BQB Líneas Aéreas (Punta del Este) will further reduce its operations with reports in the Uruguayan press that it will now remove two of the four ATR72-500s in its fleet. The move is part of a drastic restructuring plan that has so far seen the airline terminate 55 staff contracts while pulling out of the Brazilian and Chilean markets.

The carrier has suffered rising losses after it was unable to deploy its now-returned fleet of A319-100s on flights to Argentina earlier this year. The airline's routes have now been reduced to just Punta del Este, Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery and Asuncion.

Adding to the carrier's woes are reports that CEO Juan Patricio López has now resigned from the company following a falling out with airline owner, Juan Carlos López Mena, who is also his father.

According to El Pais, "Juan Patricio López departure from BQB was the result of important differences with his father on the management of the company."

López Mena is currently locked in a legal dispute with his former lawyer, Daniel Rocca, over UYU2million (USD81'900) in unpaid lawyer's fees.