What are the best airlines in Argentina?
Well, buckle up.
This is Argentina.
Labor strikes are a part of life.
Airline delays and cancellations have become something to be expected, not surprised by.
There are only two airlines in Argentina that fly domestic.
So, hearing all of that may leave you asking – is flying in Argentina a nightmare? (No).
And are there airlines in Argentina that you can actually trust? (Actually, yes).
This article is about the best airlines in Argentina (read: the only ones) and what you need to know when booking your flights.
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Argentina Domestic Flights – Know Before you go
Personally, I am not one to look into airlines when I travel. I am loyal to nothing but a cheap ticket.
But as flight delays dominate the news in Argentina, the topic has also dominated my Facebook group – Argentina Travel Tips.
People are understandably concerned about booking their flights for domestic travel here and want to know what airline they should book with.
Travel in Argentina may not be rocket science. The basics of travel are basically the same everywhere. But Argentina is not always easy.
The country’s largest city is also its largest travel hub. So, most flights connect via Buenos Aires.
It’s not uncommon to fly from one destination in Patagonia to another city in Patagonia via Buenos Aires. This is as annoying and time consuming as it sounds.
This is why I highly recommend always playing with flight routes before getting too attached to an itinerary – use Google Flights or Skyscanner.
And when you need to route through Buenos Aires (or Mendoza or Cordoba) to get from Iguazu to Ushuaia then you can completely write that day off of your itinerary. It’s a travel day, nothing else.
Add flight changes, delays and labor strikes into the mix and you can see why I (and many long term group members) always advise against squeezing too many destinations into your itinerary.
A tight and busy itinerary in Argentina is doomed for failure at worst, anxiety at best.
That said, there is so much to see in each of the most beautiful places in Argentina that I KNOW you will be grateful for flying less.
With all of that in mind, here is my breakdown of the best (and only) airlines in Argentina.
The Big 3 2: The Best Airlines in Argentina
There are three airlines in Argentina that operate domestic flights.
Here is the low down on each one.
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolineas Argentinas is the largest airline in Argentina. I recommend using them first and foremost when booking domestic travel in Argentina.
Aerolineas Argentinas has the lowest cancellation rate and are the most punctual.
This is the only non-budget carrier in Argentina at the moment so when you see a price, that’s the price without any nickel and diming for luggage and snacks.
A common concern for most travelers is the low weight limit for luggage.
Checked luggage is limited to 15 kg (just 33 pounds) for checked bags. But fret not, you can pay for extra weight up to 23 kg (50 pounds). The fee is affordable and you can pay at the airport.
It’s rare that they check the weight of your hand luggage. I’ve also found them to be very flexible with baby items, allowing us to check hiking carriers or strollers for free even when we should have paid extra. But that will honestly come down to your gate agent and their mood.
In flight service is basic but free. Flights are short so don’t expect much in the way of snacks so bring your own to enjoy with your small complimentary soda.
If you’re a plane fanatic, you can check their fleet here. Personally, I’m not picky regarding the plane itself. I just want to get from point A to B and Aerolineas Argentinas does that in average comfort and I’ve never felt the need to complain.
Strikes and cancellations with Aerolineas?
Aerolineas Argentinas is state owned and while some claim that makes it more susceptible to strikes I do not find that to be true. With baggage handlers and airport employee unions in the mix, I find that strikes tend to effect all airlines indiscriminately.
Aerolineas is notorious for constant changes to their itineraries. Expect to get a lot of emails notifying you that they’ve changed your flight. Usually it’s just by a few minutes but they’re also known to change your airport of departure in Buenos Aires. Sometimes the email notifying you seems to fall through the cracks.
Moral of the story? Keep an eye on your reservation. If it changes, get in touch with them on Facebook, X, and Instagram private messages. They will allow you to change it.
Private or public? Milei has plans to privatize Aerolineas so stay tuned on the effects of that move. I would expect it to make things less efficient as they downsize but time will tell.
Jetsmart
Jetsmart is a low cost airline that I find to be very reliable.
They pride themselves in their new fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft, the newest in the Americas.
New? Yes. Comfortable? Debatable.
This is a low cost airline and with that, corners are cut. I find the seats to be very uncomfortable and tight. But for a low price and a short flight, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make with minimal (but not zero) complaint.
With all that said, I feel comfortable saying you can reserve your flights with Jetsmart for your Argentina vacation, without stress.
Luggage and extras are not included but you’ll be given the option to add them in as you make your reservation in a package deal. You can also add luggage later during your online check in if needed.
Drinks and snacks aren’t included, bring your own or purchase during the service.
If Jetsmart makes changes to your itinerary that don’t work for you, reach out to them via social media. They’ll allow you one change for free to a more convenient flight of your choosing.
