Hi, guys  
Can any one pluck the chicken naked for me on this one please, because I can't understand this at all? This article I found in LanaciOnline web site, Jan 3, 2000. Because it's in Spanish, let me just translate roughly.

It says Lan Chile will begin a Salta (Argentina)-Iquique, (Chile) service on Monday & Saturday, at 13:45 local time. That's not all. It says that passengers will be able to get conexions to Antofagasta & Arica. This route, according to the article, will allow travelers to connect flights to cities in the Caribbean, Miami, Europe & Polynesia! How is this possible? There can't be any flights from ANY of this locations to those destinations, there simply not big enough. They MUST go through Santiago or Buenos Aires. Did the writer of the story mess up? Any info will be very appreciated.

Here is the link itself & the article (in Spanish)

http://www.lanacion.com/00/01/03/e16.htm

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LA NACION LINE | 03.01.00 | Economia

Vuelos de Salta a Chile


La compañía aérea Lan Chile comenzó ayer sus vuelos desde la ciudad de Salta a Iquique, en Chile, con combinaciones a Antofagasta y Arica. En esta ruta se podrán hacer combinaciones con destinos del Caribe, Miami, Europa y la Polinesia.

Carlos Machado, de la operadora de carga Axis, indicó a La Nación que el servicio operará los lunes y sábados, a las 13.45, desde el aeropuerto General Martín Miguel de Güemes.

Machado explicó que el costo del pasaje de ida y vuelta será de 270 pesos, más 65 pesos en impuestos, aunque aclaró que habrá descuentos para menores de edad.

Además, el empresario afirmó que los primeros servicios ya cuentan con un alto nivel de reservas, tanto en el servicio de pasajeros como en el de cargas.

El servicio comenzó con la finalidad de operar en el período de las vacaciones de verano, pero la empresa ahora dijo que pretende extender su funcionamiento a lo largo de todo el año.

Copyright © 2000 La Nación | Todos los derechos reservados

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Explanations, anyone????????????

Connection can actually be made from Iquique, as the flight continues to Santiago from were Lan Chile operates its hub. Also, last winter Lan Chile started direct flights Iquique-Miami with B767 (also originated in Santiago) so there must be a market at least in the high season.

This would allow passengers from Salta another option instead of transiting in Buenos Aires. Lan Chile operates already from Cordoba and Mendoza and those flights have inmediate connections to Lan´s flights to Mexico, USA, Europe and Papeete.

So the article indeed forgot to mention that conexions would have to be made in Santiago. The article explains the routes in an ambiguious way, almost as if saying that if you get to Antofagasta, Arica or Iquique
you can take flights FROM THERE to Europe, Tahiti, etc.
They should have mentioned you had to go to Santiago.
Interesting, though.
I guess everyone in Iquique must be rich. Their population, according to my atlas, is comparable to that of for example, Villa Maria, about 75,000. Does Villa Maria have direct flights to these places, even in the summer? Do Tandil, Tres Arroyos, Neuquen, San Rafael, Jujuy, etc? They all have bigger populations than Iquique.  
Derico

No I don't think everyone is rich there! Maybe it's just that there is a large expatriat population of Chileans from Iquique and the surrounding cities that otherwise have to go all the way down to Santiago to connect. Remember! It only stops there once a week.

By the way Derico. I am pleased to meet you too. I just read the message you left me on the other question because I totally forgot that I had left something there. You will definetly see me around here more often.