MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas, Lan's hub for Falklands and Ushuaia flights

Flights to Falklands and Ushuaia fully booked

Saturday flights to Falklands/Malvinas are virtually fully booked because it's the high season and there are many travelers linked to Antarctic activities flying to the Islands, according to Lan airline Punta Arenas General Manager Paola Contardo.

"The link is covered with Airbus 318 or 320, the same Lan uses for domestic flights and to Ushuaia in Argentine Tierra del Fuego" said the Lan regional official. Ms Contardo added that since last October there are three weekly flights to Ushuaia from Punta Arenas (Wednesday, Friday and Sundays) and the normal rate for the trip which is 180 US dollars, since December 19, based on a promotional rate costs 129 US dollars. The season will be over by the mid March. However another destination in Argentine Patagonia which attracts many Chileans, Puerto Madryn, does not figure in Lan's plans said Ms Contardo. "We're considering the situation but this summer we're not flying. We have plans to fly in the winter season in coincidence with the whales' sight seeing season". "Our regional objective is Ushuaia taking advantage of the cruise vessel season and the important turn over of passengers", she pointed out. As to Antarctic over flights, "Lan does organize them but as charters or specifically contracted", said Ms Contardo.