Aerolineas Argentinas to Buy a Dozen Boeing 737s

Aerolineas Argentinas has signed an agreement to buy 12 Boeing 737-700s, Planning Minister Julio De Vido said on Thursday.

Argentina’s government recently expropriated Aerolineas, the country’s biggest airline, and cargo carrier Austral from privately held Spanish tourism group Marsans, saying the owner had operated them badly and run them into debt.

Before the expropriation, Marsans had signed a deal with Airbus to acquire 61 planes, some for Aerolineas Argentinas. It was not clear whether Aerolineas will still get some of those planes. Austral may purchase aircraft from Brazil’s Embraer, De Vido said.