Travelers in South America Face Travel Disruption as Airports in Chile and Colombia Experiences 31 Flight Cancellations and over 100 Delays by LATAM, Avianca and others, Affecting Passengers in Santiago and Bogotá, New Update

Published on
November 16, 2025

Travel crisis suddenly struck South America. Airports in both Chile and Colombia recorded massive operational failures today. Passengers traveling through Santiago and Bogotá faced significant interruption. Specifically, the two major carriers, LATAM and Avianca, caused the vast majority of these disruptions. A total of 31 flights canceled outright; furthermore, an additional 143 flights suffered severe delays. This widespread disruption is heavily impacting travelers who rely on these key South American air links. Now, we examine the full extent of the flight turmoil across the region.

The primary points of congestion and disruption were identified in the capital cities of Chile and Colombia. Two major international airports bore the brunt of the operational constraints.

At Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, which serves Santiago, a total of 17 flight cancellations and 21 delays were recorded. This facility, a key gateway for both domestic Chilean travel and long-haul international routes, faced a significant number of complete flight groundings. The high number of cancellations at the Santiago hub indicates a systemic operational challenge that prevented aircraft from departing as scheduled.

Concurrently, El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá experienced an even greater volume of delays. This major Colombia hub recorded 14 flight cancellations and an overwhelming 122 delays, bringing its total disrupted flights to 136. The sheer quantity of delayed flights in Bogotá suggests widespread ripple effects throughout the region’s air traffic control and ground operations systems. The combined total of 31 cancellations and 143 delays across both facilities clearly demonstrates the severity of the travel disturbance.

The vast majority of the day’s disruptions were concentrated within the flight schedules of the largest carriers operating in the region.

LATAM was the single most affected airline, being accountable for 17 cancellations and 6 delays at the Santiago airport. This major disruption to LATAM’s schedule heavily contributed to the overall cancellation figures in Chile. Furthermore, LATAM was cited for an additional cancellation at the Bogotá airport, confirming its central role in the day’s operational difficulties across both countries.

Avianca was the primary contributor to the high number of delays in Colombia. The carrier was responsible for 13 cancellations and 65 delays at El Dorado International Airport. When combined with the one LATAM cancellation, Avianca’s numbers dominated the disruption at the Bogotá facility.

Beyond these major carriers, a substantial list of other airlines was also cited for minor delays. At Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez Int’l, these included Air France, Atlas Air, Iberia, JetSMART, LATAM Peru, Wamos Air, Sky Airline and LATAM Brasil.

At El Dorado Int’l, the list was even more extensive, covering Air Canada, LATAM Colombia, Avianca Express, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Clic Air, Avianca Ecuador, Iberia, JetSMART, KLM, SATENA and more. This broad involvement of multiple carriers suggests that the disruption was not solely confined to a single airline’s operational issues but rather a wider regional challenge.

The significant volume of cancelled and delayed flights is expected to exert noticeable pressure on the local tourism sectors in the affected cities and countries. The capital cities of Santiago and Bogotá serve as essential hubs for international visitors arriving for tourism and business, as well as being major connection points for onward travel across the continent.

With 17 flights grounded in Chile and 14 in Colombia, travel itineraries have been forcibly altered. Tourists relying on these flight schedules for timely arrivals or departures, particularly those connecting to remote or regional destinations within Chile or within Colombia’s domestic network, are now subject to immediate inconvenience and re-accommodation costs. The extensive delays, particularly the 122 reported in Bogotá, lead to lost time and increased expenses for passengers, which can negatively influence the perception of travel reliability in the region. Although the full economic impact remains to be quantified, the sudden influx of stranded passengers requiring emergency lodging and rebooking services will inevitably strain local resources, including hotels and ground transportation in both Santiago and Bogotá.

Passengers whose flights have been cancelled or substantially delayed are strongly advised to take immediate action to manage their disrupted travel plans.

Firstly, the status of the affected flight must be verified directly with the operating airline, such as LATAM or Avianca, before proceeding to the airport. Airlines typically communicate adjustments proactively via email or text message; however, direct engagement through the airline’s official website or mobile application is recommended for the most current information.

Secondly, passengers should be made aware of the rebooking and compensation policies offered by the respective carriers. In cases of cancellation or significant delay, passengers are typically entitled to a free change of flight date, an alternative route to their final destination, or a full refund of the ticket cost and associated services. Given the concentration of disruption with LATAM and Avianca, their customer service channels are likely to experience high volumes of inquiries, necessitating patience and persistent communication from affected travelers. Documentation of all expenses incurred due to the disruption, such as meals and accommodation, should be retained for potential future claims. Efforts are reportedly being undertaken by airlines and airport authorities to process the large backlog of affected passengers efficiently.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.