Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, commonly referred to as Santiago International Airport (SCL), is situated in Pudahuel, approximately 9.3 miles (15km) northwest of downtown Santiago, Chile. Having served about 11 million passengers in 2010, it is the country’s busiest aerial hub and Latin America’s ninth-busiest airport.
Santiago International has one terminal building with four levels. Arrivals, baggage claims and customs are located on the ground level, while the first level houses a number of VIP lounges. Departures and check-in are on second level and the third level forms the dining area.
Owing to damage caused by the earthquake in 2010 and the increasing number of travelers visiting the airport each year, services and facilities are not as efficient as they once were. However, a new master plan, set to include the construction of detached terminal buildings and a light railway line connecting to the Santiago Metro railway network, will see a significant improvement in operations on all levels in the near future.
Flights to Santiago International Airport come from cities all around the world, but the busiest routes are to Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Lima, Madrid, Miami, Panama City, Montevideo, Mexico City and Paris.
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<div class="rxbodyfield">Located in one building, the Domestic and International Terminals are a 10-minute walk apart.</div>
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Taxi: Taxis may be booked at booths in the Domestic and International Arrivals halls. The journey time to downtown Santiago is approximately 20 minutes and fare is around CLP 11,000 (£15). Minibuses accommodating up to eight passengers also provide transport at a cost of CLP 17,000 (£23).
Bus: Several buses run to Los Heroes Metro station. Trip duration is 30 minutes and fare is CLP 1,400-1,700 (about £2).
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Lifts provide direct access to the short-term car park, while a free bus service operates between the terminals and the long-term lots. Custody Airport parking (24 hours) costs CLP 900 (£1.20) for the first two hours and CLP 300 (£0.40) per hour thereafter up to 13 hours, after which there is an hourly rate of CLP 200 (less than £0.30). After 24 hours, garage charges are applied at CLP 6,500 (approximately £9) per day. Express parking is charged at CLP 2,000 (£2.70) for the first two hours and CLP 1,000 (about £1.35) for each additional hour up to a daily maximum of CLP 8,000 (£11).
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Money and communications: ATMs, currency exchange services and a post office.
Luggage: There are left-luggage, lost-and-found and baggage-wrapping facilities.
Conference and business: The International Terminal features a business center equipped with a meeting room, as well as video-conferencing, fax, Internet and computer facilities. A larger meeting room that can accommodate up to 40 people offers video and transparency projector facilities, in addition to a private bathroom. A press room is also available for rent. There are power points available for charging laptops, but you’ll need to have an adaptor.
Other facilities: Medical center, dentist, pharmacy and children’s nursery.
Wi-Fi: Most of the airport’s cafes provide Wi-Fi access upon purchase of a menu item.
Shopping: Santiago International has 70 shops. Ranging from fashion and jewelry to handcrafted gifts and music, the majority of them are found after security in the International Terminal. Popular brands include Top Sol, Sun Planet, Cricket, Kompass, Hugo Boss, Peter Murray, Festina, Havanna, Los Andes Artesania and Piedra Linda, to name a few. There are also a few duty-free stores in arrivals and departures.
Food and drink: A good selection of eateries, found mainly after security, offer a wide range of foods including sushi, sandwiches, pizzas, salads and fast foods. Restaurants such as Medas Grill and the Ruby Tuesday steakhouse offer table service, while Starbucks and several other bistros and cafes provide light snacks as well as hot and cold beverages.
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