Buenos Aires, served by Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP), is the undisputed aviation capital of South America. This dual-airport system, combined with fierce competition on both domestic and long-haul routes, makes it one of the continent's best cities for finding value-driven airfare from destinations worldwide — whether you're coming from another South American capital or from Europe or North America.
Travelers flying into Buenos Aires consistently find competitive deals across a vast network. Key affordable arrival routes include major regional capitals like Santiago (SCL), São Paulo (GRU), Lima (LIM), and Montevideo (MVD), as well as long-haul favorites such as Madrid (MAD), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Rome (FCO), and Mexico City (MEX), leveraging the city's strategic position as a gateway between Latin America and the world. The most intense competition is on routes from Santiago, São Paulo, Lima, Madrid, and Miami.
A vibrant mix of airlines fuels this competitive arrival market. National carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas is joined by a strong presence from Latin American giants like LATAM (from Santiago, Lima, São Paulo) and GOL (from São Paulo, Rio), alongside major international airlines including American (from Miami, Dallas), Iberia (from Madrid), Air Europa (from Madrid), Delta (from Atlanta), and United (from Houston). The entry of ultra-low-cost carriers like Flybondi and JetSMART on domestic and regional routes has further driven down prices on arrivals from cities like Santiago, Cordoba, and Mendoza, though they have a smaller presence at EZE/AEP than the legacy carriers.
The optimal time to secure cheap flights to Buenos Aires is during the Southern Hemisphere's autumn and winter (March to September), excluding the July winter holiday period. Prices peak during December–February (summer) and around Easter. Booking at least 2–3 months in advance for international travel, using the city's two airports for price comparison (note: international flights almost always arrive at EZE, while AEP handles mostly domestic and regional traffic), and staying flexible with mid-week arrivals (Tuesday–Thursday) are the most effective strategies for significant savings. If you're coming from Asia or the US West Coast, consider booking a cheap transpacific or transcontinental fare to Miami (MIA) or Madrid (MAD) first, then a separate ticket to EZE — this split strategy can sometimes undercut a single through-fare by hundreds of dollars.