Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Santiago, Chile
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Chile's busiest gateway, serving South America and the world.
- ›Named after Commodore Arturo Merino Benítez, a founder of Chile's national airline and air force.
- ›It is the busiest airport in Chile and a major South American aviation hub.
- ›Elevation is approximately 474 metres (1,555 feet) above sea level.
- ›A major concession-driven expansion project significantly increased terminal capacity in the 2010s–2020s.
- ›The airport handled over 26 million passengers in peak years before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, commonly known as Santiago International Airport, is the busiest aviation hub in Chile and one of the largest in South America. Named after the founder of the Chilean Air Force, it has served as the country's primary international gateway since the mid-20th century. The airport connects Santiago to major destinations across the Americas, Europe, and beyond, handling over 20 million passengers annually across its modern facilities.
- Terminal 1 (T1) — International — Handles all international flights with full customs, immigration, duty-free retail, and lounges.
- Terminal 2 (T2) — Domestic — Serves domestic routes within Chile, operated primarily by LATAM and Sky Airline.
- Terminal 3 (T3) — A newer terminal supporting additional capacity for both domestic and regional low-cost carriers.
- Centropuerto and Turbus express buses connect to central Santiago (Pajaritos and Alameda terminals)
- Taxi Oficial (regulated airport taxis) available at clearly marked ranks outside arrivals
- Uber and other rideshare apps operate legally from the designated pickup area
- Car rental agencies including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and Europcar located in arrivals hall
- Transvip shared shuttle vans offer door-to-door service to city hotels
- No direct Metro (subway) connection to the airport as of current infrastructure
- Marriott Santiago
- NH Collection Plaza Santiago
- Holiday Inn Express Santiago Airport
- Ibis Santiago Aeropuerto
- Radisson Hotel Santiago Airport
Inside the terminals, passengers will find a solid mix of international chains such as Burger King, Subway, and Starbucks alongside Chilean café concepts serving empanadas and local pastries. The international terminal offers sit-down dining options with Chilean wines and regional dishes for those with longer layovers. Just outside the airport perimeter in the Pudahuel and Las Condes areas, a wider range of traditional Chilean restaurants and parrillas is accessible by taxi.
- Exchange currency or withdraw Chilean pesos from ATMs inside arrivals before leaving the terminal, as airport rates are more competitive than street exchange offices.
- Confirm which terminal your flight departs from before arriving, as T1, T2, and T3 have separate check-in areas and are not always connected internally.
- Allow extra time during peak summer (December–February) and holiday seasons when queues at immigration and security can be significantly longer.
- Keep small bills (pesos) handy for bus fares and tips; many informal vendors and shuttle drivers prefer cash over cards.
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Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, also known as Santiago International Airport and Nuevo Pudahuel Airport, located in Pudahuel, 15 km (9.3 mi) north-west of central Santiago, is Chile's largest aviation facility and busiest international airport.
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