Aeroméxico resumed its Santiago-Mexico City route on Sunday 25 October 2026 with six weekly flights, United returned the same day with a daily flight to Houston, and Air Canada comes back this Monday the 26th with four weekly flights to Toronto. They are the first high-season routes announced by Santiago Airport, at a time when the terminal has posted 14 consecutive months with fewer passengers than the previous year, according to Chócale.
"After more than a year of declines in air traffic, associated with various factors that have affected the industry, it is essential to return to growth and strengthen Chile's connectivity," said Nicolas Claude, general manager of Santiago Airport, quoted by Chócale.
The North American routes returning to Santiago airport
| Airline | Route from Santiago | From | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aeroméxico | Mexico City | Sunday 25 October | 6 weekly flights |
| United Airlines | Houston | Sunday 25 October | Daily |
| Air Canada | Toronto | Monday 26 October | 4 weekly flights |
| Air Canada | Montreal (seasonal) | 27 November | 4 weekly flights |
| American Airlines | Dallas (seasonal) | 3 December | 7 weekly flights |
Source: Santiago Airport, according to Chócale (24 October 2026). Frequencies may change; confirm them on each airline's website. We had already previewed some of these routes in the new summer air routes.
Fourteen months of falling passenger numbers at Santiago airport
In September 2026, 2,067,435 passengers passed through Santiago Airport, 0.8% fewer than in September 2025, according to data from Groupe ADP and VINCI Airports, shareholders of the concession company, reported by Chócale. It was the fourteenth consecutive month of decline.
| Indicator | Passengers | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| Total September 2026 | 2,067,435 | -0.8% |
| Domestic flights (54.1%) | 1,117,936 | +1.5% |
| International flights (45.9%) | 949,499 | -3.3% |
| January to September 2026 | 19,455,820 | -2.3% |
Source: Groupe ADP and VINCI Airports, via Chócale (18 October 2026). According to Nicolas Claude, the decline is explained by lower aircraft availability, rising fuel costs and competition from other airports in the region. Domestic flights grew thanks to the Fiestas Patrias long weekend and routes to the north; international flights fell because of lower demand to Brazil and Peru. Nationwide figures from the Civil Aeronautics Board are in September's air traffic.
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See advertising optionsThe rest of the high season at Santiago airport
Besides North America, the airport announced other international routes returning or launching between October and December, several to beach destinations and Argentine Patagonia.
| Airline | Route from Santiago | From | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| JetSMART | Florianópolis (seasonal) | 2 October | n/a |
| SKY | São Paulo | Already resumed | 6 weekly flights |
| LATAM | Quito | 1 December | 4 weekly flights |
| SKY | Bariloche | 1 December | 4 weekly flights |
| JetSMART | Bogotá | 2 December | 7 weekly flights |
| Avianca | Cartagena de Indias | 16 December | n/a |
| SKY | El Calafate | 18 December | 2 weekly flights |
| SKY | Salvador de Bahía | 28 December | 2 weekly flights |
| SKY | Punta Cana | 29 December | 4 weekly flights |
Source: Santiago Airport, according to Chócale. n/a: no frequency given in the published information.
More flights to Puerto Natales in November
For domestic tourism, the most relevant news is Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine: LATAM will go from 5 to 21 weekly flights in November, after resuming the route on 25 September, according to Chócale. Bear in mind that Puerto Natales aerodrome will have scheduled closures between January and March 2027 for works, as we explained in the Puerto Natales aerodrome. What to see in the area is in our guide to things to do in Puerto Natales.
Frequently asked questions
Which airlines return to Santiago in October 2026?
Aeroméxico (Mexico City) and United (Houston) from 25 October, and Air Canada (Toronto) from 26 October. American Airlines returns to Dallas on 3 December.
How many passengers did Santiago airport handle in September 2026?
2,067,435, 0.8% fewer than in September 2025. It was the fourteenth consecutive month of decline.
Is there a direct flight between Santiago and Montreal?
Yes, seasonally: Air Canada operates it from 27 November 2026, with four weekly flights.