When this happened to me last year I reached out to them via Instagram DM’s (of all places). It took a few hours to hear back but once we were chatting they changed my flight immediately.
Flybondi: May They Rest in Peace
“Flybondi among world’s worst for delayed and canceled flights” – an actual article title from The Buenos Aires Herald from December 2024.
There is a website dedicated to tracking their cancellations and delays and comparing them to the daily cancellations of the other two airlines – Failbondi.fail.
All of this was foreshadowing for current events: Flybondi has gone under.
As of today (August 20, 2026) there have been 12 days of cancelled flights, hundreds of Flybondi employees fired, and the Flybondi website is giving a 504 “Gateway timeout” error.
It seems that after years of providing Argentina with budget flights, Flybondi is no more. Despite their bad reputation in recent years, I mourn this loss. Flights were exorbitantly expensive until they came onto the scene.
Flybondi made air travel possible for many. They would hold a round of applause for first time flyers at the start of every fight. This airline went down in flames but there was once a time when they did good things. RIP Flybondi.
Final Tips for Air Travel in Argentina
In summary:
- Keep an eye on your reservation. Airlines in Argentina are notorious for changing the departure time and even the airport.
- Was your flight changed? You can change it to another flight that fits your itinerary better, don’t panic. Get in touch with that airline on all their social media networks private messages. I did this with Jetsmart and it took about 24 hours for the DM’s to get read by them but they did do it with no hassle.
- In Buenos Aires for domestic travel fly out of Aeroparque. This domestic airport is in Palermo and much easier than Ezeiza.
- Flying pregnant or with small children? You have priority lines through check in, security and for boarding. Enjoy it.
- Long distance buses are also an option, in a pinch. For destinations like Cordoba I actually prefer them. A 10 hour overnight bus with a lie flat seat where I sleep the entire way is nicer than dealing with airports. I wake up in the destination well rested and ready to go! Check Busbud for routes if interested.
More Argentina Travel Guides
- Argentina Packing List: Everything You Need
- The Best Time to Visit Argentina
- Sim Cards in Argentina: Your Best Options to Stay Connected
- Money in Argentina: The Ultimate Guide to Currency Exchange
- 10 Days in Argentina: 7 Sample Itineraries
Health Insurance Requirement
Foreign travelers are currently required to have travel medical insurance. While agents are still figuring out enforcement, they could deny you entry if you do not meet the requirement. Also, requirements aside, medical insurance is always a good idea when you travel.
SafetyWing’s Essential Plan meets all of the requirements Argentina is asking for (think hospital stays or antibiotics). It also covers lost luggage, travel delays and evacuations. Click here for more information to avoid future headaches.
Argentina Travel Resources
- BOOK A CONSULTATION | I offer one-on-one travel consultations to help you plan your trip to Argentina. Pick my brain to get a local’s insight. Click here for more information.
- ☕BUY ME A COFFEE | If you’ve enjoyed my blog and found it useful, you can buy me “virtual” coffee.
- MY MAP | Buy my interactive map with 300+ pins to have access to the city as I see it. It is an invaluable resource. See more here about how it works.
- AIRPORT TRANSFERS | Having a driver waiting for you is ideal for a stress free arrival, Cesar and his team here is the best option for a driver from Ezeiza or Aeroparque, they are my go-to airport ride!
- TRAVEL INSURANCE | Always travel insured. Anything can happen anywhere and it is scarier and costlier in an unfamiliar country. SafetyWing’s Essential Plan covers unexpected travel and medical emergencies and even offers add-ons like electronics theft or adventure sports. It is the best if you’re coming on vacation. If you’re coming as a digital nomad or an extended stay, you need their Complete Nomad Plan which also covers routine check ups, maternity, mental healthcare and more. Read more: Health Insurance in Argentina
- PHONE PLAN | These days, traveling with data is essential. Especially in Argentina where everything is managed on Instagram and WhatsApp. I recommend this E-SIM card. It’s hassle-free and affordable, for more read how to get an Argentina sim card.
- ACCOMMODATION IN ARGENTINA | booking.com is the most common hotel site used in Argentina and it’s where you’ll find the most options.
- RENTAL CARS | I love using Discover Cars, it is a great platform to compare different rates and providers and I find they have responsive customer service.
- BUS TICKETS | Check Busbud for long distance bus routes and tickets.
- VPN | If you’ll be using a public WiFi connection and want to secure your data, I highly recommend using a VPN, I personally use and have had a good experience with ExpressVPN. I also use it to access Hulu and American Netflix from Argentina.
- FLIGHTS | Always check Google Flights and Skyscanner for flights to and within Argentina. Aerolineas Argentina is the local airline with the most routes. FlyBondi and Jetsmart are two budget airlines with dirt-cheap prices (but expect to pay for every add-on like luggage).
