JUNE 19, 2019

President Piñera presents airport modernization plan: "This network will have the capacity to connect the various regions of our country"

The initiative consists of construction projects at 17 airports representing a total of US$1.442 billion and will double the capacity of airline terminals to meet demand over the next 20 years. In addition, the President announced a 10% reduction in boarding taxes for domestic flights beginning in September.

On Wednesday, President Sebastián Piñera, Public Works Minister Alfredo Moreno and Finance Minister Juan Andrés Fontaine presented the project to modernize the airport network, which will improve the service quality for passengers in 17 terminals in the country.

"The Airports Network program that we are promoting will improve quality of life and connectivity, especially in regions outside of Santiago", President Piñera stated at an event held at the construction site of the T2 International Terminal of the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport.

The work plan for airport concessions (16 regional airports plus Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in Santiago), includes investments of US$1.442 billion, and will increase capacity from 214,000 m2 to 537,000 m2 of terminals to meet demands over the next 20 years.

The plan includes bidding for five airports currently managed by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), which are located in Pucón, Valdivia, Osorno, Castro and Balmaceda, and one airport managed by the Chilean Navy in Viña del Mar.

Furthermore, 15 airports will add international services. Added to the current six (Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas), will be Calama, Copiapó, La Serena, Concón, Concepción, Temuco, Pucón, Osorno and Castro.

"This network of airports has the capacity to connect the various regions of our country and to connect our country and its various regions to the rest of the world", the President added.

During his remarks, President Piñera announced a 10% reduction in boarding taxes for domestic flights beginning September, continuing the policy initiated in 2018 to reduce travel costs.

"This is part of our administration’s efforts to make Chile a more modern country", he concluded.