LAN Cheaper Rates Jacking Up Summer Traffic to Chile’s Punta Arenas

LAN’s new $150 airfare policy has increased passenger traffic between Punta Arenas and Santiago in the last five months by 30,000, of which almost half had never boarded an airplane according to company officials.

Jorge Vilches, Chile’s flag carrier Domestic Routes Manager together with Alfredo Arbizu Sales Manager, in a recent visit to Punta Arenas said that the average 30 percent rebate in LAN domestic air rates mainly in tourist class had “a resounding response from travelers, forcing the competition to follow us”.

“Our new business approach which we begun last October 15 had a resounding response from travelers with a 40 percent jump in domestic flight passengers between November and March” said Mr. Vilches. “Between November 2006 and March 2007 we flew 30,000 additional passengers in the Punta Arenas/Santiago route, 45 percent of which had never boarder an aircraft”.

More specifically in Punta Arenas the number of foreign visitors traveling to the area this summer increased by 27 percent, equivalent to over 7,000 new tourists “who have visited Punta Arenas and the region.

Mr. Vilches also forecasted that the opening of a casino in Punta Arenas scheduled for next year should further boost interest in Chilean Patagonia.