Southern Winds Airlines
{{Short description|Defunct Argentine airline, 1996–2005}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Southern Winds Airlines
| image = SW logo plantilla.png
| image_size = 175
| IATA = A4
| ICAO = SWD
| callsign = SOUTHERN WINDS
| founded = 1996
| commenced = 1996
| ceased = December 5, 2005
| aoc =
| bases =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer = Value Miles
| alliance = Líneas Aéreas Federales (2003-2005)
| subsidiaries =
| fleet_size = 14
| destinations = 19
| parent =
| headquarters = Córdoba, Argentina
| key_people = Juan Maggio (President and founder)
| website = {{URL|http://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
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|date=May 2014}} 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|date=May 2014}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://aviationweek.com/southern-winds-lafsa-sign-agreement-argentina|title=Southern Winds, LAFSA Sign Agreement In Argentina|website=Aviationweek.com|author=Luis Zalamea|access-date=September 5, 2003}}
By 2004, Southern Winds was a leading commercial carrier in the troubled Argentine aviation industry.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} That September, however, airport police in Madrid discovered {{convert|60|kg|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|date=May 2014}}
The last flight was operated on December 5, 2005, although several proposals for the airline's revival continued to surface by 2006.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}
Destinations
File:De Havilland Canada DHC-8-102 Dash 8, Southern Winds AN0136953.jpg at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in 2000]]
- {{ARG}}
- 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)
- {{ESP}}
- Madrid (Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport)
- {{USA}}
- Miami (Miami International Airport)
Fleet
File:320dl - Southern Winds Boeing 737-2E1; LV-ZZC@AEP;23.09.2004 (5037108175).jpg taking off from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in 2004]]
Southern Winds operated the following aircraft during its operations:{{cite web|url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Southern-Winds|title=Southern Winds Fleet Details and History|website=Planespotters.net|access-date=August 22, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Southern%20Winds.html|title=Southern Winds fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ 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
{{reflist}}
- {{note|webhome}} {{cite web|title=Fly-SW.com|url=http://www.fly-sw.com/en/home.jsp|access-date=August 21, 2005|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050803015644/http://www.fly-sw.com/en/home.jsp |archivedate = August 3, 2005}} Site launched in 2003. Inactive end of 2005.
{{Airlines of Argentina}}
Category:Defunct airlines of Argentina
Category:Airlines established in 1996
Category:Airlines disestablished in 2005