This morning, Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral flights out of Aeroparque Jorge Newberry and Ezeiza International Airport were delayed or cancelled in anticipation of aviation personal action held this morning. At least 15 flights were affected in Aeroparque Jorge Newberry alone. As of 9am this morning, flights have been departing as scheduled, but with an average delay of two hours. Members of five aviation unions met at the airports this morning to demand salary increases, among other items, from the airlines.

The Association of Aviation Personnel (APA) denies responsibility for the complications and instead blamed an “employer’s lock out” between the hours of 5.30am and 8am.

Aerolíneas Argentinas issued a press statement, explaining that the itineraries had been rescheduled because “the union meeting announced and planned for 5am this morning was going to impede normal flight dispatches in the early morning”. It continued by asserting, “Had the company failed to adopt these preventative measures, the meeting that inevitably interrupts or delays services would have affected the entire day’s programming, consequently causing harm to the passengers.” Ultimately, six Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral flights were successfully rescheduled or consolidated. Aerolíneas Argentinas added that passengers were notified yesterday of the changes in travel itineraries.

Union members have decided to use industrial actions to demand a salary raise of 10% of airlines. “We are not ruling out any measures,” declared Edgardo Llano, APA Secretary Genearl. “If we have to arrive at a strike, it could announced or unannounced, but we don’t want to harm passengers any more than what a strike would cause.” These comments retract promises made earlier last week denying the possibility of a strike. Conflicts have built since last March, when wage negotiations were suspended.

Participating unions include the APA, the Superior Personal and Commercial Aviation Company Professionals’ Union (UPSA), the Association of Airline Pilots (APLA), the Argentine Crewmembers’ Association (AAA), and the Airline Aviators’ Union (UALA).

Union actions echo those made by air traffic controllers last July, which caused massive disruptions for passengers at both Ezeiza International Airport and Aeroparque Jorge Newberry.

Union representatives will meet today with the Ministry of Labour to attempt to resolve the conflict.

The Aeroparque Airport (AEP)  in Buenos Aires will be closed from 11pm on 3rd November until 8pm on 1st December 2010.

Within that time period AEP will begin a work plan that will require an investment of US $70 million. The goal of the project is aimed to optimize the safety of the air station and to provide greater passenger service.

These works, which have not been renovated in 35 years, include the reconstruction of the runway, floor remodeling in the central sector to improve the presentation for new aircrafts on international flights and a groove to drain rainwater to prevent aircrafts from hydroplaning.

Other projects and construction plans involve the demolition of the old concrete, and the implementation of new technology to improve runways, grooved surfaces and new paint on runway tracks.

The plans for the expansion of the terminal will also be carried out along with completely renewing sectors for boarding and arrivals. First floor renovations will to enlarge the area for restaurants and businesses, while the ground floor will also expand and remodel the Duty free and migration sectors to expedite the processing of passengers. In the arrivals sector they will be increasing the surface of the baggage claim room and incorporating two modern baggage claim carousels.

Due to the anticipated renovations, the bulk of the 312 average daily flights operating out of AEP will be transferred to Ezeiza International Airport as well as air stations in El Palomar and San Fernando.

“Passengers should follow the instructions of the airlines as they will tell how far in advance they should go to their flights,” said Julio Scaramella, the head of the Directorate of Communications of Argentine Airports 2000. “They recommend arriving in Ezeiza accompanied by few people as possible to avoid any congestion in the parking lot or common areas of the terminals. We must continue to follow what they say because they all have a preset schedule for everything to run well.”

The airport manager of Argentine Airlines, Ricardo Lehmacher advises that passengers should arrive at Ezeiza three hours earlier, stressing the importance of timely arrivals and check ins as they will be much more strict with international flights to avoid missing flights, delaying flights and to keep the system running on time.

For passengers who wish to travel to destinations like Rosario, Mar del Plata and Santa Fe, travel may take longer to fly than by land.

“It all depends on what passengers choose. We try to encourage the use of bus transport,” explained Transportation Secretary, Juan Pablo Schiavi, to La Nacion. “For example, one company has already assured us that vans will run every 15 minutes exiting the center. Because bottlenecking can occur on the freeway at rush hour we’ve added more booths in the airport entrance.”

With the temporary closing of AEP for renovations of its runway and other projects and Ezeiza airport compensating their load, passengers are advised to budget more travel time and also to explore alternate modes of transportation for the next month.