How Flybondi Is Using Wet-Leased Boeing 737s to Rebuild Argentina's Low-Cost Aviation Scene

Argentina's ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Flybondi is on a mission of recovery and reinvention. After an operationally turbulent 2024 that pushed it to the brink, the Buenos Aires-based airline has deployed an aggressive wet-leasing strategy centred on Boeing 737-800s and Airbus A320-200s to restore its network, protect capacity, and rebuild passenger confidence ahead of a transformative new chapter, including a landmark fleet order that will see it become the first operator of the Airbus A220-300 in Latin America.

From Near-Collapse to Strategic Rebuild

Flybondi's recent past makes its current trajectory all the more remarkable. Despite growing to have 15 B737-800s in its fleet and becoming either the second or third largest airline in Argentina, it was also a complete and total mess of an operation. It got so bad that at the end of 2024, it was told by the government to present a plan to fix its operation or face penalties. Apparently, in November of that year, it canceled 20 percent of its flights. 

A rescue came in the form of new ownership. COC Global Enterprise bought a majority stake in the airline. Miami-based COC Global Enterprise, led by Leonardo Scatturice, subsequently committed to a $1.7 billion investment in the airline's future. Scatturice says the agreement "reaffirms our commitment to the region's growth," adding: "This decision strengthens its operational capacity, drives the creation of thousands of jobs, and improves connectivity between countries and cities." 

With new capital behind it, Flybondi moved swiftly, first stabilising operations and then executing a wet-lease expansion programme that has added significant capacity for the southern hemisphere's peak season.

The Wet-Lease Strategy

Flybondi announced it would wet-lease ten aircraft for the southern hemisphere summer season between December 2025 and March 2026. The ultra-low-cost carrier brought in A320-200s and B737-800s, sourcing them from Avion Express Brasil, Avion Express, and ETF Airways. 

Seven aircraft were based in Buenos Aires, and three in Córdoba. It is the second year in a row Flybondi is wet-leasing narrowbody jets for its summer season, taking advantage of the countercyclical opportunities from Europe. In 2024, it sourced aircraft from Avion Express and Spain's AlbaStar.

The scale of ambition was significant. Flybondi CEO Mauricio Sana stated: "Adding ten aircraft for the summer season will allow us to increase flights by 50% compared to 2024 and carry 56% more passengers. We aim for 2.8 million people to travel on our network." 

Despite the new fleet order, Flybondi does not expect to stop adding capacity through seasonal ACMI contracts. The airline sees them as important for boosting its capacity during the high season,

The regulatory environment made this possible. The agreement was made possible after recent deregulation in Argentina, which allows the use of foreign-registered aircraft and crewmembers for domestic scheduled flights. 

New Routes Launched Across Argentina and into South America

The wet-leased aircraft have been the backbone of a substantial network expansion. Flybondi announced four new routes from Córdoba (COR), three national and one international, going to Puerto Iguazú, El Calafate, Ushuaia, and Asunción (Paraguay). With these additions, as well as the seven other routes it announced earlier in the year, the airline now has a network of 32 destinations, with 22 situated within Argentina. T

Flybondi also added more than 280 charter flights to its regular operations, and began flights to Brazil from the Argentinian cities of Córdoba, Rosario and Salta from January 2026. CEO Mauricio Sana framed the expansion in economic terms: 

"The new routes we are launching will generate many jobs and development in their destinations, two important means to boost different provinces." 

However, the expansion has not been without setbacks. Flybondi moved to adjust parts of its domestic and regional network following a period of operational strain. The airline, which had been positioning itself as a key connector between Buenos Aires and interior destinations such as San Carlos de Bariloche, Puerto Iguazú and San Salvador de Jujuy, paused or reworked several planned new flights rather than proceeding with the full expansion it had outlined.

Officially Confirmed New Routes from Córdoba (COR)

The following table reflects officially announced new Flybondi routes launched as part of the summer 2025/26 expansion. Specific timetable details are operated on a low-frequency leisure model and are subject to seasonal scheduling by the airline:

Note: Flybondi operates on a low-frequency leisure ULCC model. Passengers are advised to check flybondi.com for live timetables.

A New Fleet Order Transforms the Long-Term Outlook

Beyond wet-leasing, Flybondi has announced a sweeping long-term fleet renewal. Argentinean low-cost operator Flybondi is to acquire up to 35 single-aisle aircraft, a mix of Airbus A220s and Boeing 737 Max jets. The carrier states that it plans to order 15 A220-300s and 10 737 Max 10s, with options for another five of each model. Initial deliveries of the A220s will commence in 2027 and run to 2029. Flybondi claims it will become the first operator of the type in Latin America. The 737 Max 10s will also start arriving in 2027, with deliveries completed in 2030. 

CEO Mauricio Sana described this as organic progression: 

“We aim to incorporate a balanced mix of aircraft from both manufacturers. We have the strong commitment and support of our new American investor.”

The choice of two aircraft families on a fleet of approximately 25 aircraft has not gone without scrutiny. Industry analyst Brett Snyder at Cranky Flier noted: “Splitting a fleet is nothing new, but splitting a fleet when you only have 25 airplanes? That is not generally the path to riches.”

On the maintenance implications, Sana was direct:

 "Remember that we strive to make our fleet as reliable as possible, and to achieve that, we will have to strengthen our line maintenance capacity and look for partners to handle heavy maintenance. This is work we will need to carry out over the next three years." 

A Difficult Market, a Determined Airline

Flybondi's story cannot be separated from the broader context of Argentine aviation, a market that has historically been one of the most challenging in the world for private carriers. Argentina is an awful market for airlines; there is really no other way to look at it historically, but that hasn't stopped some brave souls from trying their hand at making a living. Flybondi is one of those airlines, and it looked to be nearing the end in 2024. But now, fresh with a new owner, it is back, and it is buying new Boeing and Airbus airplanes. 

FlyBondi says that 20% of its passengers are people who are flying for the first time in their lives, underlining the massive potential that the Latin American market holds for airlines as populations gain more wealth and the desire to favour faster aerial connections over longer, but generally cheaper, ground-based travel options.

With wet-leased 737s covering the near term and a transformative fleet order covering 2027–2030, Flybondi is betting on both tactical agility and long-term ambition, a combination that, if executed well, could finally make good on Argentina's long-promised low-cost aviation revolution.