Calama Airport
IATA code: CJC
ICAO code: SCCF
Passengers: ~ 1 million
El Loa Airport is the airport serving the city of Calama, in the Antofagasta Region in Chile. It’s the second biggest airport in the Antofagasta region and the fourth biggest airport in Chile. Calama and El Loa are often considered a gateway to the Atacama desert.
At the moment El Loas’ runaway is restricted to aircraft with a maximum wingspan of 36 metres (118 ft). This limits its operations to aeroplanes with narrow body types such as Boeing 737. However, there are plans to construct a bigger runaway that would open up El Loa to wider jets.
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Getting from Calama Airport to Calama
The distance from El Loa Airport to Calama is about 6 kilometres. A drive from the airport to the city centre should take around 20 minutes.
Below you will find all the important information about the transportation options from El Loa Airport to the city of Calama
Bus
There is no information about direct bus lines connecting El Loa airport to Calama city. Because of this be prepared to find another way of transportation to and from the airport.
Taxi
Using a taxi is the fastest and most convenient way of transportation from El Loa Airport. Depending on your destination, you can expect to pay anywhere from 5 to 10 USD for a drive from the airport.
Uber is also available in Chile, and at El Loa Airport. The cost of your Uber drive will depend on your destination, the type of ride you requested and other factors.
Car hire
For those who prefer to drive at their own pace, the best option is to hire a car at El Loa Airport. You will find offices of several major car rental agencies at the airport. Hertz, Europcar and Avis to name a few. However, we recommend booking a car online in advance in order to avoid long queues.
Transfer
Another transportation option from El Loa Airport is a private, door-to-door transfer directly to your accommodation. You can pre-book a transfer for a hassle-free experience. If you do, a professional driver will wait for you at the airport and take you to your destination.
Calama Airport Airlines
CJC is a national airport providing only domestic flights within Chile. In other words, there are no international flights from El Loa at the moment. The most frequent route from El Loa is the flight connecting Calama to Chile’s capital, Santiago. Other regular flights from Calama are those to Concepcion, La Serene and Arica.
When it comes to airlines operating at the CJC, LATAM Airlines is the dominant one. It has significantly more flights than the runner-up, JetSMART. The third airline operating at the airport is Sky Airlines.
Here is the list of all airlines operating at El Loa Airport:
- LATAM airlines
- JetSMART
- Sky Airline
Calama Airport Facilities
The new terminal at CJC was inaugurated in 2014. El Loas’ passenger terminal is small but new, clean and equipped with modern facilities. Besides the new terminal, extensive landscaping was done around the terminal and a new parking lot with more than 500 spaces was built.
The airport offers several facilities to passengers who are on a layover or simply waiting for their flight.
Here is a list of facilities and amenities at El Loa Airport:
- Restaurants & Cafes
- ATMs
- Medical Services
- Mobile Charging
- Shops
- Lounges
- Lost and Found
- Car Rental Agencies
Calama Airport Accommodation
Calama Airport FAQ
Uber and Taxis operate 24/7 in the city so it shouldn’t be a problem to get to the city from the airport.
There is no designated currency exchange office. However, there are various ATMs at the airport.
No, unfortunately, there is no free WiFi service at the airport.
El Loa airport has only 1 terminal.
No, the luggage area and lockers aren’t available at the airport currently.
Yes, the Uber service is commonly used in Chile and it is available at the El Loa Airport.
