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Today we tour the renovated Terminal 1 (National) of the Santiago de Chile Airport (SCL) and we analyze its transformation after the opening of the international terminal and the current experience for the domestic passenger in this AeroReportaje.
The Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) has undergone the most profound transformation in its recent history and in 2025 transported 26,5 million passengers. With the inauguration of the Terminal 2 for international flights, The old structure – now called Terminal 1 – has gone through an ambitious remodeling process to be dedicated exclusively to domestic traffic.. This specialization has made it possible to decongest flows and reorganize the logistics of one of the most dynamic internal flight networks in the region..
Santiago National Terminal T1
To understand how the boarding dynamics and infrastructure of this terminal have changed, I have prepared a new AeroReportaje on my channel YouTube. In this visual tour, we explore the renewed areas areas of 130,400 square meter (T2 has 379.748 additional m2), the connectivity between buildings and the new service standards that Santiago offers for those who travel within Chile.
In the video, We closely analyze the implementation of the new boarding bridges, the updated signage and the expansion of the commercial area that seeks to balance the offer between both terminals. It is a fundamental piece to understand how the main hub of Chile privately administered (45% ADP Group, 40% VINCI and 15% Concessions Management) is projected towards a capacity of 38 million passengers per year.
It is important to indicate that the now enormous Santiago Airport has 80 Boarding gates (more than any other airport in the region), 182 counters de check-in (104 in T1 and 78 in T2), 50 self-check-in kiosks, 56 bag drop positions (8 at T1 and 28 a T2) and 12 luggage belts in T1 and 6 in T2.
On the airline side, 21 passenger companies operate in these spaces, offering 17 national destinations and 50 international.
Operators and domestic connectivity
The terminal 1 It is the nerve center of the three main airlines that dominate the Chilean market and move the 53% of total airport traffic, each with a business model that has shaped the airport's infrastructure:
- LATAM Airlines Chile: As main operator, maintains a dominant presence in T1 with the 60% of the flights. Its logistics is optimized to handle a high volume of connections from the regions to the rest of its international network in T2..
- Sky Airline: The country's pioneering low-cost airline uses the T1 for its exclusive fleet of the A320 family. Its operation benefits from the self-service and automated baggage clearance processes that have been reinforced in this terminal.
- JetSMART: With its “ultra low cost” model, has promoted the growth of interregional routes that do not necessarily pass through Santiago, but it maintains its most important base of operations in T1 to connect the capital with the northern and southern ends of the country..
Technical data of the T1 transformation
The transition from mixed to purely national terminal has not been just a name change; has involved significant technical adjustments:
- Remodeling in stages: The T1 modernization project includes the renovation of more than 28.000 square meter. New dams have been added (springs) that increase the number of contact positions, reducing the use of remote positions.
- Interterminal connectivity: One of the critical points has been the union with T2. Currently, There are technical and pedestrian corridors designed to facilitate the transit of passengers in connection, a topic still in implementation.
- Luggage efficiency: Baggage handling systems have been updated (BHS) to speed up delivery times, a critical factor on domestic flights where speed of disembarkation is one of the greatest demands of corporate travelers.
This renewal positions Santiago as one of the most modern airports in Latin America regarding the separation of national and international flows. If you want to see how the terminal looked after these works and what to expect on your next flight by Chile, I'll wait for you at the AeroReportaje.
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