ATE temporarily suspended protests planned at airports across Argentina so they would not interfere with Pope Leo XIV's visit. The decision followed a communication from Marcelo Colombo, president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, who expressed concern about the movement of faithful, religious authorities and passengers. The union guaranteed operations during the papal agenda but said the dispute remains open.
The decision is a limited truce, not an agreement with the government. Rodolfo Aguiar said the union responded to the Church's request and mediation commitment but will resume protests immediately after the visit. ATE wants to separate its gesture toward the Pope from any political support for Javier Milei or Luis Caputo.
The union is scheduled to meet Air Transport Undersecretary Hernán Gómez. ATE says the conflict has lasted more than six months and mandatory conciliation failed to create a resolving forum. Dialogue will matter only if it includes responsible authorities, deadlines, documents and measurable commitments.
The demands combine pay and safety. The union alleges inadequate wages and deteriorating hygiene, technical safety and working conditions at domestic and international airports. It also says underinvestment could endanger staff, crews and passengers. Those claims require independent technical audits and public responses.
ATE also wants to know how roughly 220 billion pesos collected annually through the aviation fee are used. It says less than 10% returns to operational capacity and wages. The dispute raises a budget-traceability question: how much is collected, who manages it, what it funds and what reaches the aviation system.
Guaranteeing flights reduces immediate disruption and keeps the papal visit outside the labor dispute. At the same time, the temporary suspension may increase pressure because the Church has taken a mediation role and the union has set a clear point for renewed action.
The government must balance service continuity, the right to protest and operational safety. A purely disciplinary response could deepen the conflict, while concessions without diagnosis would not solve structural failures. Public data on staffing, infrastructure, incidents, inspections, budgets and the aviation fee are needed.
The next step is the meeting with Transport and a new protest date. The truce offers a short window for an agreement protecting workers and passengers. If it produces audits, schedules and resources, the papal visit may open a solution; otherwise the conflict will return when the official agenda ends.
