MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Punta Arenas airport will have exclusive Antarctica Terminal

In 2010 Punta Arenas airport will have an international Terminal exclusive for Antarctic travellers. The purpose: to confirm Punta Arenas as the real door of access to Antarctica, a condition it disputes with neighbouring Ushuaia in Argentine Tierra del Fuego.

The occasion for such an investment and inauguration, (9 million US dollars), the two centuries celebration of Chile's independence in 2010 which will be crowned by a massive public works program extending all along the country. The project for a completely independent Antarctic terminal with an area of 1.280 square meters will be the responsibility of Chile's Public Works Ministry, reports La Prensa Austral from Punta Arenas. Juan Francisco Miranda from the Airports Department said basically four different aircrafts fly to Antarctica with "an average passenger number of 128, concentrated from December to March", therefore the 1.280 square meters. Mayor Eugenia Mancilla pointed out that the terminal is a first step to an "Antarctic Agency", which will enable improved links with Antarctica, better airport facilities and "prepare us for emergencies such as the one experienced last season when the "Explorer" went down". Miranda said that more than 1.200 people live in different Antarctic bases and stations, and "they require a permanent logistics backup, which I'm sure we can provide from Punta Arenas". The project also includes improving ground access to Punta Arenas airports, larger parking lots and possibly a second control tower. "Details of the tender process should be ready by the end of the year, and we expect construction to begin sometime in the second quarter of next year", said Miranda.