La Aurora International Airport
Encyclopedia
La Aurora International Airport serves Guatemala City
, Guatemala
. It is located 6.4 km (4 mi) south of Guatemala City's center and 25 km (15.5 mi) from Antigua. It is administered by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil
.
La Aurora International Airport is going through massive modernization and expansion works. The airport is now able to accept a greater number of flights and larger aircraft. It provides high standard installations to the traveller. The old terminal has been renovated in accordance with its original design. It has been partly demolished and was expanded with a new glass-designed concourse in the north, able to accommodate up to twenty-two aircraft. The greater part of the project was completed by December 2008. The airport currently has two terminals: Central and North.
La Aurora International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Central America in terms of passenger traffic, surpassed only by Tocumen International Airport
in Panamá
, Juan Santamaría International Airport
in Costa Rica
, and Comalapa International Airport in El Salvador
. In June 2007 the airport was certified as Category I by the FAA.
, Quetzaltenango Airport
, Puerto Barrios Airport
, and San José Airport
.
In July 2007, seven new gates were opened. These gates are equipped with jetway bridges and modern conveniences, also a new parking garage was also built and it can handle up to 500 vehicles.
There are brand new ticket counters. 2007 brought significant gate expansion (11 new gates were available starting December 2007). The airport now has two concourses. The northern concourse has 12 traditional gates and 3 remote gates. The central concourse, is used for larger aircraft as it provides 4-6 gates depending on the size of the aircraft.
The airport's runway currently measures 2987 metre. There have been efforts in the past to expand the runway but this has not yet been possible since there's a commercial area to the north of the runway and a small ravine near the southern side of the runway. Still, the renovation of the runway is in progress. The first phase consists in repaving the runway as well modernizing the illumination system. Future plans to expand the taxiway repave and move all the cargo facilities to San José Airport
in Escuintla
and Puerto Barrios Airport
in Izabal. This will make room for more passenger terminal area and improved taxiways. Finally, the airport administration building is being refurbished and a regional terminal is being built.
La Aurora International Airport has 2 Exclusive VIP Lounges. Los Añejos Business Lounge serving first class passengers of Iberia
and United and Copa Club, VIP Lounge for passengers travelling on Copa Airlines
and Continental Airlines
Cargo operations are handled beside the passenger terminal building by COMBEX-IM or in the DHL hangars.
, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Force Sixth Air Force defending the Central America
n coastline against Axis powers
submarines. The first American personnel began arriving in December 1941; the airfield was improved and expanded by the United States' 805th Engineer Aviation Battalion
in early 1942. During its period of American use, the military facilities of the airport were known as Guatemala City Air Base. Flying units assigned to the airport were:
Detachments from the airfield operated intermittently from San Jose Airport
, San José, Costa Rica
, and Puerto San José
, Guatemala
from 1942 though 1944. After the war ended, a small number of Americans remained at the airport performing training duties with the Guatemalan Air Force and also operating a weather station (MATS 6th Weather Squadron). United States personnel were restricted to base during the Guatemalan revolution following the assassination of Colonel Francisco Xavier Arana
on 18 July 1949. Some artillery shells landed on the base during the violence. The facility was closed on 28 July 1949 and turned over to Guatemalan authorities.
On 6 April 1993 a TACA International Airlines Boeing 767
ran off the end of runway 19 after landing. A passenger on board filmed the landing which showed the plane coming in too steep, too fast and on a runway with standing water from a tropical storm which had just passed over. A great amount of runway had passed under the plane before touchdown and the pilot forced the landing. In spite of thrust reversers used, the plane could not slow down in time, began to shudder from excessive wheel-braking, overshot the runway and crashed into some structures. Surprisingly, there were no fatalities and the only injured people were 3 non-passengers. The aircraft was written off
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It is located 6.4 km (4 mi) south of Guatemala City's center and 25 km (15.5 mi) from Antigua. It is administered by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
.
La Aurora International Airport is going through massive modernization and expansion works. The airport is now able to accept a greater number of flights and larger aircraft. It provides high standard installations to the traveller. The old terminal has been renovated in accordance with its original design. It has been partly demolished and was expanded with a new glass-designed concourse in the north, able to accommodate up to twenty-two aircraft. The greater part of the project was completed by December 2008. The airport currently has two terminals: Central and North.
La Aurora International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Central America in terms of passenger traffic, surpassed only by Tocumen International Airport
Tocumen International Airport
Tocumen International Airport is an international airport located from Panama City, Panama. In 2006, it underwent a major expansion and renovation program in order to modernize and improve its facilities...
in Panamá
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Juan Santamaría International Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport is located in Alajuela Province, about from downtown San José, Costa Rica. It is a hub airport for TACA/Lacsa, and focus city airport for Copa Airlines. It is named after Costa Rica's national hero Juan Santamaría, a courageous drummer boy who died in 1856...
in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, and Comalapa International Airport in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
. In June 2007 the airport was certified as Category I by the FAA.
