On Monday morning, aviation unions are planning to hold “information rallies” at both the city’s Aeropark and Ezeiza, which are expected to disrupt flights scheduled between 8am and 11am. Despite this, Aerolineas Argentinas’ flight schedule is working smoothly to avoid cancellations. The unions are protesting the passage of the draft Basic Law, which includes a reduction in the tax-free minimum, potentially leading to the return of income tax for many aviation employees.
Unions have opposed the policies of the Miley government since before taking office, particularly regarding the privatization of Aerolineas Argentinas. The decision of DNU 70 included the privatization of the airline and the abolition of subsidies given by the state. The aviation unions involved in the protest include the Airline Pilots Association (APLA), Aviation Technicians Association (APTA), Senior Staff Union (UPSA) and Air Staff Association (APA).
Monday’s protest is expected to be the first of two in the same week, with a general strike planned for Thursday. Aerolineas Argentinas aims to minimize disruption to its 300 or so flights during the day, while low-cost airlines such as Flibondi are not anticipating cancellations. JetSmart, however, may experience problems with flights due to ramp services provided by Intercargo.
The protests will continue beyond this week and additional actions are planned in front of the National Congress. Foreign airlines landing in Ezeiza have not yet announced any disruptions due to the protests. Unions are calling for continued action to reject government policies and defend