Aires involved overnight rail travel to Bahía Blanca. By May 1930, operations transitioned to General Pacheco Aerodrome.
In March 1930, Mermoz completed the pioneering transatlantic mail flight in a pontoon-equipped Latécoère 28 within 21 hours carrying 130 kg of mail. On March 31, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry inaugurated flights to Rio Gallegos aboard Latécoère 28 "El Pampero" (F-AJLO), accompanied by key executives and journalists.
Tragically, on June 23, 1936, pilots Prospero Palazzo and Caesar Brugo lost their lives near Comodoro Rivadavia while flying a Latécoère 28 (No. 293, F-AJUX).
The National Aeroposta
The onset of the Great Depression severely affected Bouilloux-Lafont’s financial interests in banking consortia and transportation companies. Starting in early 1930, the French Government withheld previously agreed loan approvals amid political upheaval including the Argentinian coup of September 1930 and changes in Brazil’s administration. Subsequent ministerial shifts in France further obstructed new financing efforts, culminating in the dissolution of the Compagnie Générale Aéropostale on March 31, 1931. This company was later integrated into the consortium that established Air France in 1933, perpetuating Aéropostale’s heritage.
Similarly challenged by funding refusals, Argentina Aeroposta halted operations in June 1931. However, pressure from postal authorities and aviation officials resulted in presidential approval for Aeroposta Argentina SA to resume activities. A decree dated September 29, 1931 authorized the company’s lease under Argentina's Directorate General of Civil Aviation and General Post and Telegraph for a six-month trial between Bahía Blanca and Rio Gallegos at $7,000 monthly for equipment rental. Although legally designated National Aeroposta, it functioned corporately as Aeroposta Argentina S.A.
Service recommenced on October 2, 1931 and was extended multiple times through decrees issued between 1932 and 1933. These established steady monthly subsidies, fuel supplied by YPF, and a decade-long operational contract with potential expansion toward Ushuaia.
In October 1933, Rufino Luro Cambaceres undertook a promotional flight across Patagonia showcasing air transport advantages for mail and passenger services; this prompted demands from southern communities for inclusion on the route.
By early 1935, Argentina Aeroposta acquired obsolete aircraft from Air France, originally part of Aéropostale’s fleet, resuming service to Rio Grande in September. In November that year, company statutes were revised to permit Argentine shareholders’ participation.
The Pueyrredón consortium
In 1936, confronted with financial challenges, a group of Argentine entrepreneurs led by Dr. Ernesto Pueyrredón established a consortium that acquired 97% ownership of the company, thereby securing predominant national control. Subsequently, Decree 99,184 issued in February 1937 authorized the company to expand its flight operations originating from Buenos Aires, replacing earlier subsidies with a fixed monthly payment of $1.50 per mile flown.
The agreement, spanning ten years, mandated the company to provide a 50% fare reduction for Posts and Telegraphs as well as the Aeronautics Directorate, allocate reserved seating, and transport up to 2 kilograms of official mail without charge. Additionally, it included a commitment to update and modernize the aircraft fleet.
Turning attention to Germany, in 1937 the airline acquired three Junkers Ju 52/3m planes—registered as LV-AAB "Patagonia," LV-BAB "Pampa," and LV-CAB "Tierra del Fuego"—along with BMW engines and Lorenz and Telefunken communication radios to enhance operational capabilities. Lufthansa personnel delivered flight and maintenance instruction at Quilmes aerodrome, where regular services between Buenos Aires and Rio Grande commenced in October 1937 aboard "Patagonia," piloted by Paul Selvetti Rohlandt alongside Argentine aviators Gross and Irigoyen.
In April 1938, an official decree permitted Aeroposta Argentina S.A. to coordinate its domestic and international flights in partnership with Air France and Condor Ltda Union. By December 1939, adjustments were made to the frequency of flights along the Buenos Aires–Rio Gallegos–Rio Grande route.
Due to U.S. pressure during World War II resulting in the shutdown of Syndicate Condor—a Lufthansa subsidiary operating in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru—Aeroposta expanded its fleet by acquiring two Junkers Ju 52 aircraft: LV-AAJ "Ibaté" in Brazil (April 1942) and LV-AAN "Quichua" in Bolivia (June 1943). By June 1952, the total number of aircraft reached five.
Competitors
During the early 1940s, the Argentine Air Force founded two airlines: LASO (Línea Aérea Sud Oeste) and LANE (Línea Aérea Nordeste), which merged in 1945 to form LADE (Líneas Aéreas del Estado).
In 1946, the Argentine government established several "Sociedades Mixtas," including Aeroposta, A.L.F.A. (Aviación del Litoral Fluvial Argentino), Z.O.N.D.A. (successor to Panagra), and FAMA (Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina), aimed at creating Argentina’s first intercontinental airline. By 1950, new legislation prohibited private ownership in air transport companies, prompting the consolidation of these airlines—excluding LADE—into the state-owned Aerolíneas Argentinas.
Commemoration
On January 2, 1979, former Aeroposta Argentina pilots convened to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the airline’s inaugural flight. Among those present were Virgilio Mira, Alberto Papa, H. Papa, Leonardo Selvetti, Pedro Artigau, Oscar Bujia, Martignoni, and Mrs. Ermenilda Almandós Almonacid, daughter of founder Vincent Almandós Almonacid.
See also
External links
- Museum of Aeroposta Argentina
- Wings of Courage (1995), the pioneering 3D IMAX movie portraying Aeroposta Argentina's 1930 operations, highlighting figures such as Mermoz, Saint-Exupéry, and Henri Guillaumet's Andes accident.