Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero) (IATA: SAL, ICAO: MSLP), previously known as Comalapa International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Comalapa); previous Official name El Salvador International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional El Salvador). is an airport located about 50 km (31 mi) from San Salvador in El Salvador. It was built in the late 1970s to replace its predecessor, Ilopango International Airport, which is now used for regional, military and charter aviation. The airport's name change was made by former president Mauricio Funes due to unknown political reasons, but it's still locally known as Comalapa International Airport ( Spanish: "Aeropuerto Internacional de Comalapa")
Funding for this project was provided through the Government of Japan. Engineering and building came under the direction of Hazama Gumi Ltd. The electrical work for all lighting and communications was completed by Toshiba (then TOKYO SHIBAURA ELECTRIC). The Airport entered in operation on 31 January 1980 with its first flight being a TACA airliner bound for Guatemala City.
With 2,076,258 passengers in 2008, it is the busiest airport in El Salvador and third-busiest in Central America by passenger traffic.
§Airport infrastructure
Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (or locally known as Comalapa International Airport) serves as the Main hub for TACA Airlines, now Avianca Airlines and Salvadoran airline, Veca Airlines which will begin their operations in June 2014. The cargo terminal, located a few meters west of the passenger terminal, handles millions of tons of cargo each year. Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport is located about 50 km (31 mi) from the city of San Salvador. Roads connect the airport with the city. It handles international flights to Central America, North America and South America including some daily flights to parts of Europe such as Spain.
When the airport was built, it originally had only 7 gates. It was designed to handle around 400,000 passengers a year, but the high increase of passengers in the last 15 years brought the airport to its capacity. The airport has had two main expansions in the last decade or so. In its first phase (named AIES I), the airport grew from 7 boarding gates to 12, and later the second phase AIES II, added 5 more gates bringing the total to 17. Along with new gates, new expanded passenger waiting areas were built. Even though all these expansions have been made, the airport once again has reached the peak of its capacity handling over 2 million passengers in 2006.
There are several drug enforcement agents conducting random security checks and interviews of travelers at the airport. These agents can be identified due to the items they wear such as a fanny pack, either around the waist or over the shoulder. They also carry an airport access identification card around the neck. One side of the badge carrier shows the airport identification and access card with their photo, the other side of the carrier has the Salvadorean drug enforcement agency official badge.
The airport has a main runway (07/25) 3,200 m × 45 m (10,499 ft × 148 ft), with an effective running surface of 45 m (148 ft) and 7.5 m (25 ft) shoulders. Parallel to the main track and the same length as this, is the taxiway Alpha, which is connected to the track through six starts. For the use of small aircraft, there is also a secondary runway built (18/36), 800 m × 23 m (2,625 ft × 75 ft), which is currently used for parking of "long life" for aircraft that require it.
The platform of the Passenger Terminal Building (ETP) has seventeen aircraft parking positions, fourteen of which have their boarding bridges, which connect the aircraft directly to their waiting rooms. The three remaining positions are "remote", i.e., passengers disembark at any of them are transferred to the ETP through aerobuses. the remote gates are mostly used by turboprop aircraft. The ETP has a total constructed area of 34,380 m2 (370,100 sq ft), which houses the waiting rooms and corridors, areas of Immigration and Customs and diversity of stores.
The platform of the Cargo Terminal Building (ETC) has three positions for cargo aircraft parking, and also has a platform for the maintenance of five aircraft that require it, just in front of hangars Aeromantenimiento (AEROMAN), a modern workshop repairs that have achieved high levels of service in Latin America and represent an added value for the airport. The ETC has a built area, between warehouses and offices, of 10,286 m2 (110,720 sq ft).
§Rehabilitation, modernization and optimization project (2012-2014)
Since 1998 when the first expansion of the airport occurred (AIES II), the airport has been suffering form saturation in areas of check-in, screening, immigration and baggage at the Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (AIES) as it continues to serve more than 2 million passengers arrive each year.
In late 2012, CEPA has been able to begin their rehabilitation, modernization and optimization project in the airport. As of November 2013, three of the seventeen boarding bridges have been replaced with modern boarding bridges. In addition, more than fifty percent of the restrooms and air conditioning systems have been enhanced. New stairs and elevators have been replaced with more modern equipment. During this initial phase which is projected to be completed by May 2014, CEPA is planning to repair many of the issues that the airport has been living for over fifteen years. These include but not limited to:
- new restrooms
- new air-conditioning system
- new air traffic controller equipment
- new radar equipment
- new boarding bridges
- repavement of runway (07/25) and all taxiways of the airport
- new Salvadoran Customs area
§Airport master plan (2014-2032)
Expanding the Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (AIES) will cost $492.7 million and will occur in four phases from 2014-2032, as provided by new master plan for development of the terminal, which was presented by the CEPA in December 2013. The autonomous values first choice for funding expanded Public-Private Partnership (PPP). Unlike the Master Plan 2007 of Airports of Paris, this new proposal by Kimley Horn does not include building a new passenger terminal. Instead, it will restore and rehabilitate and expand the terminal. The new renovated terminal will have a three-story building where it will separate the traffic flows of passengers arriving and departing.
