should start in September

Chile-Tahiti air service should start in September

A DIRECT', jet air service—non stop—from Santiago, Chile, to Tahiti, is expected to start in early September.

LAN-Chile Airlines, with 144-pas senger Boeing 707’s, will operate the 10-hour run initially once a month.

The new service will supplement the airline’s current fortnightly service from Santiago to Tahiti, via Easter Island with 44-passenger DC6B air craft.

From September, LAN-Chile hopes to have two services out of Papeete monthly—one via Easter Island, with a 24-hour stopover for tourists, and the other direct to Chile.

LAN-Chile’s Australian represent ative, Mr. J. F. Federer, told PIM the airline expected to have its second 707 iet delivered in late August so the Papeete jet service could begin in September. LAN-Chile had a fleet of one 707, four Ill's, four Cara velles and two DC6B’s, he said.

Its long-term plans included jet

services across the Pacific to Japan and Australia, from Chile, Accommodation on Easter Island for overnight passengers consisted of comfortable tents which make up the island’s only hotel, managed by Honsa, a major Chilean hotel chain.

No visas were required by travellers to the island because it was part of Chilean territory, he said.

During their stay on Easter Island travellers could made tours to archaeological sites and examine old temples and the world-famous statues.

Easter Island had no stores, but artifacts and carvings were sold by the islanders.

Mr. John Borg, a travel consultant for Royal Interocean Lines, told PIM that his company had booked many people for the Tahiti-Santiago route in Sydney. Mr. Borg said people of Spanish descent were taking advantage of the route, which was the only direct air route to South America from Australia.