MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Airlines dispute over reciprocity.

Sky Airlines will oppose in court the recent decision from the Chilean Civil Aviation Agency authorizing Aerolíneas del Sur (Spanish owned Aerolineas Argentinas) to operate in the Chilean domestic market.

Sky Airlines argues that Aerolineas del Sur is an affiliate of Aerolineas Argentina and there has been no reciprocity regarding Chilean companies operating in the Argentine domestic market.

"We will appeal to all legal steps and procedures contemplated in Chilean and international law with the purpose of reverting the situation", said Sergio Briceño, Sky' Commercial Manager.

Mr. Briceño added he was surprised with Minister of Transport Javier Etcheberry statements when on the one hand he says "Aerolíneas del Sur has fulfilled all requisites for operating in Chile and on the other, he anticipates he will talk to Argentina's Planning Minister about reciprocity for Chilean airlines". "That is why we are going to court and when the Minister fixes the problem, we will let the Argentine airline fly in Chile", insisted Mr. Briceño.

Besides requesting the annulment of the Chilean Civil Aviation Agency decision authorizing a foreign company to operate in the Chilean domestic market without reciprocity, "we will request a precautionary measure suspending the authorization".

Aerolíneas del Sur announced its inaugural flight to Punta Arenas next December 5 and has plans for two daily direct flights between Santiago and Punta Arenas.

Chilean registered Aerolíneas del Sur, as well as Argentine registered Aerolíneas Argentinas belong to Spanish Tourism Operations group Marsans.