Southern Winds Airlines

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Southern Winds Airlines
SW logo plantilla.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
A4 SWD -
Founded1996
Commenced operations1996
Ceased operationsDecember 5, 2005
Operating bases
Frequent-flyer programValue Miles
Fleet size14
Destinations19
Key peopleJuan Maggio (President and founder)
Websitewww.fly-sw.com

Southern Winds Airlines (or SW Airlines) was an Argentine commercial air carrier that operated from 1996 until 2005. Southern Winds was founded by Juan Maggio, who served as president of the company.

History[]

Initially a domestic carrier, Southern Winds began offering connections to international flights in 1997. The airline's own international operations were authorized by the Argentine Government in 2001. At its peak, Southern Winds operated an extensive domestic network, international flights within the South American region, and intercontinental services from Buenos Aires to Miami and Madrid; and charter destinations like Florianopolis, Porto Seguro, Camboriu, Tacna and Punta Cana.[citation needed] Hubs were maintained in Córdoba (from 1996) and Buenos Aires (from 1999).

Southern Winds' fleet was composed initially by Bombardier CRJ100/200, DHC-8-100 and later the Boeing 737, 747 and 767 passenger planes.[citation needed]

Though the company was founded as a passenger carrier, cargo transport services under the brand SW Cargo began in 2000. In 2003 an alliance was struck between Southern Winds and the Argentine-state owned Líneas Aéreas Federales (LAFSA) that involved utilization by LAFSA of Southern Winds' flight infrastructure.[citation needed]

By 2004, Southern Winds was a leading commercial carrier in the troubled Argentine aviation industry.[citation needed] That September, however, airport police in Madrid discovered 60 kilograms (130 lb) of cocaine packed in four unaccompanied suitcases aboard an arriving Southern Winds flight. The resulting scandal cost the airline its government subsidy, and ultimately resulted in the carrier's collapse.[citation needed]

The last Southern Winds flight operated on December 5, 2005, although proposals for the airline's revival continued to surface in 2006.[citation needed]

Destinations[]

A Southern Winds De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in 2000

Fleet[]

A Southern Winds Boeing 737-200 taking off from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in 2004

Southern Winds operated the following aircraft during its operations:[1][2]

Southern Winds fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Beechcraft 300 Super King 1 1996 2005
Boeing 737-200 9 2002 2005
Boeing 747-200B 1 2004 2005
Boeing 767-300ER 3 2002 2005 Leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic and EuroAtlantic Airways
Bombardier CRJ-100 6 1996 2003
Bombardier CRJ-200 3 1996 2003
De Havilland Canada Dash 8-100 6 1998 2003

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Southern Winds Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  2. ^ "Southern Winds fleet". aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  1. ^ "Fly-SW.com". Archived from the original on August 3, 2005. Retrieved August 21, 2005. Site launched in 2003. Inactive end of 2005.
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