Chile government, represented by President Sebastián Piñera, Public Works Minister Alfredo Moreno and Finance Minister Juan Andrés Fontaine on June 19th have presented the project to modernize Chile airport network, which will improve the service quality for passengers in 17 airports in the country.

The work plan for airport concessions includes investments of US$1.442 billion and will increase capacity from 214,000 m2 to 537,000 m2 of terminals to meet demands over the next 20 years. The plan includes 16 regional airports (Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Calama, Copiapó, La Serena, Viña del Mar - Concón, Concepción, Temuco, Pucón, Valdivia, Osorno, Puerto Montt, Castro , Balmaceda and Punta Arenas) and Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in Santiago.

The project aims to improve and modernize airport infrastructure and increase passenger service standard of the airports in the country.

Some of the airports included in the plan are already being implemented through the concession system, and other airports are currently under public administration. Arica, Iquique, Concepción, Puerto Montt and Santiago airports already have concessions awarded or are in the process or award. Calama or Punta Arenas, are scheduled for expansion through concession system in the coming years. The airports managed by public administration which are going to be concessioned are: Pucón, Valdivia, Osorno, Castro and Balmaceda, currently managed by the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) and Viña del Mar - Concón administered by the Navy.

The number of airports that will have international connection will increase from 6 to 15. 6 airports that at the moment allow international travel are Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas. The airports that will add international terminals will be Calama, Copiapó, La Serena, Concón, Concepción, Temuco, Pucón, Osorno and Castro.

The president has also the president announced a 10% reduction in boarding taxes for domestic flights beginning next September, continuing the policy initiated in 2018 to reduce travel costs and attract more domestic air travel.

The Airport Network Plan is a part of "Chile en Marcha" government program that aims to reactivate the economy.