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Old Apr 15, 2026 | 7:19 pm
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Ezeiza Runway Repairs

United and Delta are suspending their flights to EZE in late October and early November. Construction work will leave only a short runway available which cannot accommodate fully-fueled North America-bound aircraft. Interestingly, American is reportedly planning to continue its flights but route them via Montevideo for refueling before returning to the U.S.

Is this work likely to be wrapped up and done on time? We were looking at booking UA for December but now I wonder if that's risky. Maybe I'm just being cynical but infrastructure projects in North America always seem to blow past their deadlines. Not sure what it's like in Argentina.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260414-dlua4q26eze
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Old Apr 15, 2026 | 8:49 pm
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Im surprised why AA will do the Montevideo work-around and DL and UA seem not to want to do this...... whats the rationale here...???

It seems that flights can land but the runway will not be long enough to let a fully loaded bird take off, hence load a lot less fuel and fill up across the pond... am I getting this right...??? So then, if it works for AA, why doesnt it work for the 2 others.... or is this a gamble on the part of AA to try to "steal" the market from its only 2 "real" competitors for traffic from EZE to the USA....????



Originally Posted by TravellingChris
United and Delta are suspending their flights to EZE in late October and early November. Construction work will leave only a short runway available which cannot accommodate fully-fueled North America-bound aircraft. Interestingly, American is reportedly planning to continue its flights but route them via Montevideo for refueling before returning to the U.S.

Is this work likely to be wrapped up and done on time? We were looking at booking UA for December but now I wonder if that's risky. Maybe I'm just being cynical but infrastructure projects in North America always seem to blow past their deadlines. Not sure what it's like in Argentina.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260414-dlua4q26eze
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Old Apr 15, 2026 | 8:52 pm
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Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
Im surprised why AA will do the Montevideo work-around and DL and UA seem not to want to do this...... whats the rationale here...???

It seems that flights can land but the runway will not be long enough to let a fully loaded bird take off, hence load a lot less fuel and fill up across the pond... am I getting this right...??? So then, if it works for AA, why doesnt it work for the 2 others.... or is this a gamble on the part of AA to try to "steal" the market from its only 2 "real" competitors for traffic from EZE to the USA....????
Delays happen all the time and all over the place.... perhaps construction in the Gulf rich middle east and some parts of China are the exception.... regardless, if there is a delay my guess is that it wont be a very long one as this is the number 1 airprot in the Country you are talking about so I would be very surprised if the delays were relevant unless there is some major issue which equated to " force majeure "...... just my 2 cents.
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 12:00 am
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Interesting read regarding International traffic during EZE runway renovations

https://simpleflying.com/just-142-mi...20aircraft.%22
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 5:32 am
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Originally Posted by TravellingChris
United and Delta are suspending their flights to EZE in late October and early November. Construction work will leave only a short runway available which cannot accommodate fully-fueled North America-bound aircraft. Interestingly, American is reportedly planning to continue its flights but route them via Montevideo for refueling before returning to the U.S.

Is this work likely to be wrapped up and done on time? We were looking at booking UA for December but now I wonder if that's risky. Maybe I'm just being cynical but infrastructure projects in North America always seem to blow past their deadlines. Not sure what it's like in Argentina.

https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/260414-dlua4q26eze
I would reckon it will be done on time
Aeropuertos Argentina , the airport operator , has a reputation for sticking to schedules and completing work on time.
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 11:23 am
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Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
Im surprised why AA will do the Montevideo work-around and DL and UA seem not to want to do this...... whats the rationale here...???

