There was great news for the economy and tourism this summer. Activity at Santiago Airport recovered to reach pre-pandemic levels, as 4.9 million people traveled between January and February.
This figure represents an increase of 21.63% compared to the same period in 2023. According to Public Works Minister Jessica López, this figure is also higher than recorded during the same period in 2020, before the pandemic. This confirms the reactivation of airport activity in Chile’s main air terminal.
Destinations within the country were the most popular, with 56.87% - or 2,779,013 passengers - traveling domestically, compared to 43.13% who traveled abroad. Among the main international destination were Buenos Aires, Lima and Sao Paulo, while Puerto Montt, Antofagasta and Calama were among the most popular Chilean destinations.
“This is a significant increase that we expect to continue over the coming months. It is also important because, with this, we have already overcome the loss of travel that was a result of the pandemic,” Jessica López, Public Works Minister.
Works on the new Domestic Terminal
The report was presented as part of the supervision of construction of the new AMB Domestic Passenger Terminal. Minister López emphasized that “the remodeling of the Domestic Terminal is necessary to modernize this infrastructure to the standard of the International Terminal. It is a US$60-million investment in a set of significant works, plus technology and services, to be able to receive nearly 20 million passengers per year.”
The works, which will be completed in 2025, are generating close to 400 jobs on average during the construction stage.
Work will be done on 35,000 m2 of Santiago Airport’s new Domestic Terminal T1, including boarding, disembarkation and transit areas, in order to update them to current standards, providing more comfortable spaces for passengers, with more services, shops, technology, and movement and waiting areas.
Furthermore, the project will increase capacity for airlines and public services. The current 13 boarding bridges and 22 boarding gates will increase to 25 bridges and 42 gates.
Baggage claim carousels will also increase from six to 12, and the installation of various flight information areas is planned, with larger screens to facilitate the delivery of information.