Chile’s LAN Seeks to Add Larger Aircraft to Fleet

Chile’s flag carrier, LAN, has indicated their interest in a larger aircraft to cope with the volume of passengers and freight to the Falkland Islands.

MLA Mike Summers said LAN had indicated that they would like to bring a larger aircraft in, but that there were certain things which the Falklands’ government and Mount Pleasant would have to do to make that possible. There was not a definite date when it would happen, he said but it was planned that a larger aircraft would service the Falklands.

According to reports in the latest edition from weekly Penguin News, the volume of passengers currently impacts on the amount of freight (including fresh fruit) that can be carried to the Islands and concern about the issue was expressed at the public meeting held on Monday in Stanley.

One LAN aircraft, an Airbus 320, which typically seats 150 people, makes one return trip to the Islands a week from Santiago, Chile via Punta Arenas, and once a month makes a stop (in both directions) in Rio Gallegos in Argentina.

The current arrangement dates back to the agreement and joint statement signed in London on 14 July 1999.