Southern Winds Airlines

Southern Winds Airlines was an Argentine private airline that operated domestic and international scheduled passenger services during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Founded in the mid-1990s, the carrier grew to become one of Argentina's more significant private carriers before facing serious difficulties. The airline became embroiled in a major drug trafficking scandal in 2004, when cocaine was discovered hidden in the cargo of one of its aircraft in Spain. This incident led to the suspension of the airline's operations and the arrest of several individuals connected to the company. Following the drug smuggling scandal and the resulting loss of its operating licenses, Southern Winds Airlines ceased operations in 2004 and did not resume flying. The collapse of the airline marked one of the more dramatic exits from the Argentine aviation market.