MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Breaking News

Headlines:
Lan Express under investigation;
Joint naval exercises in Beagle Channel;
Flights to Europe fully booked.

Lan Express under investigation

The Magallanes Region Economic Prosecutor Office has been requested to investigate Lan Express and affiliates unilateral decisions regarding the manipulation and delivery of overseas freight destined to Punta Arenas. Apparently the normal procedure was for Lan Express to deliver air remittances at a Punta Arenas Port Authority downtown depot, where after paying a "reasonable" fee for customs, custody and other related services, interested parties could pick up the consignment of goods. However according to Prosecutor Fred Facusse, Lan Express has lately decided that all remittances are deposited in a new airport warehouse apparently belonging to an affiliate of Lan Chile, with custody and document costs far higher than with the previous system. Besides if the local businessman wants the merchandise delivered to the Punta Arenas port depot, Lan Express will charge an additional, and "hefty", transport fee. Punta Arenas Port Authority has also been involved in the dispute, since they claim that local importers (approximately 90 businesses) are demanding that merchandise and parcels be delivered in the port depot, and not in the airport warehouse. The investigation was officially started August 12, and Lan Express should be reporting to the Economic Prosecutor Office late this week. Meantime in Santiago a member of the Congressional Extreme Zones Committee anticipated that a bill demanding "maximum transparency" regarding rates and occupancy percentages "from airlines operating in no competition markets" is being drafted. "It seems that most passengers from Magallanes and Aysén are under the impression they pay the highest rates or are exposed to the highest costs", indicated Deputy Rodrigo Alvarez, adding that is was essential that all information regarding rates, flights and different categories, "should be open and made public". Mr. Alvarez said that the Extreme Zones Committee currently holding hearings on the Chilean domestic air passenger and freight markets is considering the opening of "limited competition" domestic routes to foreign airlines, without demanding any reciprocity. "Our objective is simply fair competition and better conditions for passengers", underlined Congressman Alvarez.

Joint naval exercises in Beagle Channel

Argentine and Chilean naval units began this Tuesday five days of joint exercises in the Beagle Channel in the extreme south of the continent, an area where border disputes had both countries in the brink of war back in 1978. A last minute personal appeal from Pope John Paul II to the two countries then military dictators managed to decompress the situation that finally found a diplomatic course when democracy and civilian rule was restored in Argentina and Chile. According to Chilean Navy sources the objective of the fifth edition of the "Viekaren" exercise is "confidence building" and to strengthen the "friendly links" between both countries navies. Six vessels, three from each Navy and 300 men are participating in the exercise that includes fuel and water supplying in high seas, beach landings to rescue civilians supposedly caught in an armed conflict and peace operations under United Nations command. The exercise has Puerto Williams in Chile and Ushuaia as operational bases.

Flights to Europe fully booked

Extreme security measures in United States airports and the cost of visas, even when in transit, has massively diverted Mercosur passengers to Europe. Mercosur airlines had an unexpectedly excellent August and are fully booked until mid October according to local tourist operators. Lan Chile, Pluna, Varig and Aerolineas Argentinas have waiting lists for those wishing to travel to Europe, while traffic to the United States has fallen dramatically. The 100 US dollars visa plus the additional paperwork, and some unmannerly gestures, in US consular offices are attracting a growing number of passengers to Europe. Besides, what has proved particularly irritating for many travellers is the need for a visa even when in transit at any US airport.