Review of Sky Airline flight Valdivia Santiago in Economy

Airline Sky Airline
Flight H2 44
Class Economy
Seat 24F
Aircraft Airbus A319
Flight time 01:25
Take-off 24 Jun 16, 17:05
Arrival at 24 Jun 16, 18:30
H2   #73 out of 96 Airlines A minimum of 10 flight-reports within the past two years is required to appear in the rankings. 58 reviews
Pilpintu
By 1953
Published on 2nd July 2016
Welcome aboard!

I wrote a report on this same route some months ago, but it was rather unpolished and incomplete. So here I am again, with a new and improved report on a route that's quite off the beaten path, onboard an airline most of you might not have heard about.

Enjoy!

A little background on Sky Airline


Sky Airline (H2) used to be the second largest Chilean airline. However, now that LAN has become LATAM and is desperately trying to sell some sort of "Latin American identity", we could properly say that H2, with its humble fleet of sixteen A319 and A320, has become the largest Chilean airline.

Sky has seen difficult times, though. You frequently hear negative comments about them, especially since 2012. In that year a series of incidents almost ended in tragedy when one of their aircraft nearly crashed in La Serena airport, some 500km north of Santiago, while trying to land like this:
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The 737-200 approached the runway at an angle, and in a last-second effort to correct this the captain veered to the right abruptly. The tip of the wing literally plowed the soil next to the runway.

As reported by the Chilean Press Research Center, the subsequent investigation by the Chilean aviation authority (DGAC) determined that this incident was largely a consequence of the company's fuel-saving policies. Sky was indirectly forcing its pilots into following risky procedures, such as postponing the aircraft's landing configuration, or performing a visual approach instead of an instrument approach, by pestering them about fuel consuption. The DGAC eventually instructed Sky to stop ranking their pilots according to how much fuel they saved.

Ever since, as reported by the aviation news site ModoCharlie, Sky has made considerable investment in safety and technology. Among other measures, they renovated their fleet completely, implemented a safety management system, AirFASE flight data monitoring, etc.

However, Chilean travellers are still wary of flying Sky, even after it turned to a low-cost business model.

Nevertheless, in view of the lack of English language reports about Sky Airline on flight-report.com (except my own report on a chartered flight to Brazil) this brave and adventurous reporter has willingly risked his life for the benefit of readers thirsty for spine-chilling stories from lands far, far away. :D

Let's see if I can make it to Santiago… in one piece.

Entering Sky(net)… and being terminated


I start by taking a deep breath and visiting Sky Airline's website. Their prices seem to be in accordance with their recently acquired low-cost status. In fact, their cheapest tickets for June 24, the beginning of a long weekend in Chile, are only a fraction of the price of a LATAM ticket for the same day. However, only the three cheaper classes are a match for LATAM's prices. Besides, Sky publishes its prices per leg, and the boarding fee is not included. LATAM publishes the price for the complete round trip, boarding fee included, so what you see is what you will pay.

Sky Airline prices:
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LATAM prices for the same date:
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Finding a cheap Sky ticket for a long weekend is almost a miracle. My guess is that my current good luck has something to do with the refunds made after last April's H2 workers strike.

I go for the cheapest class: U. I wonder how bad it can get. Unfortunately, when I choose to pay with a credit card something breaks even before I can enter my personal data. I get the message "We are sorry. Your transaction could not be put through." (Update: The problem was my web browser!)
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I try to get in touch with Sky via Facebook, to no avail. They don't seem to be replying anything today. People are complaining. In fact, they never replied to my message at all!

But I'm not giving up. I resort to despegar.com, a flight search engine, and find the same flight. I'll have to pay an extra 4.5 USD fee, though.
photo 03

I finally get my ticket.
photo 4c
Great! Everything seems to be ready for check-in.

A window seat for the cheapest fare?


I have always preferred window seats, even before I started reporting on my flights. So, a couple of weeks after purchasing my cheapest-fare ticket, I approach Sky via Facebook again to inquire about my chances to get one. To my amazement, they reply this time! They say "Currently, all tickets, regardless of how much you pay for them, allow you to choose your seat 48 hours before your flight."
photo seat1

Can such a thing be true?

YES!

I can choose from the seats marked in green. I suppose that cheaper class means back of the plane, since it implies more time to board and deplane. Such a blessing for a flight-reporter!
photo seat map

I am not given the possibility to upgrade my seat for an extra fee the way I did with LATAM, when I chose a seat with more legroom for two or three extra bucks.

