LATAM Airlines has announced it will begin a twice-weekly seasonal service between Santiago and Puerto Natales, Patagonia, from December 6th 2016.

The flights will operate until February 25th 2017.

The route will offer passengers easier access during the summer months to Puerto Natales and surrounding attractions, including Torres del Paine National Park. 

“With this new service we will improve connectivity in Patagonia, facilitate easier access to one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions as well as continue to contribute to the development of Chile and its regions,” said Gonzalo Undurraga, chief executive of LATAM Airlines Chile.

“As an airline group, we are committed to offering passengers unrivalled connectivity to, from and within Latin America as well as the opportunity to visit the awe-inspiring destinations that this vast continent has to offer.”

LATAM Airlines Chile flight LA001 will depart Santiago at 10:45 on Saturday and Tuesday, arriving in Puerto Natales at 13:55, with a journey time of three hours ten minutes. 

The return flight (LA002) will depart Puerto Natales at 14:35 on Saturday and Tuesday – stopping in Punta Arenas – and arrive in Santiago at 19:30, with a journey time of four hours 55 minutes (all times local). 

The flight times are scheduled to enable convenient connections with international flights to and from Europe, the United States and other international destinations.

The service will be operated by Airbus A320 aircraft with capacity for 174 passengers. 

The airline groups projects that it will transport approximately 7,500 passengers on the route during its three months of operation.