Infrastructure and news
La Aurora is being renovated, along with other airports in Guatemala, such as Mundo Maya International AirportMundo Maya International Airport
Mundo Maya International Airport , also known as Flores International Airport, is an international airport located in the suburb of Santa Elena, in the city of Flores, Guatemala...
, Quetzaltenango Airport
Quetzaltenango Airport
Quetzaltenango Airport serves the city of Quetzaltenango also known as "Xelajú" or "Xela" and western Guatemala...
, Puerto Barrios Airport
Puerto Barrios Airport
Puerto Barrios Airport serves the city of Puerto Barrios, the port of Santo Tomás de Castilla and the Guatemalan Caribbean...
, and San José Airport
San José Airport
San José Airport serves the city of Puerto San José, the recreative town of Monterrico, the port of Puerto Quetzal and the eastern Guatemalan pacific coast . It is operated and administrated by DGAC - Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil de Guatemala...
.
In July 2007, seven new gates were opened. These gates are equipped with jetway bridges and modern conveniences, also a new parking garage was also built and it can handle up to 500 vehicles.
There are brand new ticket counters. 2007 brought significant gate expansion (11 new gates were available starting December 2007). The airport now has two concourses. The northern concourse has 12 traditional gates and 3 remote gates. The central concourse, is used for larger aircraft as it provides 4-6 gates depending on the size of the aircraft.
The airport's runway currently measures 2987 metre. There have been efforts in the past to expand the runway but this has not yet been possible since there's a commercial area to the north of the runway and a small ravine near the southern side of the runway. Still, the renovation of the runway is in progress. The first phase consists in repaving the runway as well modernizing the illumination system. Future plans to expand the taxiway repave and move all the cargo facilities to San José Airport
San José Airport
San José Airport serves the city of Puerto San José, the recreative town of Monterrico, the port of Puerto Quetzal and the eastern Guatemalan pacific coast . It is operated and administrated by DGAC - Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil de Guatemala...
in Escuintla
Escuintla
Escuintla is a city in south central Guatemala. It is the capital of the Escuintla Department and the administrative seat of Escuintla Municipality....
and Puerto Barrios Airport
Puerto Barrios Airport
Puerto Barrios Airport serves the city of Puerto Barrios, the port of Santo Tomás de Castilla and the Guatemalan Caribbean...
in Izabal. This will make room for more passenger terminal area and improved taxiways. Finally, the airport administration building is being refurbished and a regional terminal is being built.
La Aurora International Airport has 2 Exclusive VIP Lounges. Los Añejos Business Lounge serving first class passengers of Iberia
Iberia Airlines
Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., commonly known as Iberia, is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport....
and United and Copa Club, VIP Lounge for passengers travelling on Copa Airlines
Copa Airlines
Compañía Panameña de Aviación, S.A., operating as Copa Airlines ', is an airline based in Panama City, Panama, and serves as Panama's flag carrier...
and Continental Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
Cargo operations are handled beside the passenger terminal building by COMBEX-IM or in the DHL hangars.
Airlines and destinations
Cargo airlines
Traffic statistics
| Rank | City | Passengers | Top Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Miami, USAMiami International Airport Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area... |
233,840 | American Airlines, Taca |
| 2 | Houston, USA George Bush Intercontinental Airport George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a Class B international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Located north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 59... |
198,480 | Continental Airlines |
| 3 |  Panama City, PanamaTocumen International Airport Tocumen International Airport is an international airport located from Panama City, Panama. In 2006, it underwent a major expansion and renovation program in order to modernize and improve its facilities... |
183,060 | Copa Airlines |
| 4 | Los Angeles, USA Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually... |
175,600 | Delta Air Lines, Taca/Lacsa |
| 5 |  Mexico City, MexicoMexico City International Airport Benito Juárez International Airport , in Venustiano Carranza, one of the sixteen boroughs into which Mexico's Federal District is divided, is a commercial airport that serves Mexico City, the capital of Mexico... |
164,420 | Mexicana, Lacsa |
| 6 |  San Jose, Costa RicaJuan Santamaría International Airport Juan Santamaría International Airport is located in Alajuela Province, about from downtown San José, Costa Rica. It is a hub airport for TACA/Lacsa, and focus city airport for Copa Airlines. It is named after Costa Rica's national hero Juan Santamaría, a courageous drummer boy who died in 1856... |
160,260 | Aerorepublica, Copa Airlines, Taca, Lacsa |
| 7 |  San Salvador, El Salvador |
159,220 | Taca, Lacsa |
| 8 |  Madrid, Spain |
108,180 | Iberia |
| 9 | Atlanta, USA Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States... |
102,800 | Delta Air Lines |
| 10 |  Managua, NicaraguaManagua International Airport Augusto C. Sandino International Airport is the main airport in Managua, Nicaragua. Inaugurated as Las Mercedes Airport in 1968 it was later renamed Augusto C. Sandino International Airport during the Sandinista regime in 1980s and again in 2001 to Managua International Airport by then president... |
