Roberta Aguirre
Patagonia is a vast geographical region in South America that spans over 1 million square kilometres. It is known for its towering mountain peaks, expansive glaciers, and incredible wildlife. Given its remoteness, flying between its major cities is often the best option for travellers. International flights to Patagonia will arrive at either Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, Chile, or Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina. From these hubs, travellers can take domestic flights to airports in Patagonia, such as Puerto Montt, Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas, Bariloche, Trelew, and Ushuaia.
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What You'll Learn
Airports in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires, the capital city of Argentina, has two airports that serve the city directly:
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP)
Also known as Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery, this airport is located in the city proper and is mainly used for domestic flights within Argentina and some regional flights within southern South America. It is just north of the city centre and is accessible by a short taxi ride.
Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE)
Also known as Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini or Ezeiza Airport, this airport is located 22km or 30km southwest of the city in the municipality of Ezeiza. It is mainly used for international flights and some domestic routes.
There are also other airports in the Greater Buenos Aires area that are slightly further from the city:
El Palomar Airport (EPA)
Located 18km west of the city in the municipality of El Palomar, this airport has a limited number of scheduled domestic flights.
San Fernando Airport (FDO)
Located in San Fernando city, about 25km from downtown Buenos Aires, this airport mainly deals with private flights and sanitary services.
Buenos Aires is also accessible via international flights from North America and Australia. Air Canada operates a service between Toronto and Buenos Aires with a stop in Bogota or Sao Paulo. Qantas and LATAM offer direct flights from Sydney to Santiago, from where passengers can take a connecting flight to Buenos Aires.
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Airports in Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile is served by the Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, also known as Santiago International Airport, Pudahuel Airport, or Nuevo Pudahuel Airport. Located in Pudahuel, 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of central Santiago, it is the largest, busiest, and most developed airport in Chile. It is owned by the Chilean government and has been operated since October 2015 by a consortium of companies formed by Aéroports de Paris, Vinci Airports, and Astaldi. The airport has domestic and international services to destinations in Europe, Oceania, Africa (cargo-only), Asia, and the Americas. It is Latin America's main gateway to Oceania, with scheduled flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Easter Island.
Santiago International is the longest non-stop destination for most European carriers, including Iberia, Air France, and British Airways, from their respective hubs in Madrid–Barajas Airport, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, and London–Heathrow Airport. The airport functions as a joint civil-military facility and is the headquarters of the Chilean Air Force 2nd Air Brigade and the home of its 10th Aviation Group.
The airport was originally called Aeropuerto Internacional de Pudahuel when it opened 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). LATAM Airlines accounts for approximately 82% of the airport's total commercial operations.
During the 2010 Chile earthquake, the airport's passenger terminal building suffered internal damage, and a pedestrian bridge collapsed. However, both runways and the control tower were unharmed, allowing the Chilean Air Force to establish a massive humanitarian air bridge to Concepción, Chile (Carriel Sur International Airport), close to the most damaged area. The airport resumed full operations on March 3, 2010.
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Airports in El Calafate, Argentina
El Calafate International Airport, also known as Comandante Armando Tola International Airport, is located in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, approximately 21 km (13 mi) east of the city of El Calafate. The airport is jointly operated by the government and London Supply. The airport is served by airlines such as Aerolíneas Argentinas, DAP and LADE, with daily flights to and from Buenos Aires (AEP) and occasional flights to Bariloche and Ushuaia. El Calafate Airport is the nearest airport to the Perito Moreno Glacier and the El Chalten/Mount Fitz Roy area. It is also the main entrance to Los Glaciares National Park.
The airport was designed by Uruguayan-Canadian architect Carlos Ott and was inaugurated in November 2000, replacing the old Lago Argentino Airport. In 2010, the airport served over 500,000 passengers. El Calafate International Airport does not handle commercial ticket management, and passengers are directed to contact their respective airlines for any ticketing matters. The airport was the departure and landing station for the second stage of the Perlan Project.
El Calafate is a popular destination for travellers to Los Glaciares National Park and the Perito Moreno Glacier. The area boasts incredible natural sights, including rolling mountains, rushing lakes, immense landscapes, and glaciers. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities such as hiking and exploring the unique Fitz Roy Massif. El Calafate is also a gateway to El Chalten, offering access to the 40 Nat route towards Bariloche and northern Patagonia.
Travellers to El Calafate International Airport can take advantage of various transportation options, including shuttle services and rental cars. There is a well-known road between the border and El Calafate that rental companies may advise against using. However, having a rental car can provide more flexibility and ease of access to certain trailheads in the area.
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Airports in Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas is a city in southern Chile, in the Patagonia region of South America. The city is served by Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport (PUQ/SCCI). The airport is shared with the Chilean Air Force. Its passenger terminal has three departure gates, two luggage belts, and 11 check-in counters. There is no public transport to the city from the airport, and Uber is illegal, so a taxi is the best option, at a cost of 10000CLP. The nearest major airport to Punta Arenas is Puerto Williams Airport, which is 295km away.
There are five airports in Chile that offer non-stop domestic flights from Punta Arenas. These include Balmaceda, Porvenir, Puerto Montt, Santiago de Chile, and Puerto Williams. The three most popular routes from Punta Arenas are to Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt, and Porvenir. The only airline that flies directly to Puerto Williams is Aerovías DAP. LATAM and Sky Airline are the only airlines that fly non-stop to Santiago de Chile and Puerto Montt.
The only destination in the Falkland Islands with a direct flight from Punta Arenas is Mount Pleasant, served by LATAM. Río Gallegos is the only destination in Argentina with direct flights from Punta Arenas, also served by LATAM.
Punta Arenas International Airport has a cafe, a souvenir shop, and two bathrooms. Self-check-in is available for LAN flights.
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Airports in Puerto Montt, Chile
Puerto Montt is a city in southern Chile and is served by El Tepual International Airport (PMC), also known as Puerto Montt El Tepual Airport (PMC/SCTE). It is the fourth-largest airport in Chile and is located a 1 hour and 40-minute flight from Santiago. The airport has good connectivity with Puerto Montt and is rated highly by travellers for its terminal access, security/immigration efficiency, and cleanliness.
El Tepual International Airport has scheduled passenger traffic to 5 destinations with 3 airlines. The route with the most departures is the route to Santiago (SCL) with an average of 68 flights every week, which is over 63% of all weekly departures. Sky Airline is the largest airline operating out of El Tepual International Airport, with around 52 scheduled departures per week. LATAM Airlines is the second-largest operator at the airport.
The airport features a variety of shops and services. However, it is important to note that the transfer service stand is located inside the baggage claim area. Once you leave the baggage claim, you cannot re-enter unless someone opens the sliding doors from the inside.
The route with the longest flight time from El Tepual International Airport is to Punta Arenas (PUQ), which takes approximately 2 hours and 12 minutes.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several airports in Patagonia, including:
- Puerto Natales Airport
- Punta Arenas Airport
- El Calafate Airport
- Trelew Airport
- Bariloche Airport
- Ushuaia Airport
The closest airport in Patagonia to Torres del Paine National Park is Puerto Natales Airport.
The best airport to fly into for Argentine Patagonia is Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), from which you can take a hopper flight to your desired Patagonian city.
The best airport to fly into for Chilean Patagonia is Punta Arenas Airport.
