Oscar Vergara had no idea he'd end up on a piece of Montreal aviation history. The Toulouse-based Chilean was just passing through on his way home when he found himself on Air Canada's inaugural direct flight to Santiago,—a route that's been decades in the making.

"It's unexpected perfect timing," he said at the gate.

The December 16, 2025 launch marks Air Canada's first-ever nonstop service between Montreal and Chile's capital, operating twice weekly through the winter season. It's the airline's fourth South American gateway from the city, joining existing routes to Colombia, Peru, and Brazil as part of a broader expansion strategy that's been underway for more than a decade.

For Montreal's substantial Chilean community—one of the largest in Canada—it's a direct line home.

"For thousands of Chileans established in Quebec, this direct connection represents greater proximity to their country of origin, a strengthened human bond," said Juan Carlos García Pérez de Arce, Chile's ambassador to Canada, at the gate ceremony. The diplomat, an architect by training with a master's in urban management from Paris's École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, emphasized how the route goes beyond simple city-to-city service. "It brings people, economies, cultures, and shared projects closer together."

The timing matters

Chile and Canada have maintained a free trade agreement for 27 years, but direct air connections have been limited. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martínez Ferrada, herself of Chilean descent, spoke about how the route solidifies Montreal's role as a continental gateway to the Americas. "We may be the fourth," she said, referencing the other South American routes, "but I know there are many things we'll be able to do between us."

The route runs with flights departing Montreal on Tuesday and Saturday evenings, arriving in Santiago early the following morning. Return flights leave Santiago on Wednesday and Sunday mornings, landing back in Montreal the same evening. Alexandre Lefebvre, Air Canada's vice-president of network planning, noted that the inaugural flight carried 47 passengers connecting from Barcelona, more than 15 from Paris, and others from Rome and Madrid—Europeans taking advantage of Montreal's position as a transatlantic bridge to South America.

When asked what Montrealers might like in Chile, Vergara immediately thought of food. "If they like poutine, they'll love something called chorrillana," he said—a massive plate of fries topped with meat, onions, and eggs. His recommendation? Skip Santiago's spots and take the hour-long bus to Valparaíso on the coast, specifically to J. Cruz, where the dish was invented.

An airport's evolution

The service adds 18,000 weekly seats between Canada and Chile this winter. Combined with Air Canada's existing Toronto-Santiago route (which also operates twice weekly during peak season), the airline now runs daily service to Chile throughout the winter months. Lefebvre confirmed the airline is already working on year-round service, responding to requests from Montreal's consul general.

At the ceremony, Yves Beauchamp, president and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal, framed the route as part of the airport's evolution. "Connecting Montreal to Santiago is establishing a true air bridge between two vibrant regions rich in culture, history, and emotions," he said.

The route contributes not only to tourism but to economic, cultural, and family exchanges between Quebec and Chile—categories that often overlap in Montreal's case.

Air Canada's Latin America expansion has been deliberate. In the past year alone, the airline has added routes to Belize, Guatemala, Peru, and multiple Mexican destinations from Montreal. This winter, they're operating more than 55 daily flights to 52 destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean—the most sun destinations the carrier has ever served.

A strategic position

Santiago sits in a time zone that makes it ideal for European connections through Montreal, and Chile's growing tech sector and creative industries align with Montreal's economic strengths. The flight schedule was designed specifically to maximize those connections, Lefebvre explained, creating value for business travellers and cargo operations alongside the obvious leisure and family travel.

For the Chilean community in Montreal, the route represents something more fundamental. Martínez Ferrada, who served as federal tourism minister before becoming mayor, spoke about how direct flights change the psychological distance between places. "It allows us to strengthen the feeling that Montreal is one of the great international cities," she said. "And that happens through an airport. Through direct flights like these."

As for Vergara, he was just happy to be heading home after 15 years in France, even if he didn't plan to be part of aviation history. He had one parting thought for Montrealers considering the trip: "People are really friendly and welcoming, like Montrealers are. And it's close to nature—you can ski in the winter, see forests. It resembles Montreal a little bit."

