Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport

IATA: SCL
ICAO: SCEL

Summary

Airport type

Public and Military

Operator

Nuevo Pudahuel

Serves

Santiago

Location

Pudahuel, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile

Hub for

LATAM
Sky Airline
One Airlines
Aerocardal

Elevation AMSL

474 m / 1,555 ft

Coordinates

33°23′34″S 70°47′08″W / 33.39278°S 70.78556°W

Website

NUEVO PUDAHUEL

Map

SCL

Location in Chile

Runway

Runway	Length		Surface
Runway	m	ft	Surface
17R/35L	3,800	12,467	Asphalt
17L/35R	3,748	12,298	Asphalt

Statistics (2016)

Passenger Numbers	19.189.845
ILS Category/Runway	CAT II & IIIb / 17L

Passenger Statistics from Junta de Aeronautica Civil de Chile

The Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport is also known as Santiago International Airport. It is the biggest and busiest airport in Chile. You can find it in Pudahuel, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) northwest of downtown Santiago.

This airport is super important for travel in Chile. It handles flights to places all over the world, including Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. Many people travel through this airport every year. It's a major hub for airlines like LATAM and Sky Airline.

The Chilean government owns the airport. Since 2015, a group of companies called Nuevo Pudahuel has been in charge of running it. This group includes companies from France and Italy. Air traffic controllers, who guide planes safely, are part of Chile's Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

What Makes This Airport Special?
- Long Flights to Faraway Places
  - World Record Flight
Airlines You Can Find Here
Images for kids
See also

What Makes This Airport Special?

This airport is a joint civil-military facility. This means it's used by both regular passenger planes and the Chilean Air Force. It's home to the Air Force's 2nd Air Brigade.

Long Flights to Faraway Places

Santiago International Airport is a key connection for long flights. Many European airlines fly here directly from their main airports. These include Iberia from Madrid, Air France from Paris, and British Airways from London.

The airport is also a main gateway to Oceania from South America. You can find scheduled flights to places like Sydney, Auckland, and Easter Island.

World Record Flight

Did you know that a flight from Santiago to Sydney, operated by Qantas, covers the longest distance over the sea by a commercial airline? That's a really long flight over the ocean! Soon, a new non-stop flight from Santiago to Melbourne by LATAM Chile will be the longest flight ever from this airport.