Flights to Chile from Australia

Chile-based airline LAN is seeking to boost Australian passenger numbers with more flights to and around South America.LAN officials have been briefing Australian travel agents on the services during a road show visiting Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.Flights from Sydney via Auckland to the Chilean capital Santiago, at present six times a week, will go daily from November 7.

New timetables will show smoother connections for passengers visiting the nine South American countries in which the airline services a total of 50 destinations.On September 16, LAN will commence flights from Ecuador (Quito) to its volcanic Galapagos Islands 972km west in the southeast Pacific, noted for diving, kayaking and other outdoor activities, also small-ship cruising.Early next year, a new link will begin between Lima, the Peru capital, and the Iguacu Falls on the border between Argentine and Brazil.

Also early in 2011, LAN will begin flights from Lima to the Chilean territory of volcano Easter Island more than 3500km to the southwest, best known for its 887 huge and mysterious ancient statues.Australians can buy - at least 14 days before their international flight to South America - a LAN South American Airpass providing discounts on journeys within the continent.
More and more Australians are visiting South America.The 2009 total was 81,200 an increase of nearly 18 per cent on the previous year.