Major Travel Chaos Hits Brazil, Argentina and Chile as LATAM Airlines, Avianca, Iberia and More Airlines Face Over 180 Cancellations and Delays at São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago

Published on December 2, 2025

Flight disruptions intensified today across South America, with three major airports — São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo, Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires, and Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago — reporting significant delays and cancellations. Combined, these airports recorded 172 delays and 19 cancellations, affecting domestic and international travelers across the region. Airlines such as LATAM Airlines, Avianca, Flybondi, Aerolineas Argentinas, JetSMART, and Iberia experienced the bulk of these operational issues. These disruptions spanned three key countries in the region: Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

São Paulo emerged as the city with the highest number of delays (109), followed by Santiago (42) and Buenos Aires (21). Cancellations were concentrated mainly at São Paulo and Santiago, with additional disruptions at connected airports including El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport in Madrid, Licenciado Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City, and several regional airports in Chile and Argentina.

Travelers passing through São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, Ministro Pistarini International Airport, and Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport — three of the region’s busiest hubs — faced interruptions across routes operated by LATAM Airlines, domestic routes served by Aerolineas Argentinas and Flybondi, and international long-haul flights connecting to Europe and North America.

Most Affected Airports by Cancellations

São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo

São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport recorded 8 cancellations and 109 delays, making it the most disrupted airport today. LATAM Airlines Brasil, Avianca, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, and Azul Brazilian Airlines accounted for a large share of delays. LATAM Airlines Brasil alone reporting 59 delayed flights. The massive network reach of São Paulo amplified the cascading effect across multiple connecting cities.

Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires

Ministro Pistarini International Airport reported 4 cancellations and 21 delays. Flybondi and Avianca Ecuador contributed notably to the cancellation figures. Aerolineas Argentinas registered the highest number of delays from this airport. Disruptions extended to routes connecting Buenos Aires with Bogotá, Madrid, Paris, and Montevideo, widening the overall impact.

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago

Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport logged 7 cancellations and 42 delays. Driven predominantly by LATAM Airlines, which recorded six cancellations and a significant portion of the delays. JetSMART, LATAM Airlines Paraguay, LATAM Airlines Brasil, and Avianca also contributed to the disruption. Several regional airports across Chile, including those in Antofagasta, Iquique, and Atacama, were affected as well, adding pressure on Santiago’s primary aviation hub.

Airlines Affected by Cancellations

LATAM Airlines

Across São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago, LATAM Airlines experienced the highest volume of disruptions. The cancellations in Santiago and widespread delays in São Paulo placed the airline at the forefront of today’s operational challenges. Its subsidiaries — LATAM Airlines Brasil, LATAM Airlines Peru, LATAM Airlines Paraguay, and LATAM Airlines Colombia — all contributed to the overall disruption.

Avianca and Avianca Ecuador

Avianca experienced multiple delays across São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport and Ministro Pistarini International Airport, while Avianca Ecuador recorded a 100% cancellation rate for its flights departing Buenos Aires today.

Flybondi

Flybondi reported 2 cancellations and 3 delays from its base at Ministro Pistarini International Airport. These disruptions affected domestic passengers traveling within Argentina.

LATAM Airlines Brasil

At São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, LATAM Airlines Brasil led all carriers with 59 delayed flights. Although it did not report cancellations at that airport today, the volume of delays heavily affected travellers passing through São Paulo, Brazil.

Aerolineas Argentinas

Aerolineas Argentinas recorded 9 delays at Ministro Pistarini International Airport and additional delays on routes connected to Santiago. The airline did not report cancellations, but its high delay count positioned it among the day’s most disrupted carriers.

JetSMART

JetSMART experienced multiple delays from Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, adding pressure across regional Chilean routes.

Iberia

Iberia reported one cancellation and one delay from Santiago, affecting its long-haul connections between Europe and South America.

Air Canada and Air France

Air Canada recorded complete delays for its two scheduled flights, while Air France registered isolated delays at both São Paulo and Buenos Aires.

Other airlines

Other carriers experiencing smaller disruptions included Turkish Airlines, Emirates, TAAG Angola Airlines, Boliviana de Aviación, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Sky Airline.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

• Monitor flight status frequently, as airlines may adjust schedules throughout the day.
• Contact airline customer support to request rebooking or inquire about alternate routing options.
• Use airline mobile apps for live updates, gate changes, and revised boarding passes.
• Arrive at the airport earlier than usual, especially when flying from São Paulo, Buenos Aires, or Santiago.
• Check the status of connecting flights, particularly those passing through major hubs like São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, Ministro Pistarini International Airport, or Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport.
• Review your eligibility for compensation or accommodation, based on local and international passenger protection rules.
• Consider flexible travel options, such as departing from a nearby airport if delays intensify.
• Keep essential documents ready, including identification, visas, and travel insurance details.

Overview

Today’s disruptions emphasized the vulnerability of major South American travel hubs, São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, Ministro Pistarini International Airport, and Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, with each recording cancellations and delays that affected thousands of travellers. These cities — São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago — experienced widespread interruptions, primarily linked to airlines such as LATAM Airlines, Avianca, Flybondi, and Aerolineas Argentinas. The situation in Brazil was particularly notable due to the scale of disruptions reported in São Paulo.

As operations gradually stabilize, the focus will remain on these heavily impacted cities and the airlines most associated with the disruptions. São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago continue to appear throughout the disruption data, alongside major carriers such as LATAM Airlines, Avianca, Flybondi, and Aerolineas Argentinas, each repeatedly highlighted across multiple airports. Air travel conditions in Brazil may take longer to normalize due to the volume of affected flights. Understanding the scope of today’s delays and cancellations helps travellers better prepare for journeys through these essential South American aviation gateways. For many passengers, especially those traveling through Brazil, monitoring updates will remain essential.

Image Source: AI

Source: Different airports and FlightAware