Roberta Aguirre
El Salvador International Airport, also known as San Salvador Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, is the third busiest airport in Central America. Located near Comalapa, about 50km from the capital city of San Salvador, the airport occupies a triangle of 2,519.8 acres (1,019.7 hectares) and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Jiboa River to the east. The airport has a single runway that is 3,200 metres long and 60 metres wide, with a parallel taxiway named Alpha. In addition to the main runway, there are six other taxiways and a secondary runway of 800 metres in length. The terminal building offers various passenger facilities, including restaurants, shops, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
What You'll Learn
El Salvador International Airport's runway
El Salvador International Airport, also known as El Salvador Airport, is located in the town of San Luis Talpa, La Paz, in the south-central area of the country. It is a joint-use civilian and military airport that serves San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. The airport is located about 31 miles south of San Salvador and is easily accessible via a four-lane motorway, with an average travel time of 30 minutes for the 42-kilometre distance.
The airport has a single runway, designated 07/25, which is 3,200 metres long and 60 metres wide, paved with asphalt. This main runway can accommodate large aircraft, and its length and width enable efficient aircraft operations at maximum capacity. Parallel to the main runway is a taxiway named Alpha, which is the same length as the runway. In addition, there are five more taxiways: Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot.
A secondary runway, with a length of 800 metres, was constructed to handle smaller aircraft. However, this secondary runway is now utilised as a long-term aircraft parking area. The airport has also undergone various improvement projects, including the installation of an instrument landing system (ILS) for the runway and upgrades to lighting systems and signs used for air navigation.
El Salvador International Airport is currently the third busiest airport in Central America. It offers international flights to Central, North, and South America, as well as weekly flights to Europe. The airport has a modern, single-terminal design that efficiently manages international and domestic flights. The terminal features various facilities, including restaurants, coffee shops, bars, duty-free shops, local handicraft stores, tourist information offices, banks, and hotel booths. Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal building, enhancing the convenience of travellers.
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The airport's terminal building
El Salvador International Airport, also known as Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, is located in the town of San Luis Talpa, La Paz, in the south-central area of El Salvador. The airport occupies a triangular area of 2,519.8 acres (1,019.7 hectares), bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Jiboa River to the east, with a four-lane motorway connecting it to the capital city of San Salvador, 42 kilometres (26 miles) away.
As of 2011, El Salvador International Airport was undergoing several development projects. These included the construction of a hydraulic platform for aircraft maintenance, the installation of an instrument landing system (ILS) for the runway, and renovations to lighting systems and air navigation signs. Terminal 2 is also under construction and is expected to add 30 to 40 new gates to the airport. Additionally, AviancaTaca Airlines plans to build its own terminal building at the airport.
El Salvador International Airport is the third busiest airport in Central America and the main airport serving the Republic of El Salvador. It handles international flights to Central, North, and South America, as well as weekly flights to Europe. In 2011, the airport accommodated 1.83 million passengers and 15,807 aircraft movements. It serves as a significant hub for airlines like Avianca, providing connections across the Americas, and is currently operated by the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA).
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Passenger facilities at the terminal
El Salvador International Airport provides a range of passenger facilities within its terminal. The airport features a modern, single-terminal design that efficiently handles international and domestic flights. The terminal is segmented into various sections, including arrivals, departures, and a transit area, ensuring a smooth flow of passengers.
The airport offers a variety of dining options, including fast food and full-service restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Specific restaurants include Bonne Baguette, Burger King, Celeste Imperio, Delights, Domino's Pizza, La Habana, Lizarran Latin Infusion Restaurant, Nostalgia Restaurante, Papa Johns, Pizque, Pizza Hut, Pollo Campero, Pollo Campestre, Subway, and Wendy's. Coffee shops include Claudys Cake, Gofres Belgium Waffles, Juan Valdez Coffee, Starbucks, Tapacun, and The Coffee Cup.
