MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Aero2000-Lan begins flying June “or even before”

Lan Chile will begin operations in Argentina next June through Aero2000-Lan absorbing a thousand workers from two bankrupt Argentine airlines, was announced in Buenos Aires.

Routes will be awarded next week so the company should be ready to fly next June 1 or "even before" said Argentine Deputy Air Commercial Transport Ricardo Cirelli.

Apparently Lan has requested to fly seven routes, mostly to tourism resorts in Argentina plus Santiago de Chile, Montevideo, Madrid and Miami.

Mr. Cirelli made the official announcement following the labour agreement with all the air transport unions from Lafsa and Aerovip.

Aero2000-Lan was founded by Lan and Argentine associates in March with the objective of operating in the Argentine market, a Lan Chile target for many years.

Before the creation of the new company Lan Chile agreed with the Argentine government, among other conditions, the absorption of all Lafsa workers.

Mr. Cirelli said Lafsa will have the option to sign in with Aero2000-Lan until April 25, but insisted it was a written contract. "There are an estimated 850 staff in condition to accept the offer", as long as they have no previous pending labour demand in court, "plus the 150/200 from Aerovip", indicated the Argentine official.

Lafsa and Aerovip categories and functions will be respected and Aero2000-Lan has from June until September to incorporate staff "according to the company's needs".

The incorporated staff is guaranteed three years job stability.

Aero2000-Lan belongs 49% to Lan Chile and 51% to Argentine solicitors Jorge Perez Alati and Manuel Benitez.

"If everything is according to rules, next week Aero2000-Lan will have the route permits requested", anticipated Mr. Cirelli.

"They'll begin flying next June 1, but it could even be before and we also expect a further request for more routes", said the Argentine Commercial Air Transport official.

Among the local routes requested are Bariloche and Calafate in south Argentina, Puerto Iguazú in the north next to the falls, plus Cordoba, Rosario and Mendoza.