Ushuaia sits at the edge of the Beagle Channel with a runway that seems to float between snow-dusted mountains and open water. That geography makes every takeoff and landing memorable while keeping the airport just close enough to town for stress free departures.
Malvinas Argentinas International Airport is about 4 kilometers south of the city center, so you can be curbside at departures in roughly 15 to 20 minutes by car in normal traffic. Despite its compact feel, the terminal opened in 1995 and can handle large aircraft, up to the size of a Boeing 747, and even hosted the Concorde on a past visit. For travelers eyeing cheap flights from Ushuaia, that infrastructure translates into reliable links to Argentina’s big hubs and Patagonia favorites, plus seasonal cross border options into Chile, giving you multiple ways to build the trip you want at the value you need.
With its location and infrastructure, Ushuaia enables quick and convenient access to both domestic destinations and select international routes.
From quick hops across Patagonia to big city breaks, routes from Ushuaia cover the essentials with seasonal boosts during the summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Buenos Aires is the anchor, with services to both Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and Ezeiza. Nonstop flights from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires take about 3 hours 20 minutes, with several daily departures in busy periods, as an example subject to change. These flights are chosen for city escapes, onward international connections, and weekend flights from Ushuaia that keep plans flexible.
El Calafate is the Patagonia favorite. Nonstop flights from Ushuaia to El Calafate are about 1 hour 20 minutes, with around two daily services as an example subject to change. Travelers use this route for glacier trekking, Torres del Paine access via overland routes, and short two center trips pairing the channel views of Ushuaia with Perito Moreno’s ice.
Córdoba and Trelew add variety. A typical nonstop to Córdoba clocks around 3 hours 50 minutes, while Trelew might operate a couple of times per week at roughly 2 hours 5 minutes, examples subject to change. These are popular with those visiting friends and relatives or connecting to central and northern Argentina without backtracking through Buenos Aires.
Cross border options appear seasonally. A weekly Ushuaia to Santiago de Chile service has been scheduled in certain summer windows, for example from late October to mid January in a recent season, subject to change. It’s an efficient gateway for Chile’s onward long haul network and last minute flights from Ushuaia to Chile during peak demand. Airlines flying from Ushuaia on these routes include a mix of national and low cost carriers; exact operators and frequencies vary by season and are subject to change.
With this spread of destinations, you can pair city stays with wild landscapes or add regional overland legs by mixing and matching routes.
Timing matters in Patagonia, where seasons shape both demand and schedules.
Peak travel runs roughly from December to March, when Ushuaia cruises and hiking fill the calendar, off peak stretches from April to November with leaner schedules and, often, better value. Shoulder months like April, May, September, and October can be especially good for cheap one way flights from Ushuaia, subject to change.
For domestic Argentine routes, a 4 to 6 week booking window often balances choice and price outside major holidays, while peak season and long weekends tend to reward earlier purchases. Prices move frequently, so use Set a Price Alert to track a route and get notified instantly when the fare shifts. You can set this up in one click at Kiwi.com Flight Price Alerts and let the system watch prices for you.
If you’re stitching together a Patagonia loop, the Nomad Search Tool can find the cheapest order for multi city itineraries in seconds, taking the guesswork out of combining three or more stops at Kiwi.com Travel Hacks Explained. You can also explore value plays with Kiwi’s Travel Hacks like self transfer, hidden cities, and throwaway tickets, all explained at Kiwi.com Travel Hacks. Availability and pricing for these options are subject to change.
Booking strategies and automated alerts can help you lock in lower fares, particularly outside of peak periods.
Ushuaia has one primary airport that keeps everything straightforward, from curb to gate.
Malvinas Argentinas International Airport, IATA code USH and ICAO code SAWH, sits on a peninsula just south of town with sweeping views over the Beagle Channel. Expect a compact 5,500 square meter terminal with essentials like a café, duty free, and free Wi Fi. There are no dedicated lounges or family areas. Public transport is limited, so most travelers use taxis, shuttles, or private cars, plan 15 to 20 minutes from downtown in normal conditions. Arrive at least two hours before departure for check in and security, particularly in summer.
Airlines flying from Ushuaia include a mix of full service and low cost carriers on a domestic and regional network. As examples subject to change, services have connected to Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Córdoba, Trelew, and seasonally to Santiago de Chile. Low cost operators typically offer buy what you need extras, while full service carriers may bundle more into the fare, exact inclusions vary by airline and fare type.
Kiwi.com can combine separate carriers on one itinerary using Virtual Interlining, expanding the number of possible connections even when airlines don’t partner officially. For extra confidence on self transfer trips, the Kiwi.com Guarantee covers you if carrier changes stop your trip, with details at Kiwi.com. That package includes Disruption Protection, which offers instant compensation in Kiwi.com Credit to rebook or help to apply for a refund from the airline if carriers reschedule, cancel, or significantly change your flight, explained at Kiwi.com Help. Features and coverage apply as described and are subject to change.
Understanding amenities, ground transport, and fare types ensures a smoother departure from Ushuaia.