
Research undertaken by ForwardKeys, the travel analytics firm, which analyses 17 million flight bookings and 7 million flight searches a day, has revealed that the recent riots in Chile have taken a tremendous toll on tourism to the country.

Chilean cruise operators have sent a letter to the administrators of the port of San Antonio warning that if the intermittent service stoppages continue the companies they represent will have to take drastic measures. The current social turmoil and upheaval which has expanded to most of the country are distorting the normal functioning of the economy.

New Zealanders across the country observed a minute of silence on Monday to honour the victims of last week's fatal volcanic eruption. The official death toll from the surprise eruption on White Island, also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, stands at 16. Two people whose bodies are believed to be in the waters around the island are still officially listed as missing.

The inaugural flight between Porto Alegre and Sal took place this Thursday, December 12th, departing from Salgado Filho Airport at 08.55 pm, local time, and arriving at Amílcar Cabral International Airport at 07.55 am, local time.

Almost 1,000 tourists were stranded in New Zealand's South Island on Monday after wild storms cut highways, washed away bridges and flooded the rugged landscape. Meteorologists said up to 400mm of rain was dumped on the South Island over 24 hours by a severe weather system that unleashed gale-force winds and 230,000 lightning strikes.

Several people were injured at White Island in New Zealand when a volcano began erupting there on Monday, the region's mayor said. The eruption began about 2.30 pm local time on the island, about 50km from the east coast of North Island, authorities said, throwing smoke and debris into the air.

A cruise ship that is operated by Carnival-owned P&O Cruises, based in the UK is back in Tenerife after having suffered a loss of propulsion and remained adrift until towed to port.

Codeshare agreements signed this week by three LATAM Airlines Group affiliates with new partner Delta Air Lines aim to improve connectivity between the Americas. The agreements were signed December 2 with LATAM affiliates in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador and are due to start in the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approval.

Silversea is to charter two private jets for a new fly-cruise program to Antarctica in 2021. The 75-seater aircraft will fly from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island in Antarctica as part of the new Antarctica Bridge program which goes on sale on December 10 this year.

Uruguay is expecting some 200 cruise calls this 2019/20 season, which is 30% higher than in 2018/19, while Montevideo has become an exchange port for incoming and outgoing cruise passengers, given its good services and connectivity, announced Tourism minister Liliam Kechichian during the official launching of the current season.