Avant Airlines of Chile has signed a marketing alliance with Continental Airlines in an effort to expand its international traffic feed and further strengthen its position as the country's second largest carrier.
The two carriers plan to begin joint marketing activities and codeshare services early in the new year subject to government regulatory approval. Continental's daily service from Newark to Santiago will connect with onward Avant services, with through check-in and shared frequent flyer miles.
"We will act primarily as a pick-up for north-south bound traffic," says Avant commercial manager Rolando Uauy.
The two-year-old carrier operates more than 120 services a week between Santiago and domestic destinations such as Arica, Concepcion and Punta Arenas, as well as between Santiago and Mendoza in Argentina and charter overflights of Antarctica.
Avant has acquired Chilian regional carrier National Airlines, increasing its domestic traffic share to 30%. It now operates eight leased and owned Boeing 737-200Advs, but says any plans to expand are on hold because of the country's economic difficulties.
Source: Flight International
