MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

DAP Airways incorporates 50 seats Dash-7

Punta Arenas DAP Airways will be receiving on lease at the end of September a 50 seats refurbished De Havilland Dash-7 that will be used this summer for charter flights to Antarctica and possibly other destinations such as the Falklands.

DAP's CEO Andrés Pivcevic announced that in the coming days several of the company's pilots would be travelling to Toronto, Canada to begin training with the new aircraft.

"The 1982 Dash-7 operation involves a million and a half US dollars during the first season and DAP will be leasing it for 18 months to begin with", said Mr. Pivcevic adding that "it's a four engine aircraft, a model with proven Antarctic experience and sufficient autonomy to fly and return from Punta Arenas to Tte. Marsh in St George island (1,200 miles)". The leasing is financed with Canadian credits.

Mr. Pivcevic said the main purpose of the Dash-7 operation this coming Antarctic season is to transport tourists from Punta Arenas to the Chilean base of Tte. Marsh and from there they will be boarding a Russian flag cruise working for the Dutch company Ocean Wide Expeditions and complete a ten days tour of the area.

"It's a new experience, "Antarctica XXI", which we've been working on for the last two years plus the fact that the market is demanding this kind of air-sea cruise", stressed Mr. Pivcevic.

When not in the cruise schedule the Dash-7 will be flying to Puerto Williams, reinforcing the Punta Arenas-Ushuaia route, and "we expect charter flights to the Falklands, since there's a demand and we have plenty of contacts, and experience flying to the Islands", highlighted DAP's CEO.

"Besides we will also be available for cargo and passenger transport to any of the country missions operating in Antarctica", added Mr. Pivcevic.

"This will help convert Punta Arenas into a good logistic point, a city with ample and consolidates Antarctic services".

With the incorporation of the Dash-7 at the end of September DAP will now have an air fleet that includes six aircraft and five helicopters.