Southern Winds Airlines

Defunct Argentine airline, 1996–2005

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Southern Winds Airlines

| IATA | ICAO | Call sign

|
|

A4  | SWD  | SOUTHERN WINDS
Founded| 1996
Commenced operations| 1996
Ceased operations| December 5, 2005
Operating bases|

* Buenos Aires–Aeroparque
* Buenos Aires-Ezeiza
* Córdoba (AR)

Frequent-flyer program| Value Miles
Alliance| Líneas Aéreas Federales (2003-2005)
Fleet size| 14
Destinations| 19
Headquarters| Córdoba, Argentina
Key people| Juan Maggio (President and founder)
Website| www.fly-sw.com

Southern Winds Airlines (also known as 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

[edit]

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 and later the Boeing passenger planes.[citation needed]

Though the company was founded as a passenger carrier, cargo transport services began in 2000 under the brand name SW Cargo. 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.[1]

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 flight was operated on December 5, 2005, although several proposals for the airline's revival continued to surface by 2006.[citation needed]

## Destinations

[edit]

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

*  Argentina
* Bariloche (San Carlos de Bariloche Airport)
* Buenos Aires (Aeroparque Jorge Newbery) Base
* Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini International Airport) Base
* Comodoro Rivadavia (General Enrique Mosconi International Airport)
* Córdoba (Ingeniero Aeronáutico Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport) Base
* El Calafate (Comandante Armando Tola International Airport)
* Mar del Plata (Astor Piazzolla International Airport)
* Mendoza (Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport)
* Neuquén (Presidente Perón International Airport)
* Puerto Iguazú (Cataratas del Iguazú International Airport)
* Resistencia (Resistencia International Airport)
* Río Gallegos (Piloto Civil Norberto Fernández International Airport)
* Salta (Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport)
* San Juan (Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Airport)
* San Martín de los Andes (Aviador Carlos Campos Airport)
* Tucumán (Teniente General Benjamín Matienzo International Airport)
* San Salvador de Jujuy (Gobernador Horacio Guzmán International Airport)
* Ushuaia (Ushuaia – Malvinas Argentinas International Airport)

*  Peru
* Tacna (Coronel FAP Carlos Ciriani Santa Rosa International Airport)

*  Spain
* Madrid (Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport)

*  United States
* Miami (Miami International Airport)

## Fleet

[edit]

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

Southern Winds operated the following aircraft during its operations:[2][3]

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

[edit]

* List of defunct airlines of Argentina

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Luis Zalamea. "Southern Winds, LAFSA Sign Agreement In Argentina". Aviationweek.com. Retrieved September 5, 2003.
2. ^ "Southern Winds Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
3. ^ "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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