Spotlight: Chile's early-stage airport projects

Construction works on four airports under Chile's concessions system has not yet begun, while four others are planned to be built under public works contracts, but for which tenders still remain to be launched. 

The public works ministry (MOP) unveiled a US$3.3bn airport investment plan for 2025-30 last year that involves 19 facilities. 

Of the total, US$1.8bn will be invested through concessions office DGC, while the rest will come from the MOP's airports division.

The plan includes projects that have already been awarded and are under construction, such as upgrades to the airports of Santiago (US$990mn), La Serena (US$59mn), Arica (US$80mn) and the Austral Network (US$165mn).

Works have yet to start on the following concessions:

North airport network (US$292mn): A consortium comprising Sacyr Concesiones Chile (70%) and Cointer Chile (30%) was awarded the contract on November 13. Works must start before May 2027, according to the concessionaire's latest report. 

The contract covers the Andrés Sabella airport in Antofagasta region and Desierto de Atacama in Atacama.

The Andrés Sabella airport will be enlarged from 10,126m2 to 21,230m2 and will receive five boarding bridges, a new control tower, more parking lots and a new cargo facility.

Meanwhile, the Atacama airport passenger terminal will be increased from 2,952m2 to 15,322m2 and four boarding bridges will be added. Additional works include remodeling the control tower, a new cargo facility and a bigger parking area. 

South airport network (US$236mn): A tender is expected for this year. It involves the operation and upgrade of the El Tepual (Puerto Montt), Cañal Bajo (Osorno), Mocopulli (Chiloé) and Pichoy (Valdivia) terminals.

The Puerto Montt passenger terminal will be expanded from 16,392m2 to 29,048m2, bringing the number of boarding bridges to nine. The number of parking lots will rise from 720 to 1,064 and the size of the commercial aircraft apron will be increased from 43,860m2 to 68,279m2.

Osorno's passenger terminal will be expanded from 5,801m2 to 10,725m2, and the number of parking lots raised from 255 to 304, with two more aircraft positions added to the existing two. 

The Chiloé passenger terminal will be enlarged from 953m2 to 10,989m2 and the apron size from 6,240m2 to 8,972m2.

The Valdivia passenger terminal will be expanded from 5,801m2 to 10,725m2, but other works are still being defined by MOP's airports division.

Public works

Easter Island Mataveri airport expansion (US$400mn): Divided into two phases, the first involves a provisory 4,500m2 terminal and a new 29,000m2 commercial apron. Tenders are expected to be launched this year.

The second phase involves a new 9,000m2 terminal that would be auctioned over the next decade and is expected to be ready by 2035.

Viña del Mar airport (US$82.9mn): The design and detailed engineering phase is expected to wrap up by mid-year. A tender for the first stage could be launched in the second half, according to the website of the ministry's airports office.

Plans include a 4,000m2 terminal, an apron with capacity for two commercial planes and two general aviation aircraft, a road link with route 64 and a new control tower.

Julio Gallardo airfield (US$78.7mn): The referential preliminary project has been advancing, according to a press release from the MOP's Magallanes branch.

The project, located near Puerto Natales in Magallanes region involves a new 10,000m2 passenger terminal, repurposing the existing terminal as an administrative building, a new control tower, an apron with capacity for four commercial aircraft, a new 2,440m runway and expanding the general aviation apron. 

Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh airfield (US$53mn): Currently in the prefeasibility stage, according to documents from project database BIP. The airfield serves Rey Jorge island in Magallanes region, and is mainly used by aircraft traveling to the Antarctic.