Argentina’s new right-wing president-elect Javia Milei, who won a recent election with 55.7% of the vote, has announced his intention to privatise a number of public companies – potentially including state-owned flag-carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas – amid emphatic opposition.
Speaking to Buenos Aires Radio Mitre, Milei announced that “everything that can be in the hands of the private sector will be in the hands of the private sector,” indicating that state news agencies, national media services, oil giant YPF and energy group Enarsa were all firmly in his sights. Specifically referencing Aerolíneas Argentinas, he noted that despite “very well qualified” staff, the perceived “problem lies in political contamination”.
Among many enraged by the proposed privatisation include Pablo Biró, head of Argentina’s airline pilots’ union, ALPA. “If he wants to take Aerolíneas, he will have to kill us,” Biró explained to Nacional Rock radio station, a strength of feeling as evidenced by his elaboration: “and when I say kill, I mean literally: he will have to take dead bodies and I’ll sign up first.”
Despite Milei’s intentions to remove public funding from the airline, Biró remains confident in ALPA’s evidence supporting Aerolíneas’ “efficiency and sustainability”.
However, tour operator Civitatis Argentina Country Manager Nicolás Posse noted that the changes (requiring legislative approval and currently lacking a majority party) might not even happen, adding that “despite being early days the international investment sentiment certainly seems to be high, stocks and shares bounced very quickly”: potentially symbolising more attention from investors for Argentinian travel businesses. Additionally, “opening up the air routes to international competition would also create more inbound flights at more affordable prices too, attracting more tourists,” he predicts.