MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile's Aerolineas del Sur to fly to Buenos Aires

Chile's Aerolíneas del Sur is opening nine new routes including Buenos Aires, despite high oil prices and company in-fighting.

The General Manager of Aerolineas del Sur, Miguel Ángel Magi, recently told investors that the company will begin to lease two other airplanes, giving the Aerolineas del Sur fleet a total of six airliners. The new additions will enable the small airline to expand its routes to nine.

Balmaceda, Capiapó, Temuco in Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina are just some of the new destinations on the radar for the small airline that will celebrate its second anniversary in Chile next December.

"We have begun the permit process a few months ago and the Argentine authorities should be giving us permission within the next 90 days," Magi said.

The new flights come at a time when oil prices have soared. The airline has also experienced internal problems.

Aerolineas del Sur is part of the Spanish group Marsans, the same conglomerate which controls Aerolineas Argentinas. The latter has been in the eye of the media because their general manager, Antonio Mata, recently left. The conflict among the remaining associates was the principal cause for the polemic.

Nonetheless, Magi who manages Aerolineas del Sur, denies any changes as a result of the in-fighting. "I am the one in charge in Chile. I respond to the Board of Directors and the investors," he assured.

By Nick Parkenson Santiago Times.