Ready to explore a place with a foot in both the past and the present? That’s El Palomar Airport. El Palomar Airport stands as a testament to Argentina’s aviation history. It also shows its more recent struggles with economic and political change.
El Palomar Airport began as a military airfield in 1912. It was the home of the Army Aviation School. This school later became the Argentine Air Force. For many years, El Palomar served mainly as a military base. It housed the 1st Air Brigade. This brigade is a key transportation unit.
But El Palomar’s story took an interesting turn during the Mauricio Macri administration. The airport was transformed into a commercial hub for low-cost airlines. The goal was to boost Argentina’s airline industry. At the time, Argentines flew far less than people in other South American countries. Cities in Chile saw seven times more flights each day.
In just two years, El Palomar Airport exceeded expectations. More than two million passengers took off from its runway. Its location was key. It was the only airport in Argentina accessible by train. This made it easy and affordable for people to reach. The rise of El Palomar led to a 60% increase in air travel throughout Argentina. Flying became cheaper too. For the first time in 19 years, the number of domestic passengers exceeded international travelers.
Low-cost airlines flattened the seasonality of tourist destinations. This allowed for efficient use of infrastructure year-round. Foreign tourists poured in. They doubled in the four years leading up to 2019. Bariloche became directly connected to Brazil. The city received nearly a quarter of a million passengers in July 2019. This was an unheard-of number for the local airport.
Even Aerolíneas Argentinas improved its performance. By 2019, subsidies per passenger had fallen from 136 to 31 dollars. This happened even as the airline increased its routes by 20%. El Palomar Airport seemed to signal a new era of accessibility and growth for Argentina.
However, this progress faced a sudden halt. In December 2019, a new government signaled its disapproval of the low-cost airline industry. It shut down commercial flights at El Palomar Airport. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters. LATAM Airlines left the country. Other low-cost airlines retreated. El Palomar was forced to move its operations to Ezeiza International Airport. Ezeiza has higher operating and access costs. This weakened the competitive edge of budget airlines.
The closure of El Palomar became symbolic. It represented the struggle between reform and conservatism in Argentina. Some saw it as a move to protect the state-owned Aerolíneas Argentinas. Others viewed it as a rejection of policies from the previous administration.
Today, El Palomar Airport’s future remains uncertain. It once stood as a beacon of hope for a more connected Argentina. Now, it serves as a reminder of the country’s ongoing economic and political challenges. Though commercial flights have ceased, the airport’s legacy as a military base endures. It reminds us of its significant role in Argentine aviation history.
As you stand here at El Palomar Airport, consider its complex story. Think about its rise as a commercial hub. Ponder its fall amid shifting political winds. This airport represents Argentina’s potential and its struggles. El Palomar Airport shows the ongoing tensions between progress and tradition.