Ruth Haines
Chile is home to several airports, including the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, which is the country's largest aviation facility and busiest international airport. This airport, located in Santiago, serves as a primary hub for international travel and connects millions of passengers to their desired destinations each year. Other notable airports in Chile include the Antofagasta Airport, serving the city of Antofagasta and its region, and the Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, serving the city of Punta Arenas in the region of Patagonia. Each of these airports handles a significant number of passengers annually and contributes to the country's aviation network, facilitating travel within Chile and beyond.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
The airport is located about 17 kilometres (11 miles) from Santiago's city centre by car. It is well-connected to the city by the six-lane expressway Costanera Norte (Exit #31) and the Vespucio Norte Express Ring motorway (Exit #18). Transportation options to and from the airport include buses, taxis, private transfers, and rental cars.
The airport was originally named Aeropuerto Internacional de Pudahuel when it was commissioned in 1967, due to its location in the municipality of Pudahuel. In 1980, it was renamed Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in honour of the founder of the Chilean Air Force and Chilean carrier LATAM Chile (formerly Linea Aerea Nacional, LAN Chile). The airport has undergone expansions and upgrades over the years, including the addition of a new international terminal in 1994 and a new domestic terminal in 2021, increasing its capacity to 38 million passengers per year.
Harrisonburg, VA: Airport Accessibility and Infrastructure
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Santiago's busiest airport
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, also known as Santiago International Airport, is the busiest airport in Santiago, Chile. It is located in Pudahuel, 15km (9.3 miles) northwest of central Santiago, the country's capital and largest city. The airport is owned by the Chilean government and has been operated by Nuevo Pudahuel, a consortium of French and Italian companies, since October 2015.
Santiago International Airport serves as a hub for LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSmart. It offers flights to other South American countries and connections to several destinations in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The airport is also Latin America's main gateway to Oceania, with scheduled flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Easter Island. In 2011, it was the ninth busiest airport in Latin America by passenger traffic, serving almost 25 million passengers annually.
The airport has two terminals: an international terminal with ten gates and a national/domestic terminal with seven. The new international terminal covers 200,000 square meters and cost $900 million USD to construct. It includes a central processor for arrivals and departures and four piers with departure lounges. The expansion programme also included the construction of a light railway connecting the airport with the Santiago Metro network.
Santiago International Airport is the headquarters of the Chilean Air Force's 2nd Air Brigade and the base of its 10th Aviation Group. The 10th Aviation Group provides strategic air transportation for the President of Chile, emergency medical air transport, and supervises the Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron. The airport is well-connected to Santiago by the six-lane expressway Costanera Norte and the Vespucio Norte Express Ring motorway.
MSP Airport: Global Entry Access Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Aviation Group facilities
Chile has a number of airports serving various cities and regions. The country's largest aviation facility and busiest international airport is the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, also known as Santiago International Airport and Nuevo Pudahuel Airport. It is located 15km (9.3 miles) northwest of central Santiago, Chile's capital and largest city. The airport has domestic and international services to destinations in Europe, Oceania, Africa (cargo-only), Asia, and the Americas. It is owned by the Chilean government and has been operated by a consortium of companies since 2015.
The 10th Aviation Group, based at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, provides strategic air transportation, including for the President of Chile, emergency medical air transport, and supervises the Airborne Early Warning & Control Squadron. The group's facilities host Latin America's most important air show, the FIDAE (Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio). Some of the units used by the 10th Aviation Group include the C-130 Hercules, Boeing 767-300, Boeing 737 Classic, Gulfstream IV, CASA C-212 Aviocar, F-16 Fighting Falcon, AEW&C Condor, and Boeing E-3 Sentry.
In addition to the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, there are several other airports in Chile serving different regions. These include:
- Antofagasta Airport or Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport, serving Antofagasta city and its region.
- Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, serving the city of Punta Arenas in the Patagonia region.
- La Serena Airport or La Florida Airport, serving the coastal city of La Serena.
