The 2026-2027 summer season brings more direct flights to Chile, especially from North America. Air Canada returns to Santiago from Toronto and Montreal, United Airlines operates a daily flight from Houston, and JetSMART received approval to link Santiago with Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis via Buenos Aires. The routes coincide with the record number of long-haul tourists Chile registered in the first half of the year.
The new summer flight routes to Chile
| Airline | Route | From | Until | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Canada | Toronto–Santiago | October 25, 2026 | March 27, 2027 | 4 per week |
| Air Canada | Montreal–Santiago | November 27, 2026 | March 26, 2027 | Seasonal |
| United Airlines | Houston–Santiago | October 24, 2026 | March 27, 2027 | Daily |
| JetSMART | Santiago–Aeroparque–Rio de Janeiro | No date | — | Not announced |
| JetSMART | Santiago–Aeroparque–Florianópolis | No date | — | Not announced |
| LATAM | Santiago–Caracas | January 3, 2027 | — | 4 per week |
Air Canada: Toronto and Montreal
Air Canada will operate Toronto–Santiago (AC92/93) from October 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027, with four weekly flights on a 298-seat Boeing 787-9. The flight covers about 8,600 kilometers in roughly 10 hours and 40 minutes, according to Aviacionline.
The Montreal–Santiago route (AC52/53) will run between November 27 and March 26 with a 255-seat Boeing 787-8. Between the two routes, the airline is offering more than 5,000 seats for the season. Canadian tourists grew 10.8% in the first half of 2026.
United: Houston–Santiago every day
United is bringing back Houston–Santiago with a daily flight between October 24 and March 27, 2027, according to Ladevi. In October it will use a Boeing 777-200ER, with 3,864 weekly seats, and from November to March a Boeing 767-300ER, with 2,996 seats a week. The United States is the market that spends the most per trip in Chile, according to the Undersecretariat of Tourism.
Does your hotel or agency want to reach North American travelers arriving on these new routes?
See advertising formatsJetSMART: Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis via Buenos Aires
Argentina's Transport Secretariat authorized JetSMART to operate Santiago–Aeroparque–Rio de Janeiro and Santiago–Aeroparque–Florianópolis through Disposition 27/2026, according to MDZ. The airline has not yet announced a start date or frequencies, so tickets cannot be bought yet.
Other announced flight routes to Chile
- LATAM Santiago–Caracas: from January 3, 2027, with four weekly flights.
- LATAM Quito–Santiago: announced in March to start in October 2026.
- Avianca Santiago–Cartagena: a seasonal summer route.
Tips for travelers on these routes
Summer is high season in Patagonia and southern Chile, and domestic flights from Santiago fill up fast. If you arrive on one of these flights and continue to Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas or Calama, buy the domestic legs well in advance. Our guide to transportation in Chile explains how to get around between regions, and when to visit Chile covers which area suits each time of year.
Destinations that connect best with these flights
Many long-haul flights land at Santiago's Arturo Merino Benítez airport early in the morning, which makes it possible to catch a domestic connection south or north the same day. From Santiago there are daily flights to Punta Arenas (and, in season, to Puerto Natales) for Patagonia, to Calama for San Pedro de Atacama and to Puerto Montt for the Lake District.
For travelers who want to stay near the capital, summer is the season for the wine routes and for the coast of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, less than two hours from Santiago.
Why more flights are coming from North America
American tourists grew 11.5% and Canadians 10.8% in the first half of 2026, according to the Undersecretariat of Tourism. In addition, the Chilean summer coincides with the northern winter, when North Americans travel most in search of warm weather or nature during the southern high season.
Frequently asked questions
When does Air Canada's Toronto–Santiago flight start?
On October 25, 2026, with four flights a week until March 27, 2027.
Does United fly nonstop from Houston to Santiago?
Yes, with a daily flight between October 24, 2026 and March 27, 2027.
When does JetSMART start flying from Santiago to Rio de Janeiro?
There is no date yet. The route has Argentine approval, but the airline has not announced a start.
