The head of Aerolíneas Argentinas, Mariano Recalde, spoke about the company’s financial and business situation in front of Senate Joint committee members.
“We have the most modern airplane fleet in Latin America and it will improve our competitiveness”, declared Recalde.
In addition, ruling party caucus in the Senate, Miguel Angel Pichetto defended the role of the state, and declared that “the state is the only way to sustain an aerial company”.
Later, he blasted Aerolineas’ former private administration, accusing them of holding a process of “emptying” the company.
Opposition critics, meanwhile, focused on the economic aspect of Recalde’s administration.
Radical Union party Senator Gerardo Morales blamed him of receiving “a growing amount of subsidies”, and leading an “inefficient company” that supports an “unprofitable” model of business.
Prior to the parliamentary meeting, Recalde rejected Mauricio Macri’s statements who said Argentina’s flag carrier “loses 20 million pesos every day.” Speaking to reporters, he stated the current deficit of Aerolíneas Argentinas is a “structural problem” that resulted from “bad” private sector managements that ran the company for two decades.
A recent video distributed online, showed Recalde insulting Radical Party senator Gerardo Morales and Disident Peronism senator Adolfo Rodríguez Saá. “Parasites,” the AA chief called them taking head of the Kirchnerite caucus at the Senate Miguel Ángel Pichetto to officially apologize on behalf of the ruling Victory Front.
After rejecting statements by Buenos Aires City Mayor Mauricio Macri who said AA “loses 20 million pesos a day” –“Macri says nonsense,” Recalde affirmed-, the official outlined main data of the state-run firm to respond to deficit complaints by the opposition.
“We have 11,000 workers that account for 12 million pesos in salaries. Lowering wages or firing people is not a measure this government will take,” he explained and added that the company invests 10 million pesos a day to fly. “We don’t decide to fly less. The state decides instead to invest,” Recalde said and finally referred to the current spat between Chile’s LAN airline and state-run Intercargo company over LAN’s hangar at the Metropolitan Airport in Buenos Aires.
“This is a problem between LAN and the controller body, Aerolíneas Argentinas does not take part in it. We hope it is settled soon and with LAN’s observance (to leave its airport hangar). If it does not happen, we will still continue to operate with current limitations and will grow in other airports,” Recalde considered.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald