AEROPOSTA, S. A.: Argentina (1992-1994). Aeroposta is established at Buenos Aires in the summer 1992 to provide all-cargo charter flights and contract services to destinations both domestic and international. The name is chosen specifically out of respect for the 1949 Aerolineas Argentinas, S. A. merger partner. Revenue operations from Buenos Aires to Miami commence in October with one each leased Boeing 747-121C and B-747-122C, previously flown by Pan American World Airways (1), plus an owned Fairchild Hiller FH-227B. The recessionary year is not a good time to begin nonscheduled services in South America and the company suffers large, but undisclosed, losses.
In April 1993, General Electric Credit Corporation ends its lease for the Jumbojets; the B-747-121C is sent to Nigeria for a month to operate Hadj flights on behalf of Kabo Air, Ltd. Local operations are maintained with the American-made turboprop.
Upon its return from Africa in June, the B-747-121 returns on lease from GECC; once the Clipper Juan T. Trippe, it is now named Juan T.
Trippe. Unhappily, the Jumbojet is, within weeks, retained at Miami when a fuel company places a $279,887.16-lien on the aircraft for unpaid bills. GECC eventually settles the account, reclaims the aircraft, and sends it to Portland, Oregon, and later to San Bernardino International Airport (formerly Norton AFB) California, for storage.
Once again, Aeroposta is reduced to operating just a Fairchild turboprop. Insufficient revenues can be generated and the operator folds at the end of 1994.
World History