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Oscar Vergara had no idea he'd end up on a piece of Montreal aviation history. The Toulouse-based Chilean was just passing through on his way home when he found himself on Air Canada's inaugural direct flight to Santiago,—a route that's been decades in the making.

"It's unexpected perfect timing," he said at the gate.

The December 16, 2025 launch marks Air Canada's first-ever nonstop service between Montreal and Chile's capital, operating twice weekly through the winter season. It's the airline's fourth South American gateway from the city, joining existing routes to Colombia, Peru, and Brazil as part of a broader expansion strategy that's been underway for more than a decade.

For Montreal's substantial Chilean community—one of the largest in Canada—it's a direct line home.

"For thousands of Chileans established in Quebec, this direct connection represents greater proximity to their country of origin, a strengthened human bond," said Juan Carlos García Pérez de Arce, Chile's ambassador to Canada, at the gate ceremony. The diplomat, an architect by training with a master's in urban management from Paris's École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, emphasized how the route goes beyond simple city-to-city service. "It brings people, economies, cultures, and shared projects closer together."

The timing matters

Chile and Canada have maintained a free trade agreement for 27 years, but direct air connections have been limited. Montreal Mayor Soraya Martínez Ferrada, herself of Chilean descent, spoke about how the route solidifies Montreal's role as a continental gateway to the Americas. "We may be the fourth," she said, referencing the other South American routes, "but I know there are many things we'll be able to do between us."

The route runs with flights departing Montreal on Tuesday and Saturday evenings, arriving in Santiago early the following morning. Return flights leave Santiago on Wednesday and Sunday mornings, landing back in Montreal the same evening. Alexandre Lefebvre, Air Canada's vice-president of network planning, noted that the inaugural flight carried 47 passengers connecting from Barcelona, more than 15 from Paris, and others from Rome and Madrid—Europeans taking advantage of Montreal's position as a transatlantic bridge to South America.

When asked what Montrealers might like in Chile, Vergara immediately thought of food. "If they like poutine, they'll love something called chorrillana," he said—a massive plate of fries topped with meat, onions, and eggs. His recommendation? Skip Santiago's spots and take the hour-long bus to Valparaíso on the coast, specifically to J. Cruz, where the dish was invented.

An airport's evolution

The service adds 18,000 weekly seats between Canada and Chile this winter. Combined with Air Canada's existing Toronto-Santiago route (which also operates twice weekly during peak season), the airline now runs daily service to Chile throughout the winter months. Lefebvre confirmed the airline is already working on year-round service, responding to requests from Montreal's consul general.

At the ceremony, Yves Beauchamp, president and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal, framed the route as part of the airport's evolution. "Connecting Montreal to Santiago is establishing a true air bridge between two vibrant regions rich in culture, history, and emotions," he said.

The route contributes not only to tourism but to economic, cultural, and family exchanges between Quebec and Chile—categories that often overlap in Montreal's case.

Air Canada's Latin America expansion has been deliberate. In the past year alone, the airline has added routes to Belize, Guatemala, Peru, and multiple Mexican destinations from Montreal. This winter, they're operating more than 55 daily flights to 52 destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean—the most sun destinations the carrier has ever served.

A strategic position

Santiago sits in a time zone that makes it ideal for European connections through Montreal, and Chile's growing tech sector and creative industries align with Montreal's economic strengths. The flight schedule was designed specifically to maximize those connections, Lefebvre explained, creating value for business travellers and cargo operations alongside the obvious leisure and family travel.

For the Chilean community in Montreal, the route represents something more fundamental. Martínez Ferrada, who served as federal tourism minister before becoming mayor, spoke about how direct flights change the psychological distance between places. "It allows us to strengthen the feeling that Montreal is one of the great international cities," she said. "And that happens through an airport. Through direct flights like these."

As for Vergara, he was just happy to be heading home after 15 years in France, even if he didn't plan to be part of aviation history. He had one parting thought for Montrealers considering the trip: "People are really friendly and welcoming, like Montrealers are. And it's close to nature—you can ski in the winter, see forests. It resembles Montreal a little bit."

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Be part of a growing audience of Montrealers who want stories like this.

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