President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has presented a new Aerolíneas Argentinas airplane, the first bought for the state-run company since 1978, together with the head of the airline Mariano Recalde.
Ms Kirchner praised Recalde’s administration of Aerolíneas, stressing the company reached a record of 10 million passengers last year, and registered a 14 million dollar financial surplus in January.
Recalde, who runs for Buenos Aires City Mayor for the ruling Victory front (FpV), stated Aerolíneas’ recovery was only possible after CFK’s decision to nationalize the airline.
“We are proud of the results this company has obtained,” Recalde said after announcing the buy of the brand new Airbus 330200. The plane has capacity for 243 tourist seats and 24 first class seats, and it is the first brand new acquisition for Aerolíneas in 37 years.
Recalde highlighted the company has shrank the gap between costs and benefits, and duplicated passengers in just five years.
“We are handing the company better than we received it. Maybe we can do the same thing with Buenos Aires City, maybe we can build a better city than the one we have now,” the La Cámpora leader said.
The President said a “strong will” is necessary for these achievements, and that one has to always “face the powerful” if the goal is to “leave a better country for the young.”
The Head of State took Recalde, as well as Buenos Aires province governor Daniel Scioli and Interior and transport Minister Florencio Randazzo (both presidential hopefuls for the FpV), as an example, and also mentioned her son Máximo Kirchner.
“You have the blood of your father and your mother. They [meaning political opposition] may want you to do other things, but you have committed to building political organizations [La Cámpora], to taking the poor and the needed out of the streets,” she said.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald