Argentina's government has authorized JetSMART Chile, the Chilean subsidiary of the low-cost airline, to operate scheduled passenger and cargo services in Argentina with traffic rights from the third to the ninth freedom of the air. The decision was formalized in Disposición 27/2026 of the Transport Secretariat, published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday, October 14, according to La Nación and Reportur.
With that permit, the company plans new Santiago-Rio de Janeiro and Santiago-Florianópolis routes with a stop at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires. For Chilean travelers heading to the Brazilian summer it is another connection option; for Chile as a destination, it is one more link with the Argentine and Brazilian markets. But no dates, frequencies or fares have been announced yet.
What Argentina authorized for JetSMART Chile
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rule | Disposición 27/2026 of the Transport Secretariat | Official Gazette, via La Nación |
| Publication date | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | La Nación |
| Beneficiary | JetSMART's Chilean subsidiary | Reportur |
| Scope | Scheduled passenger and cargo services, domestic and international | La Nación |
| Rights | Third to ninth freedom of the air | La Nación / Reportur |
| Framework | Open-skies policy and an Argentina-Chile bilateral memorandum from April 2024 | Reportur |
The ninth freedom allows a foreign airline to carry passengers between two points in another country without the flight starting or ending in its home country. In practice, JetSMART Chile could sell domestic legs within Argentina, although the authorization on its own does not set new routes or a schedule.
| Freedom of the air | What it allows | Example with JetSMART Chile |
|---|---|---|
| Third | Carry passengers from its country to another | Santiago to Buenos Aires |
| Fourth | Bring passengers from another country to its own | Buenos Aires to Santiago |
| Fifth | Carry passengers between two foreign countries on a flight that starts or ends at home | Santiago - Buenos Aires - Rio, selling the Buenos Aires-Rio leg |
| Eighth | Domestic flights in another country as part of a route that starts at home | Santiago - Buenos Aires - Córdoba, selling Buenos Aires-Córdoba |
| Ninth | Domestic flights in another country without touching home | A stand-alone Buenos Aires-Córdoba flight |
The routes JetSMART plans from Santiago
| Route | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago - Aeroparque | Already operated by JetSMART Chile | Base for the new connections |
| Mendoza - Santiago | Already operated | Trans-Andean route |
| Santiago - Mendoza - Rio de Janeiro | Already operated | Precedent of a stop in Argentina |
| Santiago - Aeroparque - Rio de Janeiro | Planned | No date or frequency announced |
| Santiago - Aeroparque - Florianópolis | Planned | No date or frequency announced |
On the Santiago-Buenos Aires-Brazil corridors it will compete with Aerolíneas Argentinas, LATAM, GOL and Sky, which already offer direct and connecting flights to the Atlantic coast, according to Reportur. The same outlet notes that Argentine airports handled 4,186,500 passengers in September 2026, 2% more than in 2025, and that international traffic grew 5% to 1,300,890 passengers.
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See advertising optionsWhat changes for travelers flying JetSMART
- More one-stop options: if they go ahead, the flights via Aeroparque will add alternatives to LATAM's and Sky's nonstop flights to Rio and Florianópolis.
- Base fare and extras: as with any low-cost airline, the basic fare does not include checked baggage or seat selection; compare the final price.
- Stop in Buenos Aires: check whether the leg requires clearing Argentine immigration and the connection times at Aeroparque.
- Documents: Chileans can travel to Argentina and Brazil with a valid national ID card in good condition; check the rules for your nationality.
Why it matters for tourism in Chile
Brazil is one of Chile's main source markets, while Argentine visitors fell sharply in 2026. In the second quarter, 316,326 Argentines arrived, 43.2% fewer than a year earlier, according to the Undersecretariat of Tourism. More seats between Santiago, Buenos Aires and Brazil can help fill flights in both directions. We review the season's other news in our story on new flight routes to Chile for summer 2026-2027, and how to get around the country in our Chile transport guide.
JetSMART had already announced a reorganization in Chile in October, with a 20% larger fleet: Concepción lost its nonstop routes to Iquique, Antofagasta, Calama and La Serena, and Santiago-Concepción went from 5 to 14 weekly frequencies, according to Ladevi.
Frequently asked questions
When do JetSMART's Santiago-Rio flights via Buenos Aires start?
No date has been announced. The Argentine authorization allows them, but the airline has not published a schedule, frequencies or fares.
What is the ninth freedom of the air?
It is a foreign airline's right to carry passengers between two cities of another country without the flight passing through its home country. It would let JetSMART Chile sell domestic flights in Argentina.
Does JetSMART already fly from Santiago to Brazil?
Yes. According to Reportur, the Chilean subsidiary operates Santiago-Mendoza-Rio de Janeiro, as well as Santiago-Aeroparque and Mendoza-Santiago.
