LATAM Airlines announced the return of direct flights between Santiago, Chile and Melbourne, Australia, starting from September 2023.

The Victorian Government has played an instrumental role in securing the resumption of this important direct air route, which was paused in March 2020, due to the pandemic.

The return of this key route will help to boost Victoria’s economy, increasing tourism, visitation, and the number of international students, as well as supporting more trade and investment opportunities for Victoria.

LATAM’s flights will strengthen Victoria’s export access to Latin America with its Boeing 787-8 aircraft able to carry up to 10 tonnes in air freight each way. Two-way goods trade between Latin America and the Caribbean and Victoria was valued at $2.8 billion in 2021-22.

As the fastest route between South America and Oceania, the Melbourne-Santiago flight also supports people-to-people connections developed through tourism, sport, education, culture, and major events. The route will allow passengers from Victoria to reach Santiago in under 13 hours. From Santiago, passengers will be able to access more than 144 destinations in LATAM Airlines’ extensive network.

The flight will also facilitate the recovery of educational and cultural exchanges as Victoria is a popular study destination for students from Latin America. In 2019, almost 20,000 international students from the region were enrolled in Victorian institutions.

Recent engagements

Between 24 and 27 April, the Santiago VGTI led a mining & METS Trade Mission to Expomin in Santiago, Chile. The mission was delivered in collaboration with Austrade and Australia’s METS industry association Austmine.

Eleven Victorian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies were provided an opportunity to showcase their innovative solutions and engage with some of the world’s largest mining companies. The mission included market briefings and workshops; one-on-one meetings with potential clients and partners; visits to remote mine operation centres; three networking functions (including a well-attended Global Victoria event); and pitching opportunities.

Chile is a global leader in the production of critical minerals. The country is the world’s no.1 copper producer and the second largest lithium exporter. Victorian companies contributing to a more sustainable and clean mining industry in South America are crucial to ensuring the energy transition needed to reach a net zero economy by 2050.

Looking ahead

Save the date – The Australia-Latin America Business Council (ALABC) Melbourne Annual Dinner on 3 August 2023. For further details and to register, visit the ALABC website.