"We came at 4:30 and
they didn't even let us go to the bathroom.
They told us that there was a strike and that we should go to the chemical bathrooms in front of the waterfront. Now we are trying to reschedule, we don't know when," says Gloria, from Cochabamba, Bolivia. .
The Airport Security Police (PSA) forms cordons in front of the few doors that open at the Buenos Aires Airport.
It clarifies that
you can only enter to reschedule flights and not for boats,
given the strike of three unions of aeronautical workers that has been in effect since zero hour this Wednesday.
In order to enter,
the PSA requests the reservation that must be rescheduled.
In reality, in the entrance hall there is more noise from building repairs than from the luggage wheels.
The smiles and haste that usually accompany travelers turn into worried faces, looking for solutions on the phones.
Six months ago, Gloria got her tickets to come visit some relatives: while her husband stands in line to reschedule the flight, she texts the relatives so she can stay until they can fly back.
Empty counters at Aeroparque.
The air terminal is almost closed due to the strike of the aeronautical unions.
Photo: Luciano Thieberger
Jorrit and Carlijn are sitting on the floor, barefoot.
They take the situation with the ease of youth: from their cell phones
they are looking for a hotel to spend the day,
since Aerolíneas Argentinas rescheduled their flight to Puerto Iguazú for this Thursday.
"We found out in the transfer that brought us, because we wanted to check in and
it turned out that the flight was cancelled
," they say in impeccable English.
Natalia and Taiana stick to the window of a Gol stand, the Brazilian airline, to fly back to Curitiba.
"They rescheduled us for tomorrow. It's not that serious,"
says Natalia.
Long line to reschedule at the Aerolíneas Argentinas stand.
Javier and Carolina saw the boy who serves them leave three times;
The third time is the charm: Thursday at 5 p.m. your flight leaves for Córdoba, although
there were almost no options
.
They are from Catamarca, they came to Buenos Aires, from here to Villa Gesell, from there, after a stopover, they would fly to Córdoba.
This morning, when they arrived at the Retiro bus terminal, before coming to Aeroparque, they found out about the strike.
While Javier talks to the reporter, Carolina loads bags and calls a hotel in Buenos Aires to spend the day.
"Everything out of our pocket, but at least we got it
," Carolina says as she cuts away.
"Those who came at dawn and are still waiting have a worse time."
The FlyBondi stand, which due to the strike moved operations to Ezeiza, offers some solutions for today: while drinking mate, two young people reschedule flights that would leave from or to Ezeiza and try to help as much as they can with the transfer issue.
They ask the reporter for discretion and to pretend to ask something about a flight, something difficult, since he has no luggage.
"
The airline can do it because in Ezeiza its pilot and administrative staff did not join the strike,
and it also has its own trunks. There is
an Intercargo strike
here , and that's why no flights left. But you travel with us," he winks and prepare a mate.
Afterwards, he continues talking to security personnel.
S.C.