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Airport Transportation

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport

Also known as: Santiago Airport, Santiago de Chile Airport, SCL Airport, Pudahuel Airport, Nuevo Pudahuel Airport. Formerly Pudahuel International Airport.

SCL · SCEL · Santiago

Airport facts

Name
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
IATA code
SCL
ICAO code
SCEL
City
Santiago
Country
Chile
Coordinates
-33.3930, -70.7858
Time zone
America/Santiago
Terminals
Two terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights

About Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport

Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) is the main airport serving Santiago, Chile. It sits in the commune of Pudahuel, about 15 km northwest of central Santiago, and connects to the city by the Costanera Norte and Vespucio Norte motorways. About 25.8 million passengers used it in 2024.

LATAM Airlines runs its main hub here, and Sky Airline and JetSMART also base much of their network at the airport. Domestic routes link Santiago with cities such as Antofagasta, Calama, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas and Easter Island. International flights reach Buenos Aires, Lima, São Paulo, Bogotá, Mexico City, Miami, Atlanta, Madrid, Paris, London, Istanbul, Sydney and Auckland, among others.

The airport has two passenger terminals in one complex: Terminal 1 handles domestic flights and Terminal 2, opened in 2022, handles international flights. You can walk between them.

From the airport, most travelers head into Santiago, to neighborhoods such as Providencia, Las Condes and the historic center. Others continue to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar on the Pacific coast, the Casablanca and Maipo wine valleys, or the ski areas of Valle Nevado and Farellones in the Andes.

Airport operator, runways and traffic

Operator

Nuevo Pudahuel (Aéroports de Paris, Vinci Airports and Astaldi) under a state concession since 2015

Passengers per year

About 25.8 million in 2024

Runways

Two parallel runways, each 3,800 m long

Main airline

LATAM Airlines hub; also a base for Sky Airline and JetSMART

Opened

1967, in Pudahuel, about 15 km northwest of central Santiago

Arrival tips for Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport

On an international flight you arrive at Terminal 2 and go through immigration first. Check the entry rules for your nationality before you fly, and have the sworn declaration for Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) and customs ready.

Collect your bags at baggage claim, then put them through the SAG X-ray inspection. Declare any food, plants or animal products: fines for undeclared items are high, even for a single piece of fruit.

Before you exit into the public hall, you pass the counters for official taxis and shared vans such as Transvip and Delfos. After the arrivals gate, people will approach you offering taxis and transfers; decline politely and use an official counter or your pre-booked driver, who waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign. Airport buses leave from outside the terminal on the arrivals level.

Chile uses the Chilean peso. Santiago has dry, warm summers and cool winters, and its clocks follow Chile's continental time zone, which observes daylight saving time.

Ground transportation

Most travelers reach Santiago by official taxi, shared van or pre-booked transfer; airport buses suit light travelers heading to a Metro station.

  • Taxi from Santiago airport

    Book an official taxi at the counters inside the arrivals area, before you exit to the public hall, in both terminals. It takes you door to door; avoid drivers who approach you in the hall.

  • Shared van

    Transvip and Delfos sell shared van rides at booths inside arrivals in both terminals, and Cabify has had staffed counters at the airport since 2025. Shared vans make several stops, so the ride can take longer than a private car.

  • Private transfer

    A pre-booked driver meets you in the arrivals hall and drives you straight to your address. It must be arranged in advance and suits families, groups and late arrivals.

  • Bus to Santiago

    Centropuerto buses run to Los Héroes Metro station and Turbus buses to Terminal Alameda, both stopping at Pajaritos; the trip takes about 40 to 45 minutes. They leave from outside the terminal, between exits 4 and 5, and you then need the Metro or a taxi to reach your hotel.

  • Metro connection

    There is no direct Metro or train link to the airport. Connect with the Metro by airport bus or by RED public bus routes 555 to Pajaritos and 444 to La Cisterna.

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Moving between terminals

  1. Walk between terminals

    Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are in the same airport complex and connected on foot. Allow up to 15 minutes to walk between them.

  2. International to domestic connections

    If you arrive on an international flight and connect to a domestic one, collect your bags at Terminal 2 after immigration and customs, then check them in again at Terminal 1.

