Punta del Este Airport is preparing for a historic operation during the July holidays

More than 3,000 young people from the country's 19 departments will depart for the city of Bariloche, a popular tourist destination in Argentina, in an operation described as "unprecedented" for the airport.

Officials from the Ministry of Tourism, the Maldonado Municipality, Uruguay Airports, and Travel Rock were present at the announcement. They provided details of the operation and elaborated on the impact on the airport, the department, and the young people themselves.

“This is a historic moment for our airport, not only because of the volume of large charters we will experience at an unusual time for this type of movement, which allows us to maintain a high level of service for our passengers throughout the year, but also because it consolidates new connectivity and growth opportunities for the airport and for Punta del Este as a destination,” said Guillermo Pagés, General Manager of Punta del Este International Airport.

Between June 25 and 27, and July 3 and 5, three daily flights will depart from Punta del Este Airport, transporting teenagers from 60 cities across the country. For 60% of these young people, this is their first time traveling by plane, underscoring the social significance of this initiative.

Aníbal Arias, director of Travel Rock, stated, "Our operations at Punta del Este Airport have been growing in recent years, and this July will mark a record. We are proud of the work being done with the airport, and we want to continue working together to create unique experiences, taking care of every detail and optimizing our travel operations each year."

Meanwhile, Ana Claudia Caram, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism, highlighted the role of travel agencies across the country in generating employment and boosting tourism and the economy. “Tourism is strategy, conversation, encounters, and short- and long-term planning. Thank you for this commitment. Let's redouble our efforts and bring many more people to the country, but also bring many more tourists to the country,” she emphasized.

Finally, Martín Laventure, Director of Tourism for the Maldonado Municipality, agreed with Caram on the importance of public-private partnerships to sustain and promote tourism, both in the department of Maldonado and throughout the country, emphasizing the importance of this milestone in "positioning the airport and generating traffic outside the summer season." At the same time, he emphasized the importance of this social initiative, which "gives young people the opportunity to enjoy themselves, socialize, and explore other destinations."