Airline strike: more than 6,000 passengers affected by union actions

A new forceful measure by the Airline Pilots Association (APLA) once again disrupted the normal operations of Aerolíneas Argentinas. According to the company, between 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 flights were canceled and another 28 were rescheduled, directly affecting more than 6,000 passengers and generating estimated losses of 1.1 million dollars.

Aerolíneas stated that this is "a political strike, not a labor demand", emphasizing that the union led by Pablo Biró decided to move forward with the measure despite having signed a collective bargaining agreement less than 20 days ago. "During the meetings following that agreement, no urgent or serious demands were presented that would justify such actions," they stressed.

The state-owned company recently announced its first positive operating result since the 2008 renationalization. In this context, the authorities indicated that APLA's actions are more related to an ideological stance than to the genuine interests of the pilots. "This type of practice contrasts with the union's passive attitude during previous administrations, which recorded annual losses exceeding 400 million dollars," stated Fabián Lombardo's management.

The impact of the strike and union precedents

This is not the first time APLA has threatened to halt flights on sensitive dates. Before Easter, a similar measure was called off at the last minute after negotiations. This time, the company regretted that the union insists on forceful measures right before two long weekends and on the eve of the winter season.

"The union's actions are extortionate. Biró uses passengers as hostages while the company makes efforts not to harm the public," internal sources stated.

Aerolíneas also warned that the strike damages its institutional image and puts the operational continuity of several key services at risk.

APLA's position and union complaints

The union representing the pilots reported "unacceptable contractual breaches," in addition to wage delays and the lack of a professional development plan. They also questioned changes in scheduling and internal processes without prior consultation.

One of the most critical points in APLA's statement was the mention of "repeated technical failures" in Aerolíneas's fleet, attributed to an alleged lack of investment in maintenance, which, they claim, affects both operational safety and working conditions.

What affected passengers need to know

The company indicated that passengers with flights between 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday and 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday the 11th should check their emails or consult their travel agencies to learn about rescheduling or last-minute changes. They clarified that the measure is focused on Aeroparque and Ezeiza, so it is not a total shutdown.

Aerolíneas reiterated its commitment to users and assured that it will continue to do "everything possible to minimize the impact of this type of measure."