  3. Check your terminal

    LATAM Airlines, Sky Airline and JetSMART use both terminals: domestic flights leave from Terminal 1 and international flights from Terminal 2. Check which one your flight uses before you go.

Terminals

Terminal 1

The original terminal building, now used for domestic flights within Chile, including LATAM Airlines, Sky Airline and JetSMART routes to cities across the country.

Terminal 2

The international terminal, opened in 2022, with piers C to F. It handles all international departures and arrivals, including immigration and customs.

Airlines and destinations

The main airlines at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport.

Aerolíneas Argentinas T2

Buenos Aires, Mendoza

Airline guide

Aeroméxico T2

Mexico City

Airline guide

Air Canada T2

Montreal, Toronto (seasonal)

Airline guide

Air France T2

Paris

Airline guide

American Airlines T2

Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth (seasonal)

Airline guide

Arajet T2

Punta Cana

Avianca T2

Bogotá, Cartagena (seasonal)

Airline guide

Boliviana de Aviación T2

La Paz

Airline guide

British Airways T2

London

Airline guide

Copa Airlines T2

Panama City

Airline guide

Delta Air Lines T2

Atlanta

Airline guide

Iberia T2

Madrid

Airline guide

JetSMART T1

Antofagasta, Arica, Calama, Castro, Concepción, Copiapó, Coyhaique, Iquique, La Serena, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Temuco

Airline guide

JetSMART T2

Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Cali, Florianópolis, Lima, Medellín, Mendoza, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Trujillo

Airline guide

KLM T2

Amsterdam, Buenos Aires

Airline guide

LATAM Airlines T1

Antofagasta, Arica, Calama, Concepción, Copiapó, Coyhaique, Easter Island, Iquique, La Serena, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Temuco

Airline guide

LATAM Airlines T2

Auckland, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Cancún, Cusco, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Sydney

Airline guide

Level T2

Barcelona

Qantas T2

Sydney

Airline guide

Sky Airline T1

Antofagasta, Arica, Calama, Castro, Concepción, Copiapó, Coyhaique, Iquique, La Serena, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Temuco, Valdivia

Airline guide

Sky Airline T2

Buenos Aires, Florianópolis, Lima, Mendoza, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia, São Paulo

Airline guide

Turkish Airlines T2

Istanbul, São Paulo

Airline guide

United Airlines T2

Houston (seasonal)

Airline guide

Frequently asked questions

How far is Santiago airport from the city center?

Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport is about 15 km northwest of central Santiago, roughly 17 km by road. The Costanera Norte and Vespucio Norte motorways link it with the city. Airport buses take about 40 to 45 minutes to reach Los Héroes or Terminal Alameda, and travel times by car depend on traffic, especially at rush hour.

Is Santiago airport in the city?

No. The airport is in the commune of Pudahuel, on the western edge of the Santiago metropolitan area, about 15 km from the historic center. You need a taxi, shared van, transfer or airport bus to reach central neighborhoods such as Providencia, Las Condes or Santiago Centro, as there is no direct Metro line.

How many terminals does Santiago airport have?

Santiago airport has two passenger terminals in one complex. Terminal 1 handles domestic flights within Chile, and Terminal 2, opened in 2022, handles international flights. The terminals are connected on foot, and walking between them can take up to 15 minutes, so allow extra time if you are connecting between flights.

Which terminal does LATAM use at Santiago airport?

LATAM Airlines uses both terminals at Santiago airport. Its domestic flights, for example to Antofagasta, Calama, Puerto Montt or Easter Island, use Terminal 1. Its international flights, such as those to Lima, São Paulo, Miami or Madrid, use Terminal 2. Sky Airline and JetSMART follow the same split, while foreign airlines use Terminal 2.

How do I get a taxi at Santiago airport?

Book an official taxi at the counters inside the arrivals area, which you pass before exiting to the public hall in both terminals. Drivers and touts often approach arriving passengers after the arrivals gate offering rides; decline politely and use the official counters, which give you a registered car that takes you straight to your address.

Is there public transport from Santiago airport to the city?

Yes. Centropuerto buses run to Los Héroes Metro station and Turbus buses to Terminal Alameda, both stopping at Pajaritos, in about 40 to 45 minutes. They leave from outside the terminal between exits 4 and 5. RED public buses 555 and 444 also serve the airport. There is no direct Metro or train line.

