Comalapa International Airport

Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport El Salvador International Airport
IATA: SAL ICAO: MSLP
Summary
Airport type	Military/Public
Operator	CEPA
Serves	El Salvador
Location	San Luis Talpa, La Paz
Hub for	Avianca El Salvador Veca Airlines
Elevation AMSL	31 m / 102 ft
Coordinates	13°26′27″N 089°03′20″W / 13.44083°N 89.05556°W / 13.44083; -89.05556Coordinates: 13°26′27″N 089°03′20″W / 13.44083°N 89.05556°W / 13.44083; -89.05556
Website	aeropuertoelsalvador.gob.sv
Map
MSLP Location in El Salvador
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 07/25 3,200 10,499 Asphalt 18/36(Closed) 800 2,625 Asphalt
Statistics (2016)
Total passengers 2,984,746 Commercial aircraft 18,345
Sources: AIP at COCESNA and DAFIF passengers and aircraft from airport website

Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero) (IATA: SAL, ICAO: MSLP), previously known as Comalapa International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de El Salvador); 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. With 2,984,746 passengers in 2016, it is the busiest airport in El Salvador and third-busiest in Central America by passenger traffic.

The airport was built in the late 1970s to replace its predecessor, Ilopango International Airport, which is now used for regional, air taxi, military and charter aviation. The airport's name change was made by former president Mauricio Funes, 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 Ando (then Hazama Gumi). 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.

Since 1998 when the first expansion of the airport occurred (AIES II), the airport has been suffering from 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. The rehabilitation, modernization and optimization project was completed in April 2015.