FIDAE, the International Air and Space Fair, is Latin America’s leading aerospace show and is held every two years at the Chilean Air Force site beside Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. The 2028 edition runs for six days in April. The first part of the week is for trade visitors, with manufacturers, airlines and air forces from across the Americas and beyond, while the closing days open to the public with flying displays and a large static park. Chile’s own Halcones aerobatic team is usually a highlight, and foreign air forces often send fighters and transport aircraft. The Andes make a spectacular backdrop on a clear day. April is autumn in Chile, with comfortable temperatures, so it’s a pleasant time to visit Santiago. The organiser will publish public-day tickets and the flying schedule on the official site.

Dates: Tuesday 4 to Sunday 9 April 2028, Santiago. Check the official site for the public days.

Official website: https://www.fidae.cl/

Photo: FIDAE 2026 (9611455), U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Derek Gutierrez, public domain.

Where to stay

The site is next to Santiago’s main airport, so airport hotels and the west of the city are the most practical: