Thousands of Travellers Suffer across Argentina amid CGT General Strike as Aerolineas Argentinas, LATAM, Flybondi, GOL Airlines and Several other Carriers Face 320 Flight Cancellations, Affecting Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Santiago, San Carlos de Bariloche, Mendoza and more, New Update

Written By: Subhankar Chakraborty

Subhankar Chakraborty

I'm a content writer with a strong foundation in psychology and a passion for the travel and hospitality industry. Beyond timely reporting and contemporary narratives I bring a unique perspective to content creation, crafting stories that not only inform but also connect with readers on a deeper emotional level. I combine meticulous research, accuracy and compelling storytelling to deliver authentic, engaging and insightful content for a global audience.

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February 20, 2026 1:16 AM |

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Argentina is currently grappling with a massive transport shutdown as a 24-hour general strike paralyse the nation. This industrial action targets proposed labour reforms, causing widespread chaos for thousands of domestic and international travellers. Aviation services have reached a near-total standstill across the country’s most vital hubs. In Buenos Aires, the impact is most severe. Both Jorge Newbery and Ministro Pistarini airports report hundreds of grounded flights. The national carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas, has cancelled the vast majority of its schedule, leaving passengers stranded in terminal lounges. Low-cost giant Flybondi also faces significant disruptions, further tightening the grip on regional mobility. There’s a total of 320 flight cancellations and 21 delays reported.

The crisis extends far beyond the capital. Key tourism and business centres like Córdoba, Mendoza and San Carlos de Bariloche are currently isolated from the national flight network. Northern gateways, including Salta, San Salvador de Jujuy and San Miguel de Tucumán, have seen their departure boards cleared. This report details the extensive operational fallout and provides essential guidance for those currently affected by this unprecedented stoppage.

Major Airports Affected

The operational heart of Argentina, Buenos Aires, bore the brunt of the industrial action. At Jorge Newbery Airfield, located within the city limits, a staggering 131 cancellations and 9 delays were recorded. This airport, which serves as the primary hub for domestic travel, saw its departure boards cleared as the strike took hold. Simultaneously, the Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza), the main international gateway to Argentina, reported 70 cancellations and 21 delays, complicates the itineraries of thousands of long-haul travellers.

Beyond the capital, the disruption was felt at every major provincial gateway:

• Ingeniero Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International (Córdoba): 24 cancellations and 4 delays were logged at this vital inland hub.
• San Carlos de Bariloche International: This premier tourism destination saw 20 cancellations, effectively isolating the Andean resort city from the rest of the country.
• Governor Francisco Gabrielli International (Mendoza): 18 cancellations and 2 delays were reported, halting the flow of visitors to the country’s famous wine region.
• Cataratas del Iguazú International: Near the world-famous waterfalls, 19 cancellations were recorded, significantly impacting the travel plans of international tourists.
• Secondary Hubs: Double-digit cancellations were also confirmed at Lt. Gen. Benjamin Matienzo International (14), Martin Miguel de Guemes International (13) and Gobernador Horacio Guzman International (11).

Impacted Airlines

The flag carrier, Aerolineas Argentinas, was the most severely impacted entity in this nationwide shutdown. Across the monitored airports, the airline was forced to cancel 194 flights. In Buenos Aires alone, at Jorge Newbery, 91 of its services were removed from the schedule. The airline’s dominance in the domestic market meant that its grounding essentially paralyzed internal movement within Argentina.

LATAM Airlines and its subsidiaries (LATAM Brazil, Peru and Ecuador) also faced significant hurdles, recording over 50 cancellations collectively. Notably, at the Santiago hub, LATAM faced 14 delays alongside its cancellations, indicating the struggle to maintain a skeleton schedule amidst the regional chaos.

Low-cost carrier Flybondi reported 42 cancellations. However, unlike some competitors, Flybondi managed to maintain a level of activity at certain terminals, recording 9 delays as it navigated the industrial action. GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes saw 20 of its flights cancelled, primarily affecting the lucrative corridor between Brazil and Buenos Aires. Other international carriers, including American Airlines, Iberia, British Airways, KLM and Avianca, were also forced to adjust their operations, with several long-haul flights into Ezeiza being cancelled or significantly delayed.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The timing of the CGT strike has raised concerns regarding the immediate health of the travel and tourism sector in Argentina. With over 300 flights removed from the skies in a single day, the economic ripple effect is expected to be felt by hotels, tour operators and local businesses.

In Buenos Aires, the suspension of airport-to-city transfers and the lack of arriving international visitors have left the hospitality sector in a state of temporary stasis. For destinations like San Carlos de Bariloche and Iguazú Falls, which rely heavily on air connectivity for their tourism-driven economies, a total day of cancellations represents a significant loss of revenue. The strike not only prevents new arrivals but also strands departing tourists, creating a backlog that may take several days to clear.

Furthermore, the uncertainty surrounding the labor reform bill and the potential for future industrial action may weigh heavily on consumer confidence. As the CGT argues that the reforms lead to precarization rather than modernization, the tension between the government and labor unions suggests that the travel environment in Argentina could remain volatile in the short term.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently caught in the disruption, several immediate steps are recommended by industry experts. Given that the strike was a planned 24-hour event, the primary focus for airlines is now the re-accommodation of displaced travellers.

1. Monitor Flight Status Digitally: Passengers are advised to use airline mobile apps and official websites rather than travelling to the airport. In Buenos Aires, where terminal facilities may be overcrowded, digital communication remains the most efficient way to receive updates.
2. Verify Re-booking Policies: Most major carriers, including Aerolineas Argentinas and LATAM, typically offer fee-waived changes or full refunds in the event of a general strike. It is essential to check the specific “Travel Alerts” page of the respective airline.
3. Contact Travel Insurance Providers: For those with comprehensive travel insurance, claims may be possible for out-of-pocket expenses such as additional hotel nights or meals incurred during the delay in Argentina.
4. Acknowledge the “Minimum Service” Rules: Under the new proposed legislation, certain essential sectors would be required to maintain 75% service levels. However, as this strike was a protest against that very bill, such mandates were not in full effect, leading to the total stoppage observed today.

As the debate continues in the Chamber of Deputies and the 24-hour period concludes, the aviation industry in Argentina faces a challenging recovery period to restore normal service across its vast domestic and international network.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.