Passengers can also find a range of shopping options at the airport, including duty-free shops, local handicraft stores, and other stores selling souvenirs, travel accessories, and more. Specific stores include Almacenes Montecarlo, Havana Cigar & Co, Lacoste, Pandora Jewelry, St. Jacks, and Tommy Hilfiger.
Other passenger facilities include tourist information offices, banks, hotel booths, car rentals, and taxi services. The airport also provides restrooms, charging stations, a rest area, showers, and nursing rooms for mothers. Additionally, free unlimited WiFi is available throughout the terminal building.
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The airport's location
El Salvador International Airport, also known as San Salvador Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, is located in the south-central area of El Salvador, in the town of San Luis Talpa, La Paz. The airport is about 50km from the capital city of San Salvador and is connected to the city by a four-lane motorway, with an average travel time of 30 minutes. It is also close to sea level, which allows aircraft to operate efficiently at maximum capacity.
The airport is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Jiboa River to the east, with the coastal highway to the northwest. It is the only commercial airport in the country, serving as the main hub for airlines such as Avianca El Salvador, Volaris El Salvador, and formerly, TACA Airlines.
El Salvador International Airport replaced Ilopango International Airport in the late 1970s, which now serves regional, air taxi, military, and charter aviation. The airport was built under the direction of Hazama Ando (then Hazama Gumi), with electrical work completed by Toshiba (then Tokyo Shibaura Electric). It commenced operations on 31 January 1980 as Cuscatlán International Airport, with its first flight being a TACA Airlines flight bound for Guatemala City.
The airport has undergone several name changes over the years. It was previously known as Comalapa International Airport to civilians and Comalapa Air Base to the military. On 29 October 2018, it was officially renamed Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport by the Commission of Culture and Education, after Romero was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church.
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The airport's history
El Salvador International Airport, also known as San Salvador Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, is the main airport serving the Republic of El Salvador. It is located near Comalapa, about 50 kilometres from the capital city of San Salvador, and is currently the only commercial airport in the country. The airport is jointly operated by the civilian government and the military.
The airport was built in the late 1970s to replace the Ilopango International Airport, which now serves regional, military, charter, and air taxi aviation. The construction was funded by the Government of Japan, with Hazama Ando (then Hazama Gumi) leading the engineering and building efforts. Toshiba (then Tokyo Shibaura Electric) handled the electrical work for lighting and communications. The airport began operations on 31 January 1980, as the Cuscatlán International Airport, with its inaugural flight being a TACA airliner bound for Guatemala City.
The airport has undergone several name changes throughout its history. Initially known as Cuscatlán International Airport, it was also referred to as Comalapa International Airport and Comalapa Air Base by the military. On 16 January 2014, President Mauricio Funes announced that the airport would be renamed after Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, and the Legislature of El Salvador approved the name change on 19 March 2014. The official renaming ceremony took place on 24 March 2014, and the airport became the Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport on 29 October 2018, following Romero's canonisation as a saint by the Catholic Church.
Today, the airport is a major hub for airlines such as Avianca El Salvador and Volaris El Salvador. It offers international flights to Central, North, and South America and weekly flights to Europe. The airport features various passenger facilities, including restaurants, coffee shops, bars, duty-free shops, local handicraft stores, tourist information offices, banks, hotel booths, car rentals, and taxi services. Wi-Fi connectivity is available throughout the terminal building.
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Frequently asked questions
El Salvador International Airport occupies a triangle of 2,519.8 acres (1,019.7 hectares) and is located in the town of San Luis Talpa, La Paz. The airport is also known as Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, Cuscatlán International Airport, Comalapa International Airport, and Comalapa Air Base to the military.
San Salvador has close to 30 gates, all of which are "real gates". However, one source states that the airport has 20 to 25 gates.
The main runway of El Salvador International Airport is 3,200m long and 60m wide. Parallel to the runway is a taxiway of the same length, named Alpha. The airport has five more taxiways, known as Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, and Golf.
The passenger facilities at the terminal include restaurants, coffee shops, bars, duty-free shops, local handicraft stores, tourist information offices, banks, hotel booths, car rentals, and taxi services. Wi-Fi connectivity is available throughout the terminal building.
