Qantas to Launch Flights to Santiago

Qantas is preparing to launch flights to Chile’s capital, Santiago.

In early 2012, Qantas will, subject to regulatory approvals, commence direct flights between Sydney and Santiago, one of Latin America’s main gateways and home port of Qantas’ oneworld partner LAN Airlines.

The service will operate three times a week, using a three-class Boeing 747 reconfigured with Airbus A380 product, and replace Qantas’ current direct flights between Sydney and Buenos Aires.

Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said flights to Santiago would provide higher connection frequencies across the continent than available through Buenos Aires.

“Direct Qantas flights to Santiago will give Australian businesses and tourists the ideal gateway into the key markets of South America, offering convenient connections to Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia,” he said. “There is considerable potential for Qantas to help develop the fast-growing trade, tourism and cultural ties between the Asia Pacific and South American markets. Australia’s location makes it ideally-placed to act as a hub for passenger and freight traffic from Asia to South America, presenting an alternative to the United States ... We are particularly pleased to be flying into the home of our oneworld partner LAN and look forward to discussing the possibilities for developing a closer relationship.”

Flying time from Sydney to Santiago is 13 hours and flying time from Santiago to Sydney is 14 hours 25 minutes.

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