Can I use Uber or Cabify at Santiago airport?

Cabify became an authorized transport service at Santiago airport in 2025, with staffed counters in both the domestic and international terminals that are open 24 hours. You can request a shared van or private ride there or through the app. For other ride-hailing apps, check pickup rules in the app before you request a car.

What forms do I need to enter Chile at Santiago airport?

Check the passport and visa rules for your nationality before you fly. On arrival you also need the sworn declaration for the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) and customs. Your bags are X-rayed after baggage claim, and you must declare any food, plants or animal products, as fines for undeclared items are high.

How do I get from Santiago airport to Valparaíso or Viña del Mar?

Valparaíso and Viña del Mar are on the Pacific coast west of Santiago, reached by Route 68 through the Casablanca wine valley. From the airport, most travelers take a private transfer or rental car directly, or go into Santiago first and catch an intercity bus from one of the city's bus terminals to the coast.

How do I get from Santiago airport to the ski resorts?

The ski areas of Valle Nevado, La Parva and Farellones are in the Andes east of Santiago, on the far side of the city from the airport. The road climbs through many hairpin bends, so most visitors arriving by air use a private transfer, a ski shuttle or a rental car with suitable equipment for winter mountain driving.

What is the time zone and currency in Santiago?

Santiago follows Chile's continental time zone, UTC−4 in winter, and switches to UTC−3 for daylight saving time during the southern summer. Chile's currency is the Chilean peso (CLP). The city has a Mediterranean climate, with dry, warm summers from December to February and cool, sometimes rainy winters from June to August.

Who operates Santiago airport and how busy is it?

The airport belongs to the Chilean state and has been run since 2015 by the Nuevo Pudahuel concession, formed by Aéroports de Paris, Vinci Airports and Astaldi. It handled about 25.8 million passengers in 2024, a record. LATAM Airlines has its main hub here, and Sky Airline and JetSMART also operate large networks from Santiago.

Why book with Airport Transportation?

We provide private transportation from any airport to any hotel at the best price, and we are licensed with complete insurance liability.

Is the transportation private or shared?

Airport Transportation provides private transportation only, in vans, luxury SUVs, or semi-buses.

Are prices per person or per vehicle?

Prices on our website are per vehicle, not per person, based on a range of passengers.

How many people can a van carry?

Regular vans carry up to 9 passengers, semi-buses up to 16, and luxury SUVs up to 6 passengers.

How do I find you at the airport?

Walk all the way out of the airport. You'll see representatives holding boards. Look for the Airport Transportation logo or your name.

What kind of vehicles do you use?

Commonly Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe, and Chevrolet Suburban.

Do you have insurance?

Yes. We carry insurance with complete liability for all passengers while using our services.

Do you provide baby seats?

Baby seats are provided with prior notice, subject to availability, one seat maximum per vehicle.

How far in advance should I book?

You can book any time in advance; we suggest one week to one day ahead. Same-day reservations are available.

What payment methods are accepted?

PayPal is our main payment method; a cash option is also available when booking through our website. Credit cards are accepted through PayPal.

Do vehicles have air conditioning?

Yes. For your comfort all our units have air conditioning.

What if my flight is delayed?

During booking we ask for your airline and flight number so we can track delays and wait for you.

Can I make stops during my ride?

Yes, you can add an extra stop to your service during the booking process.

Do children pay differently than adults?

No. Prices are set per passenger range or per vehicle, not per age.

Is my reservation refundable?

Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before your pick-up and you are refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before service are not refundable.

Do drivers speak English?

Yes. While their English may not be native-level, drivers have the skills to communicate with passengers.

Are tips mandatory?

Tips are not mandatory but are highly recommended; drivers earn them through service quality.

What currencies are accepted?

All prices are in USD. Via PayPal you can pay in almost any currency; cash payments accept USD only.

Are pets allowed?

We can transport domestic pets kept in cages that fit in a normal vehicle.

Is there room for luggage?

Yes. There is plenty of room for one suitcase and one carry-on per person.

What is included in the price?

Every private transfer includes a professional, licensed driver; an insured, well-maintained vehicle; real-time flight monitoring; meet-and-greet service at arrivals; and door-to-door service with no hidden fees added after booking. Your fixed price covers the full route to your destination.

Book a transfer from SCL