The Government of Chile has reached a historic agreement to return land to the Roe family in Rapa Nui after decades of disputes related to the Mataveri International Airport. This process also paves the way for the analysis of a potential relocation of airport operations on the island.
The return of these lands, claimed since 1967 by the descendants of Rafael Roe, was formalized in December 2024, after multiple protests and occupations, including the airport parking area.
According to the Ministry of National Assets, the agreement aims to end the conflict and ensure the operation of the airport in a location better suited to the island’s current and future needs.
We move forward with a historic restitution of land to the Roe family. With this significant milestone, the State of Chile, through Minister Marcela Sandoval, delivers settlement deeds so that Rapa Nui families can use these lands. pic.twitter.com/T87pepRd3T
— Gobierno de Chile (@GobiernodeChile) December 5, 2024
Relocation under analysis
The Mataveri Airport is the main and only air gateway for tourists and residents in Rapa Nui, but its location within a disputed ancestral territory has hindered the development of its facilities. This conflict has not only stalled investments but also created uncertainty about the island’s air connectivity.
Sources close to the Government have indicated that, as part of this agreement, the construction of a new airport on land that does not create tensions with the local community will be evaluated. This change aims to address the needs for modernization and expansion of air transport on an island whose economy heavily relies on international tourism.
Progress for territorial rights
The agreement with the Roe family sets an important precedent for land restitution to indigenous peoples while ensuring the continuity of Rapa Nui’s air connectivity. «It is an emblematic case that reflects the importance of respecting territorial rights and seeking sustainable solutions,» said the Minister of National Assets, Marcela Sandoval.
The Mataveri International Airport, which only receives regular operations from LATAM Airlines with flights from Santiago, will continue to operate in its current location while the future airport project is defined. However, this agreement raises expectations about how a potential relocation will respect the island’s cultural and environmental heritage.
The final decision on relocation will be crucial not only to resolve the historic conflict but also to define the future of connectivity and tourism development in Rapa Nui.
