Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Santiago · Chile · America/Santiago
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Airport HistoryEst. 1967
Santiago's main airport opened in 1967 as Aeropuerto Internacional de Pudahuel, built to replace the aging Los Cerrillos Airport and meet the demands of the jet age. Renamed in 1980 for Arturo Merino Benítez, founder of the Chilean Air Force, it has since grown through major terminal expansions into Chile's principal aviation gateway, now operated under a long-term private concession following a 2015 privatization. A new Terminal 2, completed in phases through 2021, roughly doubled the airport's capacity to serve growing South American demand.
The airport opens on February 9, 1967, as Aeropuerto Internacional de Pudahuel, replacing Los Cerrillos Airport with a jet-capable terminal, control tower, and cargo facilities after construction that began in 1961.
On March 19, 1980, the airport is rechristened Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in honor of the founder of the Chilean Air Force.
A 90,000-square-meter international terminal opens between the parallel runways, adding a new control tower, jetways, and duty-free facilities.
Runway 17R/35L, begun in 2004, finally reopens in March 2007 after repairs to structural defects discovered during construction.
The February 27, 2010 Chile earthquake damages the airport, forcing a temporary suspension of commercial operations; runways and the control tower resume for humanitarian airlift by March 3, and full commercial service is later restored.
On October 1, 2015, the airport transitions from state operation to a 20-year concession awarded to the Nuevo Pudahuel consortium (Aéroports de Paris, Vinci Airports, and Astaldi).
A new 175,000+ square meter Terminal 2, built at a cost of roughly €900 million and featuring four piers themed after Chilean regions, opens in phases between 2016 and 2021, raising capacity from 16 to 38 million annual passengers.
The airport handles approximately 25.8 million passengers in 2024, cementing its role as Chile's principal aviation hub and gateway for LATAM Chile, JetSmart, and Sky Airline.
General encyclopedic sources (Wikipedia). Passenger figures for 2024 reflect year-end reporting available as of research date; the Astaldi consortium partner has faced financial difficulties in recent years, so the precise current ownership split within Nuevo Pudahuel should be independently reconfirmed.