Before we look at the oldest commercial aircraft still actively flying in Argentina, let's first look at how aviation developed in South America. During 1920s aviation, Latin America was a disputed region for European plane manufacturers who would face stiff competition from the United States a decade later.

One of the consequences of World War II was the state's role in the airline industry, with many countries, including those in South America, looking to have a national flag carrier.

Aerolíneas Argentinas

In the case of Argentina, this would be Aerolíneas Argentinas a company created in 1949 following the merger of Aeroposta, Aviación del Litoral Fluvial Argentino (ALFA), Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina (FAMA) and Zonas Oeste y Norte de Aerolíneas Argentinas (ZONDA).

Aerolíneas Argentinas began life on December 7, 1950, with five new Convair aircraft before adding Douglas DC-6 aircraft to its fleet. By the 1970s, Boeing 707s were added along with 727s and 737s. Over the following years, Aerolíneas Argentinas was privately and publicly owned before being wholly owned by the government of Argentina again in December 2014.

Today Argentina has more than one airline

Today Argentina has several airlines that mostly operate regional and domestic flights leaving long-haul routes to Aerolíneas Argentinas and foreign airlines.

Using information gathered by the aviation statistics and data website ch-aviation, we have compiled a list of Argentina's oldest active non-military commercial aircraft still flying today.

The oldest active commercial aircraft in Argentina:

  • Created as an air taxi company in 1984, American Jet (Argentina) has a 36-year-old Dornier 228 with the registration LV-WTV. The aircraft was acquired from Air Jamaica Express on April 15, 1997, and currently has an undisclosed amount of flight cycles.
  • American Jet (Argentina) has a 31-year-old ATR 42-300 with the registration LV-CZJ. The aircraft was acquired from OLT Express Regional on July 25, 2012, and currently has 46,770 flight cycles.
  • American Jet (Argentina) has a 22-year-old Embraer EMB-145LR with the registration LV-IVA. The aircraft was acquired from Via Airlines on January 14, 2019, and currently has 31,261 flight cycles.
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas has a 21-year-old Airbus A330-200 with the registration LV-FNK. The aircraft was acquired from Atlasjet Airlines on July 26, 2012, and currently has 12,328 flight cycles.
  • American Jet (Argentina) has a 21-year-old Embraer EMB-145LR with the registration LV-HVE. The aircraft was acquired from LASA Líneas Aéreas on June 20, 1019, and currently has 30,916 flight cycles.
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas has an 18-year-old Airbus A330-200 with the registration LV-GKO. The aircraft was acquired from Eva Air on May 24, 2016, and currently has 14,366 flight cycles.
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas has a 17-year-old Airbus A330-200 with the registration LV-GKP. The aircraft was acquired from Eva Air on November 18, 2016, and currently has13,859 flight cycles.
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas has a 16-year-old Boeing 737-700 with the registration LV-CAP. The aircraft was acquired from SkyEurope Airlines on September 1, 2009, and currently has 22.975 flight cycles.
  • Flybondi has a 16-year-old Boeing 737-800 with the registration LV-KAY. The aircraft was acquired from Air Transat on December 19, 2020, and currently has 15,271 flight cycles.
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas has a 14-year-old Airbus A330-200 with the registration LV-KAN. The aircraft was acquired from TAP Air Portugal on June 4, 2021, and currently has 7,597 flight cycles.
FlyBondi_Boeing_737-83N_LV-HKR_(2)_(cropped)
Flybondi has a 16-year-old Boeing 737-800. Photo: Mauricio V. Genta via Wikimedia Commons

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