Getting There By Air
Ministro Pistarini Airport/Ezeiza (BUE)
Tel: (011) 5480 6111.
Website: www.aa2000.com.ar
Buenos Aires’s airport, commonly referred to as Ezeiza after the neighbourhood in which it is located, is the international gateway to Argentina. Situated 35km (22 miles) west of Buenos Aires, it is one of Argentina’s busiest airports and acts as a hub for flights to other South American cities, such as Santiago de Chile and Rio de Janeiro.
Major airlines: Argentina’s major airline, Aerolineas Argentinas (tel: (011) 4340 7800; website: www.aerolineas.com.ar) connects Buenos Aires to all the major Argentinean cities as well as operating international routes. Other carriers include American Airlines (tel: (011) 4318 1111; website: www.aa.com); British Airways (tel: (011) 4320 6600; website: www.britishairways.com), which operates flights to London (Heathrow), Lan Chile (tel: (011) 4378 2200; website: www.lanchile.com), United Airlines (tel: (011) 4316 0777; website: www.ual.com) and Varig (tel: (011) 4329 9211; website: www.varig.com.br).
Airport facilities: Facilities include a bank and exchange facilities, ATMs (cajeros automaticos), duty-free and general shops, left-luggage, a tourist information desk, a post office and car hire operators, including Avis, Hertz and Localiza. There is also a shuttle bus connection to Jorge Newbery Airport for domestic flights.
Business facilities: There is no dedicated business centre.
Transport to the city: The least stressful way to travel from the airport to Buenos Aires is by bus or taxi. Manuel Tienda Léon (tel: (011) 4314 3636 or 4315 5115; e-mail: traslados_hoteles@tiendaleon.com.ar) operates a shuttle bus service to the city centre for $12, and one to Aeroparque Jorge Newbery domestic airport for $15. The bus runs every 30 minutes 0400-2100 (journey time – 40 minutes). The local bus 86 to the city centre is much cheaper at $1.35 (coins only) but takes up to two hours. Taxis cost upwards of $25 for the 25-minute journey to the city centre. Use one of the official taxi firms located at the airport or pre-book your ride through a reputable remise (minicab) firm (see Limousines in Getting Around).
Aeroparque Metropolitano Jorge Newbery (AEP)
Tel: (011) 5480 6111.
Website: www.aa2000.com.ar
Situated just four kilometres (2.5 miles) from Buenos Aires city centre, on the Costanera Norte beside the Rio de la Plata, this recently upgraded airport is the pivotal point of the country’s domestic flight system.
Major airlines: Aerolineas Argentineas/Austral (tel: (011) 4340 7800; website: www.aerolineas.com.ar), Lade and Airg (formerly Lapa) provide regular services to major Argentinean cities, including Bariloche, Córdoba, Puerto Iguazú, Salta and Ushuaia.
Airport facilities: Tourist information, banking and bureau de change, left-luggage and car hire facilities are all available. There are also frequent connections to the International Airport.
Business facilities: None.
Transport to the city: The local bus 33 operates along the Constanera (coast road) at the front of the airport, goes to Retiro, then skirts the bottom of the city centre and continues on to Paseo Colón. The number 37 operates between the airport and the Plaza del Congreso. Both cost $0.80 (coins only). The Manuel Tienda Leon shuttle bus leaves every half-hour and costs $5 to the city centre and $15 to the International Airport. Taxis to the city centre cost between $6 and $10.
Approximate flight times to Buenos Aires: From London is 13 hours; from New York is 11 hours; from Los Angeles is 16 hours; from Toronto is 13 hours and from Sydney is 16 hours. From Bariloche is 2 hours 20 minutes; from Córdoba is 1 hour 15 minutes; from Puerto Iguazú is 1 hour 45 minutes; from Salta is 2 hours and from Ushuaia is 3 hours 20 minutes.
Departure tax: A tax of $7.50 for domestic flights (payable in Pesos only) or US$30.50 for international flights (payable in Pesos or Dollars) is due on departure.
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