Starting on January 5, 2011, LAN Airlines will begin service between Lima and Easter Island offering two flights a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. In addition, also scheduled for launch in January 2011, LAN Airlines’ affiliate LAN Peru will offer four weekly nonstop flights from Lima to Iguazu in Argentina, pending applicable government approvals. 

Flights from Lima to Easter Island will save European and North American travelers up to three hours of travel time compared to the existing flights available by LAN from Santiago, Chile to Easter Island.  The new route marks the first time that Easter Island will be connected to another country in South America besides Chile.

The new routes will offer travelers the opportunity to visit multiple iconic South American tourist destinations in one trip via Lima including Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru, Argentina’s Iguazu Falls, Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, and the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina including the towns of Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, El Calafate and Bariloche. 

“LAN Airlines and its affiliates are offering passengers access to the most complete and integrated tourism network in South America, providing them with the opportunity and flexibility to explore more than one of the region’s wonders. With the addition of these new routes, visitors from around the world will have more options to make connections on LAN and its affiliates that will help support the region’s tourism development, while offering outstanding quality of service,” said Armando Valdivieso, CEO of LAN Airlines Passenger Division.

LAN Airlines will service the Lima to Easter Island route on modern Boeing 767-300s. This aircraft offers the airline’s Premium Business Class in addition to a recently renovated Economy class.  Premium Business Class features full flat seats, 180? reclining seats, providing comfort and a fully horizontal sleeping position.

Both cabins feature a state of the art entertainment system, with individual high definition screens for each seat, and one of the largest selection and best programming worldwide.