Runway works will take place between January and March 2027, but commercial flights will continue every weekend throughout the high season.
Torres del Paine, August 14, 2026.– Chile’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has confirmed that maintenance works will be carried out on the runway of Teniente Julio Gallardo Aerodrome in Puerto Natales between January and March 2027. The work will be done in phases, so the aerodrome will keep receiving commercial flights on every weekend of the high season.
In practical terms, the aerodrome will be open Friday through Sunday in January, and on weekends in February and March. A full closure was ruled out, as it would have meant fewer available flights and a higher risk of disruptions at the peak of the season.
The MOP also guaranteed that emergency flights will operate without interruption throughout the entire period, including aeromedical evacuations, the air link to Antarctica, and smaller-scale aviation.
These works are a transitional measure intended to keep the runway operating safely over the next 10 years, while the definitive project to expand and modernize the aerodrome moves forward. That project includes a new main runway, expanded aprons, and a new 10,570 m² passenger terminal, with an estimated investment of CLP 60 billion.
Las Torres Patagonia is sharing this information with its guests and travel partners, and recommends keeping these dates in mind when planning flights to Puerto Natales during the 2026–2027 season. During this period, it will reinforce its logistics and transfer operations at the Puerto Natales aerodrome to ensure that the guest experiencie is not affected.
Given the partial operation of the Puerto Natales aerodrome during this period, Las Torres Patagonia recommends that travelers heading to the area choose, whenever possible, flights to Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in Punta Arenas (PUQ) as an alternative gateway to the region.
For questions about transfers or reservations, our team is available at:
From Chile: +56 22 898 6043
From the USA: +1 (323) 982 3761
From the UK: +44 2037 699760
You can read the official statement from the Ministry of Public Works here.