SKY Airline Peru will launch direct international flights connecting Cusco with Santiago de Chile and Lima with Rio de Janeiro following technical certification by civil aviation authorities, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation supported the airline through the technical approval process for both routes, which are scheduled to begin operating between December 2026 and January 2027 amid expanding international passenger movement and growing tourism demand.
Direct flights between Cusco and Santiago de Chile will commence on January 3, 2027, operating daily with seven weekly frequencies. The non-stop service will allow foreign tourists to travel directly to Cusco without making a layover in Lima, while offering residents of Cusco a new route to Chile.
Cusco, located in the Andes of southeastern Peru, served as the historic capital of the Inca Empire and remains the main gateway for visitors traveling to Machu Picchu. Santiago, situated in the Chilean Central Valley, is the capital and largest city of Chile.
Direct connections to Cusco
Santiago will join Bogota in Colombia and La Paz in Bolivia as one of three direct international destinations accessible from Cusco. The Ministry of Transport and Communications said the addition expands the city's international flight network and broadens options for travelers.
Official air traffic figures highlight the growth potential for the new route. Between January and June 2026, Cusco registered 67,688 international passengers, marking a 16 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.
International visitors arriving in Cusco spend an average of 1,919 US dollars and stay for an average of seven days, according to data published by the ministry. Tourism represents one of the primary economic drivers for the region.
New service between Lima and Rio de Janeiro
The new route linking Lima and Rio de Janeiro is set to start operations on December 28, 2026. Flights will operate on a daily schedule using Airbus A320neo aircraft configured to carry 186 passengers.
The Airbus A320neo is a single-aisle commercial jet airliner widely used for short- and medium-haul international flights. Rio de Janeiro, situated on Brazil's Atlantic coast, is famous for its coastal geography and is one of South America's most visited cities.
The daily service will increase flight options between Peru and Brazil for both tourist and business travelers. Brazil is a major origin market for Peruvian tourism, generating more than 103,000 visitors to Peru between January and July 2026 to rank as the fourth largest source of international tourists.
The new Rio de Janeiro service will complement SKY Airline Peru's existing direct flights between Lima and Sao Paulo, further expanding air travel options between the two South American nations.
National air traffic and Amazon connectivity
The expansion comes during a period of sustained growth for civil aviation in Peru. Between January and June 2026, Peru recorded 6,048,228 international flight passengers across its airport network, representing a 3.6 percent rise over the corresponding period in 2025.
In addition to the international routes, SKY Airline Peru will reactivate its domestic route between Lima and Puerto Maldonado on March 1, 2027. The daily flight will provide a direct connection between the national capital and the Peruvian Amazon, complementing the airline's existing service between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado.
Puerto Maldonado is the capital of the Madre de Dios region in southeastern Peru and serves as a major commercial and tourist gateway to the southern Amazon basin.
The route launches are part of the Air Connectivity Boost Kit, an initiative managed by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation to identify and enable new flight paths. The ministry stated that the program works alongside commercial airlines to guide technical and regulatory procedures, aiming to connect more regional destinations with international markets to stimulate tourism and local economic development.
