The low-cost airline Flybondi announced that by this weekend, the situation would be normalized thanks to agreements reached with companies that lease their aircraft under the ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) model. "From March 10 to 13, two ACMI providers decided to ground their aircraft due to a commercial renegotiation that was taking place during those days. Unfortunately, this action caused cancellations and delays that affected thousands of passengers." Flybondi had recently gone through one of the most critical weeks in its recent history. Due to a complex renegotiation of leasing contracts, a large part of its fleet was left on the ground, causing a chain reaction of cancellations that affected thousands of passengers. The paralysis, which began on March 5, specifically affected eight aircraft operated under the ACMI model, and according to the aviation sector's data, it caused almost 70% of cancellations during this week. This situation occurs in a context of transition for the company, which since mid-2025 has been under the control of COC Global Enterprise, led by entrepreneur Leonardo Scatturice. This fleet crisis coincides with announcements made by the company last December, when the new management presented a growth plan that includes the acquisition of 35 new aircraft from Airbus and Boeing manufacturers. The objective is to increase operational capacity by 230% in the next four years, seeking to consolidate its presence in the current 16 domestic destinations and expand its network in Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. The dependence on external providers for the core of the operation —aircraft, crew, and maintenance— through the ACMI rental model has proven to be a double-edged sword in the face of financial or contractual tensions. While the operation tries to get back on track, users and the aviation market are watching if Scatturice's management will be able to align the expectations of global expansion with the urgency of guaranteeing the punctuality and reliability that the Argentine passenger demands.
