It was confirmed today that Buenos Aires AEP will be closed on August 1st to allow work to be done on runway 13/31, for a period of 4 months. All traffic will be diverted to Buenos Aires EZE or Buenos Aires EPA.

Argentina is currently closed to all scheduled air traffic until September 1st.

Why aren't they doing this work right now instead of waiting for August 1st? The airports have been closed for months. There was plenty of time to do this work while all flights were grounded.

I'm thinking COVID.

PA110 wrote:

Why aren't they doing this work right now instead of waiting for August 1st? The airports have been closed for months. There was plenty of time to do this work while all flights were grounded.

In this airport is located the miltary apron, which is mainly used for the president for travelling.

All the works related to building are prohibited due to the coronavirus pandemic

And, on the other side, the government is triying to kick out the other carriers except AR (government owned) from using this airport. LATAM stopped flying, norwegian argentina was sold to jetsmart (which asked for being based on aeroparque.

ftorre82 wrote:

PA110 wrote:

Why aren't they doing this work right now instead of waiting for August 1st? The airports have been closed for months. There was plenty of time to do this work while all flights were grounded.

In this airport is located the miltary apron, which is mainly used for the president for travelling.

All the works related to building are prohibited due to the coronavirus pandemic

And, on the other side, the government is triying to kick out the other carriers except AR (government owned) from using this airport. LATAM stopped flying, norwegian argentina was sold to jetsmart (which asked for being based on aeroparque.

The presidential terminal was moved in 2019 to the southwest side of the airport. The platform you refer to is now used for regular commercial traffic.

The government is not kicking anyone out of AEP - yet. LATAM will continue to operate at AEP, with flights to SCL/GRU and possibly LIM, as will GOL and perhaps Azul. JetSmart has asked to operate at both airports: AEP & EPA. Lets what happens with the latter.

LOL, have you guys ever read about Argentina and their labor history. No way in hell they will allow exposure for construction workers. Argentinian unions are very strong and in constant disputes with the Government, etc. Covid was taken very seriously there, so it will be impossible to go against heavily organized workforces to do construction during a national lockdown.

Could it also be delayed until August due to winter just beginning there?

justplanesmart wrote:

Could it also be delayed until August due to winter just beginning there?

Winters in Buenos Aires are pretty benign; it gets cold but nowhere as near as you'd find in the US Northeast or Midwest; no measurable snow except once In a blue moon.

I think they don't start working now because they are too poor. I mean, that's the reason for every major delay in the country. Check out hospitals that have been inaugurated three times in the last 6 years!

dcajet wrote:

ftorre82 wrote:

PA110 wrote:

Why aren't they doing this work right now instead of waiting for August 1st? The airports have been closed for months. There was plenty of time to do this work while all flights were grounded.

In this airport is located the miltary apron, which is mainly used for the president for travelling.

All the works related to building are prohibited due to the coronavirus pandemic

And, on the other side, the government is triying to kick out the other carriers except AR (government owned) from using this airport. LATAM stopped flying, norwegian argentina was sold to jetsmart (which asked for being based on aeroparque.

The presidential terminal was moved in 2019 to the southwest side of the airport. The platform you refer to is now used for regular commercial traffic.

The government is not kicking anyone out of AEP - yet. LATAM will continue to operate at AEP, with flights to SCL/GRU and possibly LIM, as will GOL and perhaps Azul. JetSmart has asked to operate at both airports: AEP & EPA. Lets what happens with the latter.

that´s what i said: the military apron is used nowadays for the president, it doesnt matter where is located in the airport.

Jetsmart bought norwegian because of his basement in aeroparque. Government doesnt want jetsmart near Aerolineas Argentinas, because it would be a very strong competition (in fact most of former passenger of latam would ve a great market for Jetsmart. Closing the airport would be a good reason to weaken jetsmart and all kind of competition (as happened years ago with LATAM.) against aerolineas argentinas.