Attendees of the Fidae aerospace exhibition faced severe logistical disruptions at the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport venue this past weekend. Massive traffic congestion affected both private vehicles and shuttle buses during the Saturday and Sunday sessions of the event.
Israel Ramírez, a frequent attendee of the exhibition, reported significant coordination failures at the venue's access points. Ramírez, who has participated in previous editions held at the Cerrillos grounds, noted that the recent transition to the airport has highlighted major infrastructure issues.
The congestion reached levels that caused kilometer-long queues. According to reports from the site, the gridlock was so severe that many visitors were unable to reach the designated parking areas.
Many attendees, despite having pre-paid for parking, chose to abandon their vehicles on Lo Boza or Diego Barros Ortiz streets. These individuals walked the remaining distance to the exhibition grounds to ensure they did not miss the scheduled programming.
Logistical failures impact visitor access
The issues were not limited to private car owners. The coordination of shuttle buses, intended to provide easier access to the venue, also suffered from the same lack of management.
The congestion impacted both the arrival and departure phases of the event. The lack of efficient flow for these transport methods disrupted the schedule for many participants throughout the weekend.
Ramírez stated that the event experience is not limited to the internal exhibitions. He argued that the arrival and departure processes are essential components of the overall event quality.
The current access management requires immediate revision. The recent move to the airport-based venue has exposed the necessity of a more robust transport strategy to prevent similar disruptions in future editions.
