The airline LATAM has announced the indefinite suspension of the air route to and from the island of chiloe as of August 1 of this year. This decision is due to commercial reasons, as reported by the company.
LATAM has offered refund or destination change options to Puerto Montt at no additional charge, along with compensation for the inconvenience caused to affected passengers. The airline has explained that the infeasibility of the Skyway in a challenging economic context and the high price of fuel have been determining factors in this measure.
The news has generated concern among parliamentarians in the area. Senator Iván Moreira of the UDI regretted the decision, since this Skyway it provided a fast connectivity option between Chiloé, Santiago and the north of the country. For his part, Socialist Senator Fidel Espinoza expressed his discontent on Twitter, describing the measure as “a new hard blow” for the island’s inhabitants and questioning the high ticket prices and their impact on the community.
The cancellation of the air route has generated repercussions on the frequency of trips and the connectivity of chiloe with other regions. Although there is still another airline that maintains its operations in the area, the impact that this decision will have on the inhabitants of the island is recognized.
LATAM has experienced a sustained increase in its post-pandemic numbers, but economic challenges and the price of fuel have led to this determination on the Skyway. It is important to remember that the company will cancel all scheduled flights as of August 1 and has expressed its commitment to compensate affected passengers.
