Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport

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For other uses, see Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez.
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
Pudahuel Airport
Santiago International Airport

IATA: SCL – ICAO: SCEL
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator SCL Aeropuerto de Santiago
Location Santiago, Chile
Elevation AMSL 1,555 ft / 474 m
Coordinates 33°23′34″S 70°47′08″W / -33.39278, -70.78556
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17R/35L 12,467 3,800 Asphalt
17L/35R 12,298 3,748 Asphalt

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport "AMBIA" (IATA: SCL, ICAO: SCEL), also known as Pudahuel Airport and Santiago International Airport, located in Pudahuel, Santiago, Región Metropolitana is Chile's largest aviation facility, and has over 9 million passengers (2007)[1] annually.

Contents

[edit] History

The airport was built between 1961 and 1967 and was originally called Aeropuerto Internacional Pudahuel; it replaced Los Cerrillos Airport.

The name of the airport was subsequently rechristened in honor of the founder of the Chilean Air Force: Arturo Merino Benítez during the 1970s.

The facility was expanded in 1994 with a new international terminal. This expansion added jetways, a duty-free zone, hotel, and greater parking.

[edit] Runway debacle

In 2002 a new terminal opened; construction on Runway 17R/35L began in 2004 and opened to traffic in September 2005. However, within months defects were discovered and the runway required repairing, completed in January 2006. Unfortunately further study of the problem discovered that the repairs were insufficient. The runways were declared useless due to their poor surface and resistance defects. 28-year-old Runway 17L/35R in contrast only required repairing once, in 2005. Additionally the runway's approach system was deficient and lacked the ILS Category III approach system used for low visibility; that is used by the older runway. The runway was rebuilt beginning in February 2007 and reopened for traffic in March.

[edit] Accidents

No airline disasters have occurred at the site. However in 1972 a chartered flight by an Uruguayan rugby team crashed into the Chilean Andes while en route to SCL. Furthermore on October 2, 1996, flight 603, an AeroPerú Boeing 757 crashed into the Pacific Ocean before its arrival from Lima, Perú's Jorge Chávez International Airport, killing all on board.

[edit] Airlines and destinations

SCL's map.
SCL's map.

The airport is predominantly a hub for LAN Airlines and in the past by Ladeco until their merger. Flights are largely operated by LAN and its subsidiaries. Flights to single or to a couple of destinations is provided by about a dozen other airlines, largely to their national hubs. Flights to multiple destinations are operated by Gol Transportes Aéreos (GOL); Air Comet Chile and Sky Airline are mainly domestic airlines which use AMBIA as their hub.

[edit] International Terminal

[edit] Domestic Terminal

SCL's Domestic Terminal.
SCL's Domestic Terminal.
  • Air Comet Chile (Iquique, Antofagasta, Calama, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Balmaceda, Temuco)
  • LAN Airlines (Antofagasta, Balmaceda, El Salvador, Hanga Roa, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Temuco)
    • LANExpress (Antofagasta, Arica, Balmaceda, Calama, Concepción, Copiapo, El Salvador, Iquique, La Serena, Osorno, Pucón, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Valdivia)
  • Sky Airline (Antofagasta, Arica, Balmaceda, Calama, Concepción, Iquique, Pucon, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Temuco)

[edit] Former Airlines/Destination

[edit] Overview

There is an international terminal with 10 gates (numbered 10-20; no gate 13) and a smaller domestic terminal with 7 gates (numbered 21-27). VIP services are offered in both terminals of the airport. The operators are: LAN Airlines with the Neruda Lounge and the Mistral Lounge, American Airlines (Admirals Club), and the SkyTeam alliance; in addition to the unaffiliated lounges.

The airport features the Holiday Inn "Santiago - Airport" hotel, food courts, ATMs, shops, call centers, duty free shopping, coffee shops, eateries, bars, and newstores.

[edit] Projects

There is currently an expansion project underway within the existing terminal to expand immigration booths, baggage claim, as well as adding stores on the departures level.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Passenger traffic in Airport's official website

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Chilean aviation

Bodies
Fuerza Aérea de Chile "FACH" • Alpine Air Express Chile • Servicio de Aviación Militar de Chile • Chilean Space Agency • Sky Airline • Ladeco • Air Comet Chile • LAN Chile • Aero Cardal/Aerocardal • DAP Helicopteros • AeroEjecutiva • Aerovias DAP
People
Arturo Merino Benítez • Pedro Dartnell • Dagoberto Godoy • Marmaduque Grove • Gustavo Leigh • Fernando Matthei • Klaus von Storch
Places
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport