MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Santiago - Punta Arenas with Boeing 767/300

Lan Chile began a daily flight between Santiago and Punta Arenas with a wide body Boeing 767-300, one of the most modern aircrafts and with the largest passenger and freight capacity in the southern Chile route

The flight leaves everyday at 10:50 from Santiago, (except on Saturdays) reaching Punta Arenas at 15:20, returning at 16:45, arriving in the Chilean capital at 21:10.

Lan Chile already has five daily flights to Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas and with the Boeing 767/300 adds a sixth frequency.

Next Monday December 20 a further seventh Lan daily flight will be added, which is causing certain concern among Magallanes Region representatives who are concerned that the possibility of an over saturation of flights could hinder the incipient competition presented by Aerolíneas del Sur and Sky Airlines that began flying to Punta Arenas precisely this month.

"Obviously we support a greater supply of flights and seats, cheaper tickets and modern aircrafts which are a benefit for the Region and consumers must approve, but it's highly suspicious this is happening precisely at this moment", said Socialist Deputy Pedro Muñoz from the ruling coalition.

"For over two years Lan operated with no competition in flights to Punta Arenas and in that period we didn't see any of the substantial changes that are taking place currently", added Mr. Muñoz who emphasized that "this seems to happen when there are competitors in the regional market.

"We need more flights, more comfort and more reliability, but we don't want to return to the monopoly situation we had until just a few days ago", concluded Mr. Muñoz who promised to keep a close eye on the commercial circumstances and situation