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Argentina rolls out aviation reform in bid to bring in foreign airlines

The Argentine federal government published a sweeping decree on Wednesday focused on opening up the country's air travel sector, welcoming foreign airlines to get in the marketplace long controlled by staterun carrier Aerolineas Argentinas.

The reform ought to improve the variety of paths, flight frequencies and generate more competitors, the transportation secretariat stated in a declaration.

Carriers can now petition to operate as many routes and frequencies as they desire, based on security approval, according to the decree.

Airline companies likewise now have complete control over just how much they charge for tickets, the decree states, doing away with an inactive policy which allowed the government to set a cost flooring.

The administration of libertarian President Javier Milei, who took workplace in December, has bound a number of open-skies. arrangements with other nations in current months, enabling. their airline companies to run domestic routes in Argentina under. some conditions.

Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Uruguay and Canada. have all signed agreements up until now, possibly opening up the. Argentine market to providers from Gol to LATAM. to Air Canada.

The transportation secretariat stated on Wednesday that more. such contracts need to be checked in coming months.

Aerolineas Argentinas ran 62% of domestic flights in. May, according to the most current regulator data readily available. Routing behind it were local low-priced airline Flybondi with 26%. of the domestic market and Chilean carrier Jetsmart with 11%.

The state-run provider's future stays unpredictable as Milei. has formerly said he will privatize the airline. However, a. quote to do so was scrapped from an omnibus reform bill passed by. Congress last month.

Milei's representative, Manuel Adorni, said in an interview. released recently by a regional outlet that the government may. attempt to make some state-run business, such as Aerolineas, more. lucrative before seeking to privatize them or look for a buyer.

In 2015, Aerolineas turned a $32 million net revenue,. according to the company.

Unions have actually greatly slammed the industry reforms, arguing. that the government is harming Aerolineas' operations and. staff members in order to bring in inexpensive rivals.

Aerolineas has actually cut some frequencies and cut its. workforce in recent months, according to the unions.

(source: Reuters)