en.Wedoany.com Reported - On July 20, 2026, the Airport Authority of Chile's Ministry of Public Works initiated a prequalification process for international consulting firms to solicit proposals for a reference preliminary design for the future expansion and improvement works of Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. This prequalification is the preliminary phase of the consulting tender for the airport's third concession project, aiming to establish a design foundation for the medium- and long-term planning of Chile's largest aviation hub.
The Ministry of Public Works is the central government agency responsible for the planning, construction, and maintenance of national infrastructure, with its Airport Authority overseeing the operation and management of the national airport system. This prequalification is open to domestic and international consulting firms. Relevant information was published in the Official Gazette on July 20 and is available on Chile's public procurement platform, Mercado Público (ID 976-9-O126).
The core task of this consulting study is to determine the major works and investment scale required for Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport to cope with passenger traffic growth over the coming decades and strengthen its long-term operational capacity. Located in Santiago, the capital of Chile, this airport is the country's largest and busiest aviation hub and is currently in its second concession phase. With the sustained growth of Chile's aviation market, existing facilities are nearing saturation. The third expansion aims to enhance the airport's passenger throughput capacity and operational efficiency.
The launch of this prequalification marks the official entry of the airport's third expansion into the preparatory phase. By engaging international consulting expertise to develop a reference preliminary design, it will provide a technical basis and investment framework for the subsequent concession tender. The advancement of this project is of significant importance for improving Chile's aviation infrastructure and meeting the growing demand for air transport, and it is also a key component of the Chilean government's strategy in recent years to modernize infrastructure.
