Santiago Airport has completed its domestic terminal upgrade, increasing capacity and improving passenger facilities following a decade of investment.
Santiago Airport (SCL) has completed the final phase of its Domestic Terminal (T1) expansion and refurbishment project, marking the latest milestone in a decade of investment by VINCI Airports in Chile.
The US$60 million project increases the terminal’s capacity and responds to growth in domestic passenger traffic. Since VINCI Airports took over management of the airport in 2015, domestic passenger traffic has increased by 56 per cent.
The completion was marked by a ceremony attended by Chilean government officials and representatives from VINCI Airports and Nuevo Pudahuel.
Since 2015, total passenger traffic at the airport has grown from 17 million to more than 26 million in 2024. VINCI Airports said more than US$1 billion has been invested in Santiago Airport during the partnership, supporting the development of new and refurbished facilities.
The wider transformation has included a new international terminal, domestic terminal modernisation, increased capacity, operational improvements, a reduced environmental footprint and passenger experience enhancements.
The completed Domestic Terminal now has 38 boarding gates, compared with 22 previously. Of these, 25 are equipped with jet bridges and 13 are remote positions. The number of baggage carousels has also doubled to 12, supporting peak travel periods.
A new access point has added six security lanes and provides direct access to Gates B, helping to reduce walking distances for passengers.
The terminal is also directly connected to Gates D in Terminal 2. This provides greater operational flexibility by allowing the gates to serve both domestic and international flights.
Passenger facilities now include 49 new commercial outlets, comprising 23 retail stores and 26 food and beverage locations. The terminal’s five lounges are scheduled for renewal, with a tender underway.
The T1 refurbishment was delivered in two phases and upgraded 35,000 square metres of the original terminal building. The first phase introduced a new arrivals hall, while the T1-A building became operational in September 2024, adding 17,334 square metres and eight further boarding gates.
Santiago Airport completes decade-long transformation
The project represents the final milestone in the agreement signed by VINCI Airports with the Chilean government in 2015 to renew and transform Santiago Airport.
Public Works Minister Jessica López said the completion fulfilled the government’s commitment to open the renewed domestic terminal to the public before the national holidays. She said the project completed the airport’s renewal process, following the opening of the new international terminal in 2022.
Nicolas Notebaert, Chief Executive Officer of Concessions at VINCI and President of VINCI Airports, described the inauguration as a milestone in the concession contract.
He said the airport had become a world-class infrastructure with new international facilities, a refurbished domestic terminal, increased capacity, improved operational efficiency, a reduced environmental footprint and an enhanced passenger experience.
Valérie Vesque-Jeancard, President of the Board of Nuevo Pudahuel and Managing Director of VINCI Airports, said the completed work consolidates the Domestic Terminal as Chile’s largest connectivity platform.
She added that the upgraded infrastructure would improve the passenger experience while supporting Chile’s economic and tourism growth.
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