SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8265 posts, RR: 5 Posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2776 times:
On April 6, 2009, LAN will make history as it commences domestic flights within Ecuador. LAN Ecuador's domestic flights are now loaded and bookable on LAN.com. LAN Ecuador will initially offer flights between Quito and Guayaquil, flights to Cuenca will be available for purchase soon. All flights will operate with the A-318.
LAN Ecuador will offer 7 daily flights between Quito and Guayaquil Mondays through Fridays, 4 daily flights on Saturdays, and 5 daily flights on Sundays.
"Oneworld affiliate member LAN Ecuador launches its new domestic schedule next month. Initially it will connect the capital Quito with Guayaquil and later link both cities with Cuenca (which has the three-letter IATA code CUE) and Galapagos (SCY), both of which will join the oneworld map for the first time. It will operate latest generation Airbus A320 family aircraft on all routes. This new domestic network will complement LAN Ecuador's international services to and from Ecuador, which include flights from both Guayaquil and Quito to places such as Buenos Aires, Madrid, Miami, New York and Santiago." http://www.oneworld.com/ow/news/details?objectID=17291
SurfandSnow From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, RR: 31 Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2822 times:
I'm sure this new link to the Galapagos will be highly popular with oneworld customers! I imagine this will eventually allow for seamless AA/LAN connections from Miami to the Galapagos. In fact, this will be the first ever reputable air link to the world famous archipelago.
Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8265 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2818 times:
By commencing domestic operations with Ecuador, along with the addition of a new service between LIM and CTG, LAN will add three new cities to the oneworld network.
Alianza From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 230 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2650 times:
Quoting SCL767 (Thread starter): LAN Ecuador's domestic flights are now loaded and bookable on LAN.com. LAN Ecuador will initially offer flights between Quito and Guayaquil
Great news for LAN and the people of Ecuador!!
Competing with AeroGal, ICD Icaro, and EQ.
The initial XL fare for the 45 minute flight is about $56 roundtrip including taxes/all in. Excellent price for the quality of Lan.
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8265 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2634 times:
Quoting Alianza (Reply 4): Great news for LAN and the people of Ecuador!!
Indeed, now Ecuadorians have more options at cheaper prices. I really hope that Ecuadorian officials permit XL to operate to the Galápagos as it will increase tourism revenues for the country.
PlunaCRJ From Uruguay, joined Nov 2007, 573 posts, RR: 2 Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2577 times:
Quoting SCL767 (Reply 5): I really hope that Ecuadorian officials permit XL to operate to the Galápagos as it will increase tourism revenues for the country.
But, do the Galápagos really need even more tourism? The islands´ environment is already starting to be affected by mass tourism (with the high air fares and the entry tax) More competition and capacity to the islands won´t help at all.
SCL767 From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8265 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2504 times:
Quoting PlunaCRJ (Reply 6): The islands´ environment is already starting to be affected by mass tourism (with the high air fares and the entry tax) More competition and capacity to the islands won´t help at all.
The main problem is that environmental laws are not widely enforced in the Galápagos. The biggest threat to the islands are plants and animals that were introduced into the environment. UNESCO put the Galápagos Islands on their World Heritage in Danger List because of this; also eco-friendly tourism needs to be further enhanced in the islands. LAN would like to fly into SCY, which has less flights than GPS. SCY only has two weekly flights operated by TAME and 5 weekly flights operated by Aerogal. LAN will most likely operate one or two weekly flights into SCY, if granted by the Ecuadorian authorities.
Birdwatching From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3573 posts, RR: 52 Reply 8, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2496 times:
Quoting SCL767 (Reply 7): The main problem is that environmental laws are not widely enforced in the Galápagos.
I agree. The US National Park system shows that you can have millions and millions of people visiting environmentally fragile places with minimum impact to the ecosystems, using a proven system of only making small portions of the park accessible, and most importantly, banning any individuals from settling within the USNPS boundaries.
In the case of Galapagos by contrast, uncontrolled population growth is the main problem. Foreign species introduced (wild pigs for example, and dogs too) have already completely destroyed the ecosystem on the inhabited islands. Apparently the Galapagos have a huge population growth because of the attractiveness in terms of taxation and pay.
What Ecuador should do is make the archipelago a true National Park in a way that tourism is very limited to certain islands, and banning the uncontrolled expansion of the settlements and population.
Soren
All the things you probably hate about travelling are warm reminders that I'm home
AA300B From Ecuador, joined Jul 2004, 103 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 2418 times:
Great news for LAN!
I already booked my ticket on the inagural flight from Guayaquil to Quito, and for $56 compared to $120 offered by Tame and Aerogal, can anyone confirm if this is going to be the permanent price, or is it just an offer?
If the price remains steady, I don't think Tame and Aerogal will hold up for much longer..
SJOtoLIR From Costa Rica, joined Jul 2007, 4073 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (4 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2393 times:
Quoting SCL767 (Thread starter): Initially it will connect the capital Quito with Guayaquil and later link both cities with Cuenca (which has the three-letter IATA code CUE) and Galapagos (SCY), both of which will join the oneworld map for the first time.
The Galapagos Islands are poorly matched with their inbound flights coming from the USA through either UIO or GYE.
If XL could resolve this trouble, both AA and IB codes might be displayed later into their immediate XL's connecting flights heading to Galapagos Islands and making an analogy as LA SCL-IPC does. It would be an interesting move regarding the intended OneWorld interests there.
XL will most likely ensure that some flights from the U.S. and MAD offer connections to SCY. However, XL will not code-share with AA. Only LA and LP can code-share with AA. Also, Ecuadorian officials want XL to code-share with TAME if XL operates to SCY.
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From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8265 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, 
From Uruguay, joined Nov 2007, 573 posts, 
From Ecuador, joined Jul 2004, 103 posts, 
From Costa Rica, joined Jul 2007, 4073 posts, 
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