- Temuco Airport or La Araucanía Airport, serving the Araucanía region and the city of Temuco.
- Chacalluta International Airport, serving the city of Arica, located close to the Peru border.
These airports handle a significant number of passengers annually and offer a range of domestic and international flight connections, contributing to Chile's aviation network.
DFW Airport's Miles: How Far Does it Span?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Airports in smaller cities
Chile is home to numerous airports, with about 125 airports spread across the country. Most Chilean cities have a domestic airport, and they are generally small, modern, and clean, located just a few miles outside the town. Here is a look at some of the airports in smaller cities in Chile:
La Araucanía Airport/Temuco Airport
La Araucanía Airport, also known as Temuco Airport, is the primary airport serving the Araucanía region and the city of Temuco. The airport handles over a million passengers annually, primarily through domestic routes. The airport is served by JetSmart, LATAM Chile, and Sky Airline. Temuco city centre is approximately 25 km from the airport, and passengers can travel to the city by bus, taxi, or private transfer. Nearby destinations include Villarrica, Pucon, and Valdivia.
Chacalluta International Airport
Chacalluta International Airport serves the city of Arica and is located close to the Peruvian border. The airport handles about 900,000 passengers annually and offers regional flights. Airlines operating at the airport include Amaszonas, LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSmart. The airport is in proximity to National Park Lauca and National Park Volcan Isluga.
El Loa Airport
El Loa Airport serves the city of Calama, the capital of the El Loa province.
Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport/Antofagasta Airport
Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport, commonly known as Antofagasta Airport, serves the city of Antofagasta and its region. The airport handles more than 2 million passengers annually, making it one of the busiest in the country. Airlines operating at the airport include JetSmart, LATAM, and Sky Airline. The airport is situated just 10 km from the city centre, allowing passengers to use taxis or private transfers to reach the city.
Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport
Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport serves the city of Punta Arenas in the Patagonia region. The airport primarily handles regional flights and serves more than a million passengers annually. Airlines operating at the airport include Aerovias DAP, LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSmart. The airport is located around 20 km from the city, and passengers can opt for a mini-bus, taxi, or private transfer to reach Punta Arenas.
Runway Construction: Airport Runways and Their Unique Composition
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Airlines operating in Chile
Chile is served by several airports, with the largest and busiest being the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, the country's capital. This airport alone is served by 22 airlines, including LATAM Chile, Sky Airline, and JetSmart. LATAM Chile is the largest airline in the country, serving 152 domestic and international destinations with a fleet of 163 aircraft. The airline was founded by Chilean Air Force Commodore Arturo Merino Benítez, after whom the Santiago International Airport was renamed.
Other major airlines operating in Chile include British Airways, Iberia, and Air France, which offer non-stop flights to Santiago from their hubs in London, Madrid, and Paris, respectively. These carriers also use the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport as their main gateway to Latin America and Oceania, with scheduled flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Easter Island.
In addition to the main international carriers, several regional airlines serve Chile's smaller airports. For example, the La Serena Airport in the coastal city of La Serena is served by JetSmart, LATAM Chile, and Sky Airline, all of which offer domestic routes. Similarly, Temuco Airport, serving the Araucanía region and the city of Temuco, is served by the same three airlines, with JetSmart being the only low-cost carrier among them.
Chile's second-largest airline, Ladeco, was acquired by LAN-Chile (now LATAM Chile) in 1995. This merger allowed the combined entity to expand its operations and establish a strong presence in the Chilean market. Today, LATAM Chile accounts for approximately 82% of the total commercial operations at the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, reflecting its dominance in the country's aviation industry.
Palm Springs Airport: Your Gateway to Sunny California
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are several airports in Chile. The largest and busiest airport in the country is the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, also known as Santiago International Airport.
The airport is located in Pudahuel, 15km (9.3 miles) northwest of central Santiago, the capital and largest city in Chile.
Some other airports in Chile include Antofagasta Airport, Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, Temuco Airport, Chacalluta International Airport, and El Loa Airport.
