Aerolneas Argentinas (AR, Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery) has placed up for sale its last A340-200, LV-ZRA (msn 85), which has been in storage at Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini since its retirement from commercial service in 2014.
The quadjet was delivered to Cathay Pacific in 1995. (CX, Hong Kong International). After brief experiences with the Hong Kong carrier and later Philippine Airlines (PR, Manila Ninoy Aquino International), it was redelivered to Aerolneas in 1999 and continued to operate for it for the next 15 years.
It is the last of four A340-200s originally operated by the Argentine flag carrier; the other three aircraft were stored at Mojave and re-registered in the United States, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module.
Aerolneas did not react to ch-inquiry aviation’s on whether the A340 is airworthy, has installed engines and other critical components, or is merely available for part-out. The aircraft had amassed 66,287 flying hours and 8,203 flight cycles as of 2017 and has not flown since.
The carrier’s RFQ is aimed at lessors and financial institutions, implying that the A340 would return to service.
The Argentine flag carrier also operated nine A340-300s, which remained in service until early 2020. Its present widebody fleet consists of eight A330-200s, with plans to add further -200s and at least four A330-900s in the following years.
About Aerolneas Argentinas
Type Scheduled Carrier Base Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Aircraft 81 Destinations 60 Routes 162 Daily Flights 318
