A new era of airline travel in Argentina is already at risk

Argentina’s airline passengers have been enjoying their first taste of the global boom in discount airlines. Now the shift to greater competition is under threat from a powerful potential foe: the country’s newly elected leader. While president-elect Alberto Fernandez hasn’t detailed his plans for the industry, he emphasised during his campaign the need to boost state-controlled flagship Aerolineas Argentinas. His rival, departing president Mauricio Macri, championed policies that allowed budget carriers to vie more effectively for passengers starting last year. Fernandez’s resounding victory -- fuelled by voters’ rejection of austerity measures -- endangers an aviation opening that has enabled half a million passengers to fly for the first time. <br/>