LAN Airlines to launch Seasonal Services from Buenos Aires to Patagonia

LAN Airlines, one of the largest carriers in South America, is to launch seasonal flights from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the popular Patagonia tourist region, to meet increasing demand for holiday travel.

From 1 October, 2007, until 31 March, 2008, the airline will operate three weekly roundtrip flights from Buenos Aires to the tourist port of Puerto Madryn, before continuing onto the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia.

Puerto Madryn, on the Atlantic coast, is one of Argentina’s fastest-growing cities, located close to a major marine wildlife precinct which is home to whales, dolphins, sea elephants, sea lions and penguins.

Ushuaia, at the very base of South America, is the major gateway for cruise ships to Antarctica, as well as to the spectacular Tierra del Fuego national park and Mount Castor ski resort.

LAN’s General Manager Australia, New Zealand and Asia, Rodrigo Contreras, said the soaring interest in tourism to South America had generated the need for more flights on such key routes.

“This new service provides flights in the season of greatest demand to two of the key destinations in South America,” said Mr Contreras. “It also serves to demonstrate the continued growth of our network to key destinations within South America.”

The new services will depart Buenos Aires at 6.00am every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, arriving in Puerto Madryn at 8.00am, then departing at 8.35am, and arriving in Ushuaia at 10.46am. The return service is a nonstop flight from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, departing at 11.40am and arriving at 3.00pm.

The flights will be operated with new, single-class Airbus A320 aircraft, seating up to 156 passengers.

LAN operates six weekly flights from Sydney to Santiago, Chile, via Auckland, New Zealand, using three-class Airbus A340-300 aircraft. Flights currently operate every day except Thursday, but will increase to daily from 20 December this year.

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