Aerolíneas Argentinas, formally Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., is the state-owned flag carrier of Argentina, and the country's largest airline. The airline was created in 1949, from the merger of Aeroposta Argentina (AA), Aviación del Litoral Fluvial Argentino (ALFA), Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina (FAMA), and Zonas Oeste y Norte de Aerolíneas Argentinas (ZONDA), and started operations in December 1950. A consortium led by Iberia took control of the airline in 1990, and Grupo Marsans acquired the company and its subsidiaries in 2001, following a period of severe financial difficulties that put the airline on the brink of closure. The airline was renationalized in late 2008. It has its headquarters in Buenos Aires. The airline joined the SkyTeam alliance in August 2012; the airline's cargo division became a member of SkyTeam Cargo in November 2013.
An Aerolíneas Argentinas DC-4 at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, circa 1958
An Aerolíneas Argentinas de Havilland Comet 4 at Idlewild Airport in 1965
Aerolíneas Sud Caravelle at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Buenos Aires in 1972
An Aerolíneas Argentinas Airbus A340-300 on short final to Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in 2012.
A flag carrier is a transport company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given sovereign state, enjoys preferential rights or privileges accorded by the government for international operations.
A Boeing 777-300ER of Dubai-based Emirates, one of the two flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates
A Douglas DC-4 owned and operated by El Al - the flag carrier of Israel - in 1948