I download my boarding pass. A copy is sent to my email, too.
photo boarding pass

I'm ready to set sail… or wings in this case.

Pee-Choice


Pichoy is the name of the airport serving Valdivia, and yes, the word sounds just like pee choice, only without the final /s/ sound.

The small airport is located some 25km from the city and can be reached by transfer, which currently charges 3,500 CLP (around 5 USD), but since it is less than 50 meters from the highway I'm planning to test my luck and take any public transportation that way and be at the airport early.

As soon as I get to the bus stop, a small bus headed for the fishing village of Mehuín comes. No free seats available, but as soon as I get to the end of the aisle a man stands up and offers me his seat. I say thanks, of course, and take it because I think he's getting off soon, but I'm also surprised because this act of politeness is expected from a school student or someone much younger than you, but I don't think this man looks much younger than me… Well, it's official: I'm old. At least he didn't call me grandpa. :(

My benefactor, wearing a beany hat:
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I get off the bus and there goes the nice guy walking ahead of me. Not that I start following around everyone that's been kind to me. I'm not that mad… yet. It's just that he happened to be going to the airport, too.
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The airport is very close to the road. Here I am halfway from the road to the terminal.
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It's a small building. It deals with no more than two commercial flights a day.
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Opposite the main entrace is the parking lot…
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…and these are the parking rates. I'm confused by the use of the words aeropuerto and aeródromo. I asked a pilot about the difference, and he told me that an aeropuerto is prepared to receive traffic from abroad. International police staff is needed, for example. So why is Pichoy called an aeropuerto if it doesn't get international flights? I suppose because aeropuerto sounds more important than aeródromo.
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A view of the main entrace.
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I get to see this LATAM racing down the runway as it takes off.
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I enter the building. There's a small cafeteria on the left…
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…and the restrooms.
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Then there's a gift shop and a tourist agency…
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…and this large map of the area around Valdivia.
Administratively, Chile is divided into regions, which are divided into smaller provinces.
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At the bottom is baggage claim.
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A view of the hall from baggage claim. See that little Banco de Chile sign on the right, on the queue barrier? Travelling with Sky you will see those words until they're burned into your retinas! Sky has a fidelity program for this bank's cardholders.
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I walk to the other end of the hall, where these signs next to the boarding room access remind me of what I should not be carrying with me on the plane.
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Next to the signs, the airport's entertainment system. Wow! Feel the adrenaline flowing as you turn those knobs!
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Want to bounce your favorite superhero around?
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Or choke on a giant candy ball?
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Next to that remarkable piece of technology, the airport's ground plan.
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I turn around and see the car rental and transfer stands.
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A bus arrives with passengers for my flight and they go to the check-in counter.
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There's a cafeteria upstairs…
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…and this is the view from there.
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A last view of the main hall before going airside.
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Since most of the passengers are checking in, security check is a breeze.

The size of the boarding room is acceptable for the passengers of a single flight. Still, no remarkable amenities like charging ports or the like are available. Only purified water and paper glasses.
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According to flightradar24.com, our plane today will be CC-AJF. At he moment it's near Concepción. It should be here in half an hour.
photo flightradar

Not many airspotting opportunities in such a small airport, unfortunately. But this little guy, CC-PZX, is just arriving.
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It looks like it's here only to refuel. It will resume its flight right before the Sky flight.
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This truck races all along the runway before the next flight lands. Is it a safety inspection of the runway? If so, I wonder how this is done in airports where aircraft land every minute?
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No idea what this contraption might be. Does it serve a useful purpose, or did anyone just feel creative one day and left their work of art at the far end of the apron?
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The pushback tractor takes position right in front of the boarding room.
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H2-43 (soon to be H2-44) touches down.
photo touchd

A good number of passengers in the boarding room gather by the window to take pictures as the aircraft comes straight towards us.


A lot of inspection begins.
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Thorough inspection.
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While the passengers from Santiago deplane…
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…and baggage is unloaded and loaded…
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…we get ready for boarding.
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The process is speedy, and we are soon walking along the jetbridge.
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Another small aicraft on the right…
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…and the boarding room and the rest of the airport on the left.
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The towbar is being attached to the aircraft.
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The flight



