Ushuaia-Antarctica air bridge would let cruisers skip 'Drake shake'

It would provide an alternative to Chile's air bridge between Punta Arenas and King George Island.

Petrel Base

This comes as Argentina significantly upgrades its Petrel Base on Dundee Island in the Antarctic Peninsula with capacity for two landing strips, a loading dock, scientific research facilities and the ability to serve as a regional emergency response center.

ANNE KALOSH

Delver Agents' Veronica Baldasso Palacios, far right, mentioned the Ushuaia-Antarctica air bridge plan during a Seatrade Cruise Global expedition cruising session

Veronica Baldasso Palacios, managing director of Delver Agents, whose clients include a wide range of expedition cruise lines operating from Ushuaia, mentioned the air bridge plan during a Seatrade Cruise Global session.

Starting in late 2025?

Subsequently she told Seatrade Cruise News the aspiration is to introduce this option starting in late 2025 for the 2025/26 Antarctica season.

'It came as a need we saw in the market as Ushuaia hasn't had an air option,' Baldasso said, adding that city and tourism officials recognize the importance of facilitating expedition cruising. Plus, the service could support medical air evacuations.

Parties in Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego province are discussing the air bridge initiative, which would use private charter air — Baldasso declined to specify the operator — and require a major investment and government permitting.

There's said to be great interest from expedition cruise lines.

Location, location, location

Petrel Base is located closer to the Antarctic Peninsula than King George Island. And Ushuaia itself is closer than Punta Arenas in Chile, which Baldasso translated into lower fuel costs and CO2 emissions.

Currently, only 3% of Antarctica cruisers, or about 6,000 of the estimated 100,000 who visited by ship in the recent season, traveled by air bridge, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Chile's Antarctica21 pioneered the air-cruise concept 20 years ago, and recently it's been offered by lines including Silversea Cruises, Atlas Ocean Voyages and Lindblad Expeditions.

During Lindblad Expeditions Holdings' first quarter earnings call Tuesday, CEO Sven Lindblad spoke of the success of its newly introduced fly-cruise product. With sales for an older ship lagging compared to its two newbuilds in Antarctica, the operator introduced a fly-cruise option between Punta Arenas and King George Island using the older vessel.

'It filled up, essentially instantly,' Lindblad said.

Rough passage

Baldasso noted most expedition cruise ships cater to the 65-plus market. The Drake Passage can be very difficult for them.

'This would make it more enticing because they don't have to go through that [Drake] shake,' she said.

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