Santiago Invests for Future: Arturo Merino Benítez Airport Expansion to Triple Capacity by 2050
The expansion of the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (AMB) in Santiago, Chile, is not just an infrastructure project—it is a strategic bet to transform it into a world-class hub. The basic design phase is already out for tender, with a clear goal: to triple its operational capacity by 2050.
More Than a Remodel: A Complete Transformation
Key projects include constructing a third runway, a new passenger terminal, and a dedicated air cargo facility. This will enable the airport to grow from handling 38 million annual passengers—its current capacity—to 84 million, and from 42 to 125 operations per hour.
The updated master plan aims to double the airport’s surface area, expanding from 1,070 to 2,368 hectares, with an estimated investment of $4 billion, including expropriation costs. The development is slated for execution between 2035 and 2050.
Large-Scale Infrastructure
Built-up areas will expand from the current 380,000 square meters to over one million. Aircraft parking spaces will increase from 56 to 152 positions. Maintenance areas and facilities for the General Directorate of Civil Aviation will be relocated west of the new runway, while civil aviation operations will move east of the existing first runway.
Cargo operations will also be optimized: the current facility will be replaced with a new one, allowing for the construction of the two pending piers of the second passenger terminal.
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Smart Connectivity: More Access Points and Light Rail
The design includes three new road access points: one to the west (El Noviciado Road), one to the north (Lo Boza Road), and another to the south exclusively for trucks serving the cargo terminal. Additionally, a light rail system will connect the terminals with each other and with Santiago’s Metro network, improving internal airport mobility.
Sustainability at the Core
A pillar of the expansion plan is its environmental commitment. The projected infrastructure will achieve Sustainable Building Certification (CES) and incorporate strategies for energy efficiency, waste reduction, and lower emissions.
A greenbelt with parks, trails, sports courts, and playgrounds will also be built to foster harmony with surrounding urban areas. Renewable energy generators are planned for installation near the airport.
Why Expand Instead of Building a New Airport?
Since 2010, demand at AMB has grown by around 10% annually (excluding the pandemic period). The master plan study concluded that expansion is more efficient than building a second airport in the central macrozone, based on financial, operational, and social profitability factors.
Next Steps
The Airports Directorate is already tendering the reference preliminary project, which will include an environmental impact study and will be developed until 2030. Expropriations and detailed engineering will follow, with construction set to begin in the mid-2030s.
Jessica López, Minister of Public Works, emphasized that this is one of the most critical projects for the future of the country’s air connectivity: “These are long-term projects that must be defined with precision. One priority will be increasing capacity for air cargo, which AMB currently handles.”
With this ambitious plan, Santiago is preparing for a qualitative leap in airport infrastructure, positioning AMB as a driver of regional development and a key node in continental air transport.
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Un apasionado por la aviación, Fundador y CEO de Aviación al Día.