I take my seat at the rear. I don't know who I must blame for the bad lighting… the plane or the time of day. The yellowish lights make everything look older in the cabin, and the rat-grey color of the seats does not help.
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I'm happy to see that the seat and the window are aligned. I won't end up with a painful neck!
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This sign advertising the Sky - Banco de Chile alliance is impossible to overlook.
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It's also stamped on the antimacassar…
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…and even on the seat belt lock!
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The seat is comfortable. At least more comfortable than the one in my previous flight on LATAM's CC-BAY!
The pitch is acceptable. I am 170cm tall, and there are still more than 5cm between my knees and the next seat. Nothing is obstructing the space for my feet, so my backpack fits easily under the seat.
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Time for the tray cleanliness test.
FAILED!!
Ew! Louis Pasteur might find some new antibiotic in here! This is the dirtiest tray I have ever seen!
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Advertising on the overhead bins: "Three million people prefer us every year. And we are low-cost!"
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The standard overhead panel…
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..and the simplest armrest. No entertainment at all. Not even a headphone jack! Let alone a charging port. Too bad.
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The flight is fully booked, which might explain why Sky has scheduled an extra daily flight to Valdivia during June, even though winter holidays are in July.
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No, the FAs are not happy to see each other. The safety instructions are given manually.
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Taxiing is very brief, but we wait until our small friend has taken off.
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We reach the runway…
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…and quickly take off.
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Bye, Pichoy!
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We head north, flying over the green fields.
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In the distance, the controversial Arauco pulp mill. It's a source of work for many, but it's also a source of pollution and a symbol of the destruction of the natural environment.
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Soon, Villarrica volcano is in sight.
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The mist gets thicker and thicker, and the setting sun paints it with vivid colors.
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Llaima volcano.
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Almost all the snow-capped peaks are volcanos…
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…until we get closer to Santiago, where the mountains are higher.
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We are already flying over Santiago. The Andes seem to be in flames.
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The golden evening light also floods our cabin.
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We are going to land from north to south, so we turn around and the sun is setting on my side now. The mountains you see here are part of the Cordillera de la Costa (Coastal Mountain Range), west from Santiago. Yes, the city is surrounded by mountains. Hence its terrible problems with smog.
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The night has fallen by the time we land.
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The only foreigner I can see around here is a Delta aircraft.
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And yes, Banco de Chile is there, too.
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Being at the rear, I am one of the last to deplane. I take the chance to check my neighbor's inflight magazine (mine was almost torn to pieces). It doesn't seem to have a name other than the airline's. The cover topic is Snow, and it's about the best skiing destinations in Chile.
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A last look at my seat…
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…and at the advertisements.
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Don't forget about Banco de Chile as you deplane…
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…and as you walk along the jetbridge!
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It was a great flight onboard CC-AJF.
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I emerge at the domestic section of the airport, but will skip the pictures until my flight back, when, as I will describe in my next report, I became much more familiar with this section than I could ever have expected!

In case you happen to visit SCL any time soon, the cheapest way to go to and from the airport is by bus. These are the prices. Both will take you to the Pajaritos metro station where you can continue your trip to other parts of the city. You can also take a transfer, but you just don't want to be in a traffic jam in Santiago after a long flight.
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And this is where you take the bus. Outside exit number 4.
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Tourism bonus - Central Valley


My trip was intended to visit some family in a little town some 120km south of Santiago. The town, Pelequén, is at the foot of some hills, and is the place where I spent much of my childhood. I went for a short nostalgic walk and took some interesting pictures.

The town is right on the east side of the 5 Sur, the highway that runs from north to south all along the country.
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I walk along this secondary road that winds into the Andean foothills…
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…and find some birds like this queltehue (Vanellus chilensis)
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…and many loicas (Sturnella loica) feeding on the ground.
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I think this one saw me…
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…and he prefers to fly to a safer spot.
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I decide to go across the hill on my way back. The hill is covered by the Chilean matorral. In spite of their thorns, these espinos (Vachellia caven) have beautiful, fragrant yellow flowers in spring.
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From my position I can see the point where the Valle Central (Central Valley) starts. This valley runs from north to south for around 1000km with no interruptions down to Puerto Montt, the northern border of Patagonia.
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I keep walking until I catch sight of the west side of the hill, with Pelequén at its foot. These green slopes used to be my playground.
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My uncle's goats!
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I pay a visit to the pen they share with some lambs.
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I have never been able to eat the meat of baby goats. They are much like cats, and long for human companionship.
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The sun has set and the sky is turning pink again, just like the day before. I'm flying back to Valdivia in two days, but that persistent mist will play a nasty trick on me. Can you see the quarry on that hill? A kind of pink stone is extracted from it.
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Thanks for reading!
See more

