Aerolineas Argentinas Receives Its 1st Boeing 737-800BCF

Simple Flying

By Aaron Bailey

Published Apr 24, 2023

The airline has signed an agreement with Mirgor which will require substantial aircraft use.

Aerolíneas Argentinas (AR) recently celebrated LV-CTC, a converted Boeing 737-800BCF freighter, in a ceremony at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) that included Pablo Ceriani, President of Aerolíneas Argentinas and Diego Giuliano, Minister of Transport for the Argentinan government.

As previously reported by Simple Flying, Aerolíneas Argentinas looks to increase cargo capacity in 2023 and agreed to lease two freighters to address the market opportunity. These aircraft can carry up to 22 tons of cargo. Leasing these planes is part of an agreement between Aerolíneas Argentinas and Mirgor, a company producing electronic components and exporting agricultural products.

The air cargo business has been booming worldwide. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), revenues are expected to be $149.4 billion worldwide, a $48.6 billion increase compared to 2019. Aerolíneas Argentinas is looking to continue addressing this segment in 2023. The announcement is special because this is the first time the airline has reportedly maintained a complete cargo aircraft.

LV-CTC

The Boeing 737-800BCF, which maintains the registration LV-CTC, operated initially for the airline in a passenger configuration between 2011 and 2021. The aircraft was then sent to Dothan in the United States for cargo conversion. The aircraft now maintains all the necessary features to optimize cargo capacity and revenues, including smoke detection, hydraulic cargo door, and whole opening for loading vehicles, machinery, and containers. According to Boeing, the aircraft can accommodate 12 ULD pallets on its main deck, plus standard amounts of cargo in the lower hold.

Photo: @joaquinspotter via Twitter

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As noted earlier, the freighter will be put to work immediately, thanks to the agreement with Mirgor, which requires the use of the aircraft during half of the business day to transfer logistic supplies. Once its shift is over for Mirgor, the aircraft will be available for the rest of the day to be utilized by Aerolíneas Argentinas for other cargo opportunities.

According to Flightradar24.com, the aircraft departed from Dothan Regional Airport on February 21st, bound for South America. The aircraft appears to have followed the below path on its trip home in February:

February 21st, 2023, AR1044 departed Dothan Regional Airport (DHN) at 13:15, arriving at Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) at 18:05, a flight time of two hours and 50 minutes.
February 22nd, 2023, AR1044 departed Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) at 15:48, arriving at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) at 00:27, a flight time of seven hours and 39 minutes.

Since then, no flights have been recorded, except for two test flights on March 28th and April 15th.

LV-KHQ is expected to deliver a second freighter this year for the airline to continue its cargo push.