MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile's international air traffic increases

Air traffic in Santiago's Arturo Merino Benitez international airport increased sharply during the last eight months, as compared to the same time last year.

International traffic expanded 4.2 percent, to a total of 2,761,801 passengers, according to Jorge Frei, Secretary-General of the Civil Aeronautics Board (JAC).

Much of the increase came from passengers traveling with Chile's national airline, LAN, American Airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas and Iberia. "These companies have 67.1 percent market share in Chile," said Frei.

Receiving the most international passengers from Chile were Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Madrid and Lima. Meanwhile, traffic slowed to Los Angeles, Havana, Caracas and Frankfurt.

Domestic travel rose 5.8 percent to 2,154,447 passengers who flew mostly to the northern destinations of Antofagosta, Iquique and Calama, and towards Concepcion and Puerto Montt in the south.

Freight traffic grew by 7.5 percent in the domestic market and 6.7 percent internationally.

According to Frei, "Airlines that saw more than 30 percent rise in market share were Air Madrid, TAM, Air France, T.A. Mercosur, Copa Air and Delta."

By Cecile Loial The Santiago Times