Air Comet and Sky intensify Chilean domestic battle

Chilean carriers Air Comet Chile and Sky Airline are both opening new domestic connections, further inflaming a fierce competitive battle between the two.

Air Comet Chile, which is owned by Spanish tour company Marsans, has announced new routes to Temuco, Balmaceda and Puerto Natales.

Newly-appointed Air Comet commercial director Isabel Bachler says that, while Puerto Natales is a twice-weekly seasonal extension to the Punta Arenas route, Temuco and Balmaceda will be served daily all year.

"This is one more step to raise our current domestic market share from its current 17% to our strategic objective, which is 30%," she says.

Air Comet also plans to add Lima and Buenos Aires to its network of flights this year.

Chile's Sky Airline has responded by opening its own seasonal route to Puerto Natales, as well as launching daily flights to Valdivia and Osorno - new destinations on the airline's network.

Chilean market-leader LAN Airlines last year introduced a low-fare scheme on its local routes.

Publication: Reed Business Information - Air Transport Intelligence
Provider: Reed Business Information, The Flight Group
Date: January 9, 2008