Verdict

Sky Airline

7.0/10
Cabin7.0
Cabin crew10.0
Entertainment/wifi3.0
Meal/catering8.0

Valdivia - ZAL

7.8/10
Efficiency10.0
Access10.0
Services3.0
Cleanliness8.0

Santiago - SCL

6.8/10
Efficiency10.0
Access7.0
Services7.0
Cleanliness3.0

Conclusion

Safety was my main concern during this flight. Of course, passengers can barely see the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the work needed to put a plane in the air, but there was nothing, in any stage of the flight, that made me fear for my safety. On the contrary, the staff seemed to know what they were doing, and they also seemed to be working in a good mood, which was reassuring. If the measures announced by ModoCharlie are true, Sky shouldn't be considered to be less safe than any average airline.

Information on the route Valdivia (ZAL) Santiago (SCL)

Les contributeurs de Flight-Report ont posté 15 avis concernant 3 compagnies sur la ligne Valdivia (ZAL) → Santiago (SCL).


Useful

La compagnie qui obtient la meilleure moyenne est LATAM avec 7.2/10.

La durée moyenne des vols est de 1 heures et 27 minutes.

  More information

6 Comments

If you liked this review or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to post a comment below !
  • Comment 355806 by
    767 traveller 53 Comments
    Hi, thanks for such a detailed report!
    Interesting how sky changed their business model from some sort of "ultra full service carrier" to a low cost. I hope they do fine financially. Nice pictures, loved the ones of the villa rica volcano.
    • Comment 355889 by
      Pilpintu TEAM AUTHOR 997 Comments
      Hello!

      Glad to know you liked the report!

      Yes, I also hope Sky will do well. Otherwise, we Chileans will be at the mercy of LATAM. Airline ticket prices have dropped considerably thanks to Sky's competition.

      They have been adding new international routes lately, like Córdoba, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay. I hope they'll keep expanding.
  • Comment 356160 by
    East African 1582 Comments
    Hi Nechus,

    Thanks for your recklessness because after your(?) frightening video, indeed i'd have thought twice before booking with Sky Airline :)

    Amazing to see an airport with 2 destinations (how many flights/day?) equipped with jetbridges, was it busier in the past or do the authorities plan a huge traffic growth?

    If one doesn't open a bank accoutn with Banco de Chile after trip, it could mean that person is blind for sure!

    Very informative and well written FR,
    • Comment 356384 by
      Pilpintu TEAM AUTHOR 997 Comments
      Hi there!

      do the authorities plan a huge traffic growth?

      I think the government made some investment in airport infrastructure lately, and that's why airports in most large cities have jetbridges. I have noticed that the architecture in those airports is similar, too, which makes me think that there was some sort of general upgrading plan. I suppose they were foreseeing a growth in traffic, as you say. Sky has played a role in it, indeed, with its low cost business model.

      Very informative and well written FR

      You're very kind. Thank you! I posted another looooong report last night. The flight back home was an epic adventure that, hopefully, I won't have to repeat!

      Best :)

  • Comment 356810 by
    NGO85 SILVER 1963 Comments
    Thanks for sharing this obscure domestic flight!

    "I'm confused by the use of the words aeropuerto and aeródromo"
    - I always thought aerodrome was the generic term and airport is a specific term. An airport is an aerodrome, but an aerodrome is not necessarily an airport. Most of the airports in Eastern Europe still use the term "aerodrome."

    “the airport's ground plan.”
    - The airplanes on this plane have quite the power plants, 6 turbines each!

    ZAL reminds me a lot of the regional airports in Japan that handle only a handful of flights a day.

    The cabin and service look beyond acceptable for a $55 round-trip flight. The advertisements are almost as repulsive as on FR though.

    Nice sunset aerials. The winter colors are always beautiful since you get more oranges and purples.
    • Comment 365807 by
      Pilpintu TEAM AUTHOR 997 Comments
      Hello, NGO85!!

      The airplanes on this plan have quite the power plants, 6 turbines each

      You're right!! I didn't notice that before! XDD The architect wanted to impress someone, I guess!!

      The advertisements are almost as repulsive as on FR

      I couldn't agree more! In my case, I don't even get ads on FR.com, but spam of the kind "You are visitor number One Million. You won!!!" XDDD Well... to be fair, that stopped some time ago. :D

      The winter colors are always beautiful since you get more oranges and purples

      Yeah. Sunsets had wonderful colors because we were having a lot of fog those days. Add to this the smog over Santiago!!

      Thanks for your comment. Sorry about the very belated reply!

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