Ezeiza international airport, in Buenos Aires, will operate with a single runway and only 1,850 metres available between Sunday October 25 and Wednesday November 11, 2026, instead of the usual 3,300 metres. The works will rebuild the secondary runway and its intersection with the main one, with a US$110 million investment by operator Aeropuertos Argentina, according to El Economista.
With such a short runway, wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and 787 or the Airbus A330 cannot take off fully loaded and fuelled. That is why several long-haul airlines are cancelling, reducing or rerouting flights. Regional flights with smaller aircraft, such as those between Santiago and Buenos Aires, will mostly keep operating, according to Ladevi.
Which airlines are changing their Ezeiza flights
| Airline | Change during the works |
|---|---|
| LATAM | Suspends Buenos Aires-Miami from October 25 to November 11; rebooks passengers via Santiago, Lima or São Paulo. Its A319, A320 and A321 fly as normal |
| American Airlines | Temporarily suspends its Ezeiza operations |
| Delta | Stops flying to Atlanta and New York during the period |
| United | Suspends its Houston route |
| Lufthansa and Swiss | Cancel Frankfurt and Zurich; rebooking with partners via Rome, São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro |
| Iberia | Keeps Madrid with fewer frequencies and a technical stop in Montevideo |
| Aerolíneas Argentinas | Madrid and Rome with a stop in Rio de Janeiro; Miami, Punta Cana, Cancún and Aruba unchanged |
| Air Europa, Level and Plus Ultra | Technical stops in Montevideo or route changes |
Sources: LATAM statement of May 6, 2026 (via Sir Chandler), El Economista and Ladevi (October 19, 2026). Schedules may change: check with your airline.
How the Ezeiza works affect people travelling from Chile
- Santiago-Buenos Aires: routes flown with single-aisle aircraft will mostly continue. Times or aircraft type may change; check your booking before heading to the airport.
- Connections to Europe or the US via Buenos Aires: these are the most exposed. If you had a connection at Ezeiza, your airline may rebook you through another city or with a technical stop in Montevideo or Rio de Janeiro.
- Santiago as an alternative: LATAM is offering Buenos Aires-Miami passengers the option to connect in Santiago, so flights from Arturo Merino Benítez airport may see more demand on those dates.
- Aeroparque: Buenos Aires' city airport is not affected by the works, but it does not handle long-haul flights.
Santiago airport is the third busiest in South America, as shown in our ranking of South America's busiest airports. In September 2026, Chile's air traffic grew again thanks to domestic flights.
Does your agency or airline want to reach travellers flying to and from Chile?
See advertising optionsWhat to do if your flight goes through Ezeiza
| Option | What LATAM offers affected passengers |
|---|---|
| Change of route | Travel with a connection in Santiago, São Paulo or Lima |
| Change of date | Before or after the works, subject to availability |
| Refund | Full refund at no charge |
| Where to do it | My Trips section on latamairlines.com or the agency that sold the ticket |
Source: LATAM statement, May 2026. Other airlines offer similar options; Iberia, for example, announced flexibility to change dates. Passenger rights after a cancellation depend on the law of the flight's country of departure.
Why the works are happening now
| Item | Normal | During the works |
|---|---|---|
| Runways in use | Two (main and secondary) | Main runway only |
| Length available for take-off and landing | 3,300 metres | 1,850 metres |
| Aircraft affected | — | Long-haul wide-bodies (777, 787, A330 and similar) |
| Passenger terminal | Open | Open |
| Investment | — | US$110 million (Aeropuertos Argentina) |
According to Aeropuertos Argentina, the renovation of the secondary runway had been postponed for almost a decade and was coordinated with airlines from the beginning of the year. During the works the intersection between both runways is closed, which is why the main one is left with only 1,850 usable metres. It is the same period in which LATAM stops flying between Santiago and Neuquén, although that change is unrelated to the works.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Ezeiza works?
From October 25 to November 11, 2026.
Are Santiago-Buenos Aires flights cancelled?
Generally not, because they use single-aisle aircraft. Times or aircraft may change, so check your booking.
Can I get a refund if my flight changes?
LATAM offers a full refund at no charge to affected passengers. With other airlines, check their conditions.
