Galapagos Islands News

International airline LAN (based in Chile) has received permission from the Ecuadorian government to begin service to the Galapagos Islands. This is welcome news for those who offer services in the Galapagos or who just want to visit, as the existing airlines which service Galapagos, TAME and Aerogal, cannot always keep up with the demand. To begin with, LAN will offer one daily flight from Quito-Guayaquil-Baltra, but may expand in the future.

How will the addition of LAN affect travelers to Galapagos?

This new service will no doubt be a boom to Galapagos visitors. Here are a few of the advantages:

• More Options: Because the number of flights is limited, they are often booked up well in advance. More than one Galapagos traveler who missed a departing flight for any reason has had to wait for a rare opening on a subsequent flight out. More flights means more chances to get in and out of Galapagos’ two busy airports.
• Easy Booking: Unlike the smaller airlines Aerogal and TAME, LAN is a major international airline. Travelers will be able to book a long trip from their home to Galapagos without having to do so through more than one airline.
• Competition: Usually, vying airlines creates competition for fares which benefits the consumer, but not in this case. Flight prices to Galapagos are fixed, so the rates will be the same. If the rates ever become unfixed in the future, though, the competition should drive fares down.

Travel Tips

Remember, if booking a cruise, it is important to arrange your flights through the same travel agency. Ships prefer that all of their passengers arrive on the same flight so that they are easier to pick up. Travelers flying alone to Galapagos may find themselves waiting a long time for their ship or missing it…and may even wind up on the wrong island! By booking with a reputable travel agent like Galapagosislands.com you’ll be sure to avoid this common pitfall.