Santiago de Chile's airport will end 2026 with fewer passengers than in 2025: its CEO, Nicolás Claude, expects a decline "slightly above 2%" and "slight growth" in 2027. He said so in an interview with Chócale published on November 1, attributing the drop to higher fuel costs, a shortage of aircraft and airlines moving planes to the Argentine market. "We have a better outlook for 2027," he said.
The terminal, run by concession holder Nuevo Pudahuel (Groupe ADP and Vinci Airports), has posted 14 straight months of falling traffic. Between January and September 2026 it handled 19,455,820 passengers, 2.3% fewer than in the same period of 2025, according to concession figures reported by CNN Chile and La Tercera.
Santiago airport figures for 2026
26.5 M
Passengers in 2025
26,518,580 for the year
19.46 M
Passengers January-September 2026
-2.3% vs. 2025
14
Consecutive months of decline
through September 2026
38 M
Annual terminal capacity
passengers per year
Source: Chócale and CNN Chile, with Nuevo Pudahuel data
View the data as a table
| Passengers in 2025 | 26.5 M · 26,518,580 for the year |
| Passengers January-September 2026 | 19.46 M · -2.3% vs. 2025 |
| Consecutive months of decline | 14 · through September 2026 |
| Annual terminal capacity | 38 M · passengers per year |
| Indicator | Passengers | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026, total | 2,067,435 | -0.8% |
| September 2026, domestic | 1,117,936 | +1.5% |
| September 2026, international | 949,499 | -3.3% |
| Third quarter of 2026 | 6,369,126 | -2.3% |
| January to September 2026 | 19,455,820 | -2.3% |
| Full year 2025 | 26,518,580 | — |
Sources: Nuevo Pudahuel via CNN Chile and La Tercera (September 2026) and Chócale (2025 total). In the interview, Claude spoke of "just over 19.7 million" passengers through September; we use the concession's exact figure. A 2% decline would leave 2026 at about 26 million passengers (Viajando Chile estimate), well short of the airport's earlier goal of topping 27 million.
Why traffic is falling at Santiago airport
Claude pointed to three causes. The first is cost: "The aircraft's operating cost rises and that feeds into the ticket price," which reduces demand. The second is the global shortage of aircraft, which hits the domestic market hardest. The third is Argentina: the opening of its aviation market led some airlines to move planes there that used to fly in Chile. "When the planes arrive, when aircraft availability increases, that will be resolved," he said.
| Cause | What Nicolás Claude said | Effect for travelers |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel and costs | Higher operating costs are passed on to fares | More expensive tickets |
| Aircraft shortage | Mainly affects the domestic market | Fewer frequencies on domestic routes |
| Planes moved to Argentina | Will ease when fleet availability grows | Less capacity from Santiago |
| Seasonal routes | Some international routes will remain seasonal | Flights only in summer |
Source: Chócale interview with Nicolás Claude, November 1, 2026. Fuel prices also explain why several airlines return to Santiago only in high season, as we reported in our story on the North American routes that came back in October.
What Santiago airport expects for 2027
For 2027, Claude expects "slight growth," though he warned it is "hard to predict" given the many factors involved, with fuel the most uncertain. The airport has spare capacity: it can handle 38 million travelers a year and received 26.5 million in 2025, so it is looking for new routes and frequencies. According to the executive, Santiago is at a geographic disadvantage against Lima, São Paulo and Panama as a hub, but well placed to capture passengers from Oceania.
| Airport project | Timing | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two duty-free shops (Avolta) | November 2026 | Chócale |
| Five renovated VIP lounges in the domestic terminal | 2027 | Chócale |
| End of the Nuevo Pudahuel concession | 2038 | Chócale |
| Terminal capacity | 38 million passengers a year | Chócale |
Nationwide air traffic improved slightly in September, up 0.2% according to Chile's Civil Aviation Board, as we covered in this story. Who carries the most passengers is in our ranking of airlines with the most passengers in Chile.
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See advertising optionsWhat it means for travelers to Chile
For foreign visitors, falling passenger numbers do not mean a less comfortable airport but fewer options: fewer frequencies on some domestic routes and international flights that only run in high season. Book domestic legs early (for example Santiago-Punta Arenas or Santiago-Calama in summer) and check the new air routes for the 2026-2027 season.
Frequently asked questions
How many passengers did Santiago airport handle in 2025?
26,518,580 passengers, according to concession holder Nuevo Pudahuel.
How much has Santiago airport traffic fallen in 2026?
Between January and September it fell 2.3% to 19,455,820. The CEO expects the year to close with a decline slightly above 2%.
Why are there fewer flights in Santiago?
Because of higher fuel costs, the global aircraft shortage and planes moved to the Argentine market, according to Nicolás Claude.
How many passengers can Santiago airport handle?
38 million a year with its current infrastructure.
