MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean regional airports international passenger traffic up 55% in five years

Punta Arenas is one of the four airports mentioned in the report

Increased travel to Chile’s tourist sites, tax free zones, and mining areas have necessitated greater travel to regional airports, the Civil Aeronautics Board reported last week. As a result, Iquique and Easter Island lead in the number of flights, followed by Arica and Punta Arenas.

According to the Board, the number of international passengers using one of the twelve regional airports within the last five years has increased by 55%. By June of this year, 34 million passengers had used one of Chile’s regional airports.

The cities most distant from the capital – Iquique, Easter Island, Arica, Punta Arenas y Antofagasta – fly to cities in neighbouring countries. This allows people to connect with the world and increase trade without the expense of flying through Santiago, home to Chile’s only international airport.

Iquique leads in international traffic and has transformed its Diego Aracena airport into a hub. Around 1,500 passengers travel monthly to La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia from Iquique. The airport also leads in international freight transport. In 2009, the airport moved 4.4 tons of freight internationally.

Mataveri Airport on Easter Island ranks second and is a hub for passengers flying between Easter Island and Tahiti. Many Tahitian government employees choose Easter Island as their vacation destination. And the French represent 17% of tourists on the island.

Edgar Hereveri, vice-president of Chile`s Chamber of Tourism, says that in January, LAN will begin direct flights between Lima and Easter Island. This will allow the visitor who travels to Machu Picchu the opportunity to visit Easter Island directly from Peru.

By Dominique Farrell - Santiago Times