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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 serves over 9 million passengers (2007)[1] annually.
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.
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.
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.
Airlines and destinations
International Terminal
| Airlines |
Destinations |
| Aerolíneas Argentinas |
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza |
| Aeroméxico |
Mexico City |
| Air Canada |
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza [restarts April 2], Toronto-Pearson |
| Air France |
Paris-Charles de Gaulle |
| American Airlines |
Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami |
| Avianca |
Bogotá |
| Copa Airlines |
Panama city |
| Cubana de Aviación |
Havana [seasonal] |
| Delta Air Lines |
Atlanta |
| Gol Transportes Aéreos |
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Lima, São Paulo-Guarulhos |
| Iberia |
Madrid |
| LAN Airlines |
Auckland, Bogotá, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Cancún, Caracas, Córdoba, Frankfurt, Guayaquil, Havana, La Paz, Lima, Madrid, Mendoza, Mexico City, Miami, Montevideo, New York-JFK, Papeete, Punta Cana, Quito, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Sydney, Toronto-Pearson |
| LAN Airlines operated by LAN Argentina |
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza |
| LAN Airlines operated by LAN Ecuador |
Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Guayaquil, Quito |
| LAN Airlines operated by LAN Express |
São Paulo-Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, San Carlos de Bariloche |
| LAN Airlines operated by LAN Perú |
Lima |
| PLUNA |
Montevideo |
| Sky Airline |
Arequipa, Lima [begins December] |
| Swiss International Air Lines |
São Paulo-Guarulhos, Zürich |
| TACA operated by TACA Peru |
Lima |
| TAM |
São Paulo-Guarulhos |
| TAM operated by TAM Mercosur |
Asunción |
Domestic Terminal
| Airlines |
Destinations |
| LAN Airlines |
Antofagasta, Balmaceda, El Salvador, Hanga Roa, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Temuco |
| LAN Airlines operated by LAN Express |
Antofagasta, Arica, Balmaceda, Calama, Concepción, Copiapo, El Salvador, Iquique, La Serena, Osorno, Pucón, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Valdivia |
| Sky Airline |
Antofagasta, Balmaceda, El Salvador, Hanga Roa, Iquique, Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Temuco |
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.
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.
References
External links
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