It seems that flights can land but the runway will not be long enough to let a fully loaded bird take off, hence load a lot less fuel and fill up across the pond... am I getting this right...??? So then, if it works for AA, why doesnt it work for the 2 others.... or is this a gamble on the part of AA to try to "steal" the market from its only 2 "real" competitors for traffic from EZE to the USA....????
At present AA is the only one of the U.S. Big 3 which flies to MVD so it's the only one which can take advantage of this workaround. We were looking at flying to MVD (for a separate trip) awhile back and every UA itinerary we checked would have routed us through PTY and onto CM for the MVD leg.
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 2:45 pm
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Originally Posted by TravellingChris
At present AA is the only one of the U.S. Big 3 which flies to MVD so it's the only one which can take advantage of this workaround. We were looking at flying to MVD (for a separate trip) awhile back and every UA itinerary we checked would have routed us through PTY and onto CM for the MVD leg.
Oh, so you are saying that UA could not build in a technical stop to refuel in MVD because it doesnt have an active route through that city...??
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 2:48 pm
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Originally Posted by malagajohn
I would reckon it will be done on time
Aeropuertos Argentina , the airport operator , has a reputation for sticking to schedules and completing work on time.
Yes.... and No. The devil is in the details..... just as an example, have you seen the unfinished new control tower that you will find right at the entrance of EZE (on the right side when you get your parking slip to enter the airport grounds)...... thats part of the last round of EZE expansion/remodel that has been sitting idle for years..... so the track record for AA2000 isnt 100% pristine.
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Old Apr 16, 2026 | 10:32 pm
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Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
Oh, so you are saying that UA could not build in a technical stop to refuel in MVD because it doesnt have an active route through that city...??
I don't know what rights UA has or does not have at MVD. I'm sure if UA could route their EZE flights via MVD as opposed to canceling them completely for that period, they would.
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Old Apr 17, 2026 | 9:08 am
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As far as I know, it's more about having operations already there. An unexpected diversion can (almost) always be handled, but two weeks of regular operation, with the needed back up in case of MX issues and the like, is not something that can be easily (or cheaply) set up.
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Old Apr 17, 2026 | 9:32 am
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Originally Posted by TravellingChris
I don't know what rights UA has or does not have at MVD. I'm sure if UA could route their EZE flights via MVD as opposed to canceling them completely for that period, they would.
It did fly EZE/MVD for years as a tag on one of its flights (either the MIA or JFK one).
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Old Apr 17, 2026 | 2:33 pm
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Originally Posted by FlyingCow
As far as I know, it's more about having operations already there. An unexpected diversion can (almost) always be handled, but two weeks of regular operation, with the needed back up in case of MX issues and the like, is not something that can be easily (or cheaply) set up.
UA is established at SCL, so that would be the likely fueling stop if they choose to do so. Staffing is still an issue. FlyingCow you have raised some pertinent issues
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Old Apr 18, 2026 | 9:39 pm
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Originally Posted by Eastbay1K
It did fly EZE/MVD for years as a tag on one of its flights (either the MIA or JFK one).
That must have been a long time ago as neither MIA nor JFK are UA hubs today. EWR serves UA for NYC-area operations and IAH is UA's main hub for Latin America. IIRC UA's hub or base at MIA for Latin American flights was dismantled ages ago.
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Old Apr 19, 2026 | 9:23 am
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Originally Posted by TravellingChris
That must have been a long time ago as neither MIA nor JFK are UA hubs today. EWR serves UA for NYC-area operations and IAH is UA's main hub for Latin America. IIRC UA's hub or base at MIA for Latin American flights was dismantled ages ago.
Correct. But it may still have rights to serve the route.
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Old Apr 19, 2026 | 6:11 pm
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Originally Posted by Gaucho100K
Yes.... and No. The devil is in the details..... just as an example, have you seen the unfinished new control tower that you will find right at the entrance of EZE (on the right side when you get your parking slip to enter the airport grounds)...... thats part of the last round of EZE expansion/remodel that has been sitting idle for years..... so the track record for AA2000 isnt 100% pristine.
Ive got no interest in defending Aeropuertos Argentina (they charge some of the highest airport duties in the world, an absolute ripoff), but they werent involved in the ATC tower. Construction there fell 100% within government remit - first it was Kirchnerista incompetence and nowadays its another victim of no hay plata.

Common sense would dictate that runway works should run on time. Some years ago the same repairs at AEP worked like a Swiss clock (I think construction was 24/7) and any delay will cause Aeropuertos millions in losses - its not only the US but also all European flights that will be cancelled during the period.
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