Argentina Cuts Special World Cup Flights on Fuel Costs and Low Demand
(Bloomberg) --
Argentina’s state-owned airline canceled special flights for the World Cup from three provincial cities to Miami for fans of the reigning champions amid rising fuel costs stemming from the war in Iran and lower demand globally than initially expected.
Aerolíneas Argentinas SA will no longer operate special flights from the cities of Córdoba, Rosario and Tucumán — which usually don’t have direct service to the US — that had been scheduled for June and July around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The services were originally intended to facilitate travel for fans from Argentina’s interior seeking to attend the tournament.
As fans worldwide balk at high ticket prices, the canceled flights are notable beyond the global drop in demand since this World Cup will very likely be the last for superstar Lionel Messi. Geographically, it’s also significantly easier to travel to the US than the last tournament in Qatar, which was flooded with Argentines as Messi led the national squad to a title.
Aerolíneas, as it’s known locally, confirmed it scrapped those routes and will instead concentrate operations through Buenos Aires. Officials at the firm said the decision was driven by “strong and sustained increases” in fuel prices which “substantially altered the projected profitability of services” from cities in Argentina’s interior.
The carrier said it will focus on expanding connectivity through Ezeiza international airport in the capital, including additional services during key World Cup dates. Aerolíneas currently operates two daily flights between Buenos Aires and Miami and also offers special flights to Dallas and Kansas City, where Argentina is scheduled to play its opening matches of the tournament.
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