MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lan Chile Falklands Service: Formal announcement can be expected within the next month.

BBC World Service Radio reported yesterday (Friday) that discussions between the Falkland Islands Government, Lan Chile and the British military (who administer the Falklands international airport) have reached a detailed stage, and that a formal announcement about a rescheduling of services can be expected within the next four weeks. It has also been confirmed that the Chilean airline is seriously considering doubling its Falklands service to two flights a week.

Reporting for Calling the Falklands, the Financial Times correspondent in Santiago, said that the head of the Falklands Development Corporation had met today with the military officials at the airport to discuss the fine details of a re-scheduling that has already been agreed in general terms. The military had been concerned that the new timetable would mean the weekly Chilean 737 service would clash with the Royal Air Force Tristar flight from Britain, overburdening the small staff at the base.

However it has now been agreed that the service will continue to operate in and out of Mount Pleasant Airport every Saturday, but brought forward by some six hours. The military are holding out for an arrival and departure by 9.30 a.m., requiring a departure from Punta Arenas in Chile at around 7.00 a.m. The civilians would like the schedule to be more convenient for passengers, arriving and departing Mt Pleasant before 10.30.

The Development Corporation, which subsidises the airline to ensure that Lan Chile at least breaks even, are keen to reschedule the service because most passengers from the Falklands travel on to Europe, and with the current times, an expensive and time consuming overnight stop in Santiago is required. By bringing the service forward, passengers will be able to catch the 7.00 p.m. Saturday Lan Chile flight to Madrid on the same day.

The Financial Times had spoken to officials in Santiago and the Falklands, and said that no one expects the Argentines to interfere with plans. Under a controversial agreement with Britain, one flight in each direction a month stops in Rio Gallegos, making it possible for Argentines to visit the islands without travelling through Chile. The concession is seen as politically important, and the Argentine authorities would have no reason to obstruct the proposed changes.

In Stanley, the authorities are keen to see Lan Chile step up its schedule to twice a week as the requirement to spend at least seven days in the islands can be a disincentive to tourists. Lan Chile too are said to be "enthusiastic" in principle, but the existing service is rarely fully booked, and it is by no means clear that a second flight would receive such a generous subsidy from the Falk