- Expansion Phase I (2014-2017)
- Expansion Phase II (2018-2022)
- Expansion Phase III (2023-2027) and Phase IV (2028-2032)
§Name change to Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport
On 16 January 2014, El Salvador President Mauricio Funes announced in San Salvador 's Presidential House the re-naming of El Salvador International Airport (for unknown reasons) to Mons. Óscar Arnulfo Romero. The Comalapa name will remain until the phase or renaming is complete which was expected to be complete before his presidential term ends.
The Legislature of El Salvador approved the name change on 19 March 2014 without the vote of ARENA and PDC, to Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport. El Salvador's former President Mauricio Funes on 24 March 2014 unveiled a ceremonial plaque with the renaming of the airport as Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport.
§Facts
The airport's modern facilities include duty-free shops, fast food and full-service restaurants, bars, air conditioned areas, tourist facilities, car rental, and spacious waiting rooms. With space for 17 airplanes on the main terminal, 3 on the cargo terminal, 5 in Aeroman, and around 20 in the "Long Term Parking" which is runway 18/36. 94.5% of the airport's flights are on time (2005 data). The airport and runway have been closed at least 10 times in the almost quarter century since opening. They were closed for several hours following the devastating earthquake of 2001, followed up with minor repairs to the east end of the runway. They were closed again for several hours in 2005 due to Hurricane Stan. Although the airport is located near the Pacific Ocean, storms and hurricanes are not frequent.
There is Wifi availability throughout much of the airport. Near Gate 17, a café called "The Coffee Cup" has free WiFi for all customers. Also Claro El Salvador has free Wifi throughout the whole airport.
§Shops & restaurants
Airport passengers can make purchases in a wide range of duty-free shopping, including clothing, perfume, and spirits. There are also a variety of craft shops and restaurants. Other services include twelve car rental companies. Hotel chains such as Marriott International, Radisson, Intercontinental, Hilton, Terrace, and Comfort also offer representative & check-in desks at the airport.
Some of the restaurants and shops include:
- Pizza Hut
- Pollo Campero
- The Coffee Cup
- Radio Shack
- Sony Store
- Alamo Car Rental
- Budget Car Rental
- Subway (restaurant)
- Productos Diana
- Óscar Arnulfo Romero Airport Food Court (opening 2016)
§Security
The International Airport of El Salvador, based in the town of San Luis Talpa, La Paz, received an international certification from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), after an investment of $8 million and a process of four years and two extensions.
The document credits the Salvadoran airport terminal compliance with all safety regulations issued under the Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), on fire control and health care, removal of rubber from the runways, lights and safety signs.
The certification will enable El Salvador to keep the category 1ante Federal Aviation Administration United States. "From the start of operations of the airport in January 1980, the terminal has been characterized by its safety," said Ricardo Sauerbrey, head of the Salvadoran terminal.
Array§Airlines and destinations
§Passenger Airlines
§Cargo airlines
The platform of the Cargo Terminal Building (ETC) has three positions for cargo aircraft parking. It also has a platform for maintaining five aircraft requiring maintenance services, right in front of the hangars of Aeromantenimiento (AEROMAN), a modern repair shop that has achieved high levels of service in Latin America that represents an added value to the AIES. The ETC has a built area, between warehouses and offices, of 10.286 meters square.
Some of the freight companies that operate in this airport include:
- Amerijet International
- Copa Airlines
- DHL
- FedEx Express
- Florida West International Airways
- Avianca Cargo
- United Parcel Service (UPS)
- Atlas Air
§Airport statistics
§Airport traffic by major destinations (departures and arrivals 2010 data)
§Airline traffic departures and arrivals
§Accidents and incidents
Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport hasn't have any fatalities or Accidents. though there are emergency landings from flights passing nearby the airport.
- November 2013, A Copa Airlines Flight from Los Angeles with destination to Panama City, Panama, Had to perform an Emergency landing in El Salvador Intl. Airport due to technical problems.
§Closing, and suspension of flights
- In 2001, El Salvador experienced an earthquake (7.6 in the Richter scale). El Salvador International Airport (SAL) closed several hours due to airport damage, all damage was successfully repaired.
- As of 29 December 2013 flights to/from Honduras and Nicaragua have been suspended due to the eruption of the Chaparrastique Volcano (San Miguel Volcano), which caused an ash plume that had a 10 kilometers height. Flights to/from Honduras and Nicaragua will resume when its safe to fly by and the Yellow and Orange Alerts are gone. By 5 January 2014 all flights were resumed.
§References
§External links
- Official website (Spanish)
Interesting Informations
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