Airbus has operated in Chile for 25 years, establishing a key hub for its commercial aircraft, helicopters, and defence and space divisions at Santiago’s Tobalaba Airport.
The facility serves as a regional center, accommodating aircraft and pilots for training from neighboring countries including Argentina, Peru, and Uruguay. It houses a 1,700-square-meter training center equipped with full-suite A320 pilot simulators, including a second simulator inaugurated in 2024 to support operators across Chile and the Southern Cone.
Airbus Helicopters maintains a customer service center at Tobalaba, which is expanding to a new 10,000-square-meter site within the aerodrome to double capacity. This upgrade will enhance pilot training and support for a regional fleet exceeding 300 helicopters. In Chile, Airbus oversees operations for more than 140 helicopters, 70 commercial aircraft, and 11 military aircraft.
The company’s presence extends to collaborations such as a 2022 agreement with Ecocopter to explore urban air mobility services in Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, building on existing helicopter operations for industrial missions.
Overall, Airbus employs over 1,300 people across 17 sites in Latin America, with Chile anchoring efforts in diverse aerospace activities from high-altitude Andean environments to Antarctic support.