On March 9th, the ANAC in Brazil publicly informed its decision. Aerolineas Argentina’s flights operating from the domestic airport in Buenos Aires are not authorized to land in Brazil.

The Metropolitan Airport Jorge Newbery, is Buenos Aires` domestic airport, situated “very near” the city center of Buenos Aires, as described in their official website.

This airport historically serves the country’s network from Buenos Aires and destinations in Uruguay. There are a number of very small domestic airlines but basically LAN Argentina and Aerolineas Argentinas are using that airport, also PLUNA to Uruguay.

Regional destinations to Chile, Brazil and Paraguay are served from Ezeiza International Airport 35km from the center of Buenos Aires.

“Flag carrier”, Aerolineas Argentinas, and the Argentinean Secretary of Transportation had jointly announced back in January 2010 that the airline would be allowed to fly from the domestic airport to its regional destinations – but what about the other airlines?

There were some voices and opinions at first about security but mysteriously enough, the topic was never brought up again, so, nobody really knows if this is a safe plan or not. Additionally, almost all travel associations welcomed this project of transforming the domestic airport into an “international “one.

Of course, the rest of the regional airlines backed up by JURCA – the body that brings together airlines operating in the country, applied for regional flying from the Metropolitan Airport as well.

Mr Schiavi , the Secretary of Transportation , AA2000 – Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 and the head of ANAC Mr. Gabrielli, had a meeting with JURCA on January 29th under the absurd terms that “some equity ” would be respected and that JURCA`s request would be “analyzed” . At that point it was already clear that “reciprocity” was a word the aviation authorities from Argentina had never heard before. They never had even the decency to go back to JURCA.

In the meantime, Aerolineas Argentinas had began to aggressively promote this major competitive advantage, offering flights from Cordoba, Mendoza and Rosario to Montevideo or Asuncion in Paraguay or , Porto Alegre Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador in Brazil using the Metropolitan Airport hub, paying from 50% to 69% less than from Ezeiza international airport.

Now, when Mr. Gabrieli, head of ANAC Argentina heard about ANAC Brazil decision he was surprised! He convened an emergency meeting for this coming Wednesday morning with managers of Gol and TAM to discuss slots, that is, to discuss available times so that these companies can also operate from the Metropolitan Airport with “some equity”.

Was it necessary to reach this point? Those who know the business are familiar with “reciprocity” as being one of the fundamental rules of this industry and that some countries make it a cult. Brazil is not quite the exception. Chile’s reaction remains to be seen. The authorities of this country had moved in a very political way, but claiming through an official note to avoid discriminatory situations.

Will it reach the point of a ban to demand reciprocity? On March 14, Aerolineas Argentinas began flights from the Metropolitan Airport to Porto Alegre, Florianopolis, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Seguro, Salvador, Sao Paulo and Santiago de Chile.

View photos from Aeroparque Metropolitano, Jorge Newbery at www.airliners.net

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