Aerolíneas Argentinas (AR, Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery) is to acquire its first A340-500, 9V-SGA (c/n 492), currently in service with Singapore Airlines (SQ, Singapore Changi). The quadjet was recently ferried from Singapore to Lourdes/Tarbes ahead of delivery to South America. The Argentine national carrier currently operates four A340-200s and eight A340-300s on its Latin American, US, Australian and European services. Singapore Airlines will offload its fleet of four A340-500s following a recent move to gradually phase out its Singapore Changi to New York Newark and Los Angeles International direct flights by year-end. Aerolineas Argentinas is expected to lease several A340-500s to eventually replace its aging fleet of four A340-200s delivered between 1994 and 1995.