I planned this trip in order to visit some friends who live in Rosario. I've met them while visiting Valparaíso, Chile in January 2017 so we kept in contact till I could
arrange to visit them. Finally, in August 2017 the time came and I began to look up for flights to Rosario. At that time the only available option was Austral
Líneas Aéreas (now Avianca Argentina serves Rosario too). It wasn't my first time flying this airline as I flew one of its Boeing 737-200 to Mar del Plata (MDQ) back in 2005. Austral is fully integrated into Aerolíneas Argentinas and its hub is Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires. It operates a large domestic network and flights to Uruguay, Brazil and Chile as well. The airline's fleet consists only of Embraer 190.
I finished working, went back home in order to take a shower and grab my luggage. Once at Aeroparque, made my way to the check in area: it is divided having in consideration if you're flying northbound or southbound. After waiting 15 minutes, was my turn to proceed with leaving my bags and getting my boarding pass (I had already chosen my seat at home). So afterwards, I went to the first level where I had to clear security which was pretty fast.
Austral's Embraer to Santiago del Estero (SDE)
Austral Líneas Aéreas AU 2708
Embraer 190 AR | LV-CIH
Date: August 18th 2017
Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery [AEP/SABE]: 17.00 (17.19)
Rosario Islas Malvinas Intl Airport [ROS/SAAR]: 17.55 (17.57)
Distance: 286 km
Flight time: 37 min
Seat: 12D
Boarding was called through gate number 3 and then we were bused to the plane.
GE CF34-10E6.
LV-CIH (cn 432) was delivered new to Austral in April 2011.
Aerolíneas Argentinas and Austral are both part of SkyTeam alliance.
That day, LV-CIH flew to Jujuy (JUJ), Rosario (ROS) -my flight- and then to Río Cuarto (RCU).
Take off was from runway 31.
Flight's so short there's no service at all.
Cargo ships sailling in the Paraná river, minutes before landing.
Landing was on runway 02.
On my way out. Austral configures its E190 with 96 seats: 8 in Club Economy (2+1) and 88 in Economy (2+2).
Deplanning.
Rosario Aiport
Saying goodbye to LV-CIH
Here's a link to my videoreport on this flight.
https://youtu.be/XW1MWY6g17U
Austral Líneas Aéreas AU 2705
Embraer 190 AR | LV-CDY
Date: August 21st 2017
Rosario Islas Malvinas Intl Aiport [ROS/SAAR]: 19.45 (19.41)
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza Ministro Pistarini Intl Airport [EZE/SAEZ]: 20.40 (20.13)
Distance: 298 km
Flight time: 32 min
Seat: 11A
After great days in Rosario, it was time to finally go back to Buenos Aires. I did my check in through AR's website and chose seat 6A. Once at the airport, I went to the check desk to drop my luggage and was asked if I minded changing to an emergency seat as I was travelling alone. No brainer at all! So I ended up with seat 11A.
My plane, LV-CDY, arriving from San Carlos de Bariloche (BCR) as AU2807.
That day she flew from EZE to ROS, then ROS to Salta (SLA) and back to ROS. Later, from ROS to BRC and back to ROS. This flight to Ezeiza Airport feeds AR's flights to Europe and North America as Rosario's third largest city in Argentina -after Buenos Aires and Córdoba- with a population over 1M.
My seat
Generous legroom
There was no service at all. The FA's distributed hearphones before take.
https://youtu.be/KjDTtWN_rzY
It were two good flight with AU. Now I'd like to try Avianca Argentina which is breaking AU's monopoly on this route, so planning to book a flight with them in the next months.
Bonus track
I'll share some photos from my visit to Rosario.
National Flag Memorial consists of three parts: the Tower, the Civic Courtyard and Triumphal Propylaeum. Here, the pedestrian passage called Pasaje Juramento (Oath Passage) leading to the Triumphal Propylaeum -which represents the Nation as organized after the 1853 Constitution-. The passage is flanked by statues by famous sculptor Lola Mora.
The Tower is 70 metres high and commemorates the Revolution of May 1810. It houses Manuel Belgrano's crypt in its base.
Manuel Belgrano's crypt. He was the creator of the Argentina flag.
Gallery featuring flags from every single country in North, Central and South America.
Argentina flag.
Some new buildings in Punta Norte
Museum of Contemporary Art of Rosario - MACRO from the Paraná River.
National Flag Memorial from the Paraná River.
Barranca de las Ceibas Square
Parque de la Independencia (Independence Park)
The Rosario-Victoria Bridge
Isla de los Espinillos
River bank of the Paraná