99,160 | Copa Airlines, Taca |
| 11 |  Flores, PetenMundo Maya International Airport Mundo Maya International Airport , also known as Flores International Airport, is an international airport located in the suburb of Santa Elena, in the city of Flores, Guatemala... |
81,960 | Aviateca, TAG |
| 12 | Dallas, USA Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas... |
80,980 | American Airlines |
| 13 | Chicago, USA O'Hare International Airport Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop... |
76,905 | Taca |
| 14 | Cancun, Mexico Cancún International Airport Cancún International Airport is located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It is Mexico's second busiest airport, after Mexico City International Airport in Mexico City, but the biggest in Mexico and Latin America for International passengers... |
61,756 | Mexicana Link, Aviateca |
| 15 |  Tegucigalpa, HondurasToncontín International Airport Toncontín International Airport or Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport is a civil and military airport that serves Tegucigalpa, Honduras... |
55,480 | Aviateca, Isleña |
Radio frequencies
| Facility | MHz |
|---|---|
| Ground Control | 121.90 |
| Tower Control | 118.10 |
| Aurora Approach | 119.30 |
| Clearance Delivery | 120.70 |
| ATIS | 126.50 |
| Guatemala Radio | 126.90 |
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Force Sixth Air Force defending the Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
n coastline against Axis powers
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
submarines. The first American personnel began arriving in December 1941; the airfield was improved and expanded by the United States' 805th Engineer Aviation Battalion
805th Engineer Aviation Battalion (United States)
The 805th Engineer Aviation Battalion was a United States Army Air Force unit activated on 12 February 1941 at MacDill Field near Tampa, Florida.-History:...
in early 1942. During its period of American use, the military facilities of the airport were known as Guatemala City Air Base. Flying units assigned to the airport were:
- 51st Fighter Squadron51st Fighter SquadronThe 51st Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 6th Fighter Wing, based at Howard Field, Canal Zone...
(Detachment) (32d Fighter Group), 2 January 1942-9 March 1943, (P-40 Warhawk) - 74th Bombardment Squadron74th Bombardment SquadronThe 74th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 106th Bombardment Wing, based at March Air Force Base, California...
(40th40th Air Expeditionary WingThe United States Air Force's 40th Air Expeditionary Wing was an Air expeditionary unit located at Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, from 2001 to c. 2006....
, 6th Bombardment Groups6th Air Mobility WingThe United States Air Force's 6th Air Mobility Wing is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force....
), 9 January 1942-7 April 1944 (B-18 Bolo, B-17 Flying Fortress) - 44th Bombardment Squadron44th Bombardment SquadronThe 44th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 40th Bombardment Wing, based at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas. It was inactivated on 1 September 1964.-Heraldry:...
(40th Bombardment Group40th Air Expeditionary WingThe United States Air Force's 40th Air Expeditionary Wing was an Air expeditionary unit located at Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, from 2001 to c. 2006....
) 6 July 1942-4 June 1943, (B-18 Bolo)
Detachments from the airfield operated intermittently from San Jose Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport
Juan Santamaría International Airport is located in Alajuela Province, about from downtown San José, Costa Rica. It is a hub airport for TACA/Lacsa, and focus city airport for Copa Airlines. It is named after Costa Rica's national hero Juan Santamaría, a courageous drummer boy who died in 1856...
, San José, Costa Rica
San José, Costa Rica
San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica. Located in the Central Valley, San José is the seat of national government, the focal point of political and economic activity, and the major transportation hub of this Central American nation.Founded in 1738 by order of Cabildo de León, San...
, and Puerto San José
Puerto San José
Puerto San José is a city on Guatemala's Pacific Ocean coast, in the department of Escuintla. It contains about 20,000 people, making it the largest place along the Pacific coast of Guatemala. It was the Pacific port for Guatemala, but this was superseded in the 20th century by Puerto Quetzal, a...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
from 1942 though 1944. After the war ended, a small number of Americans remained at the airport performing training duties with the Guatemalan Air Force and also operating a weather station (MATS 6th Weather Squadron). United States personnel were restricted to base during the Guatemalan revolution following the assassination of Colonel Francisco Xavier Arana
Francisco Javier Arana
Francisco Javier Arana was one of the three leaders of the revolutionary junta that ruled Guatemala from 20 October 1944 to 15 March 1945....
on 18 July 1949. Some artillery shells landed on the base during the violence. The facility was closed on 28 July 1949 and turned over to Guatemalan authorities.
Accidents and incidents
On 1 March 1980, a Douglas C-47 of the Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca was damaged beyond repair near La Aurora.On 6 April 1993 a TACA International Airlines Boeing 767
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
ran off the end of runway 19 after landing. A passenger on board filmed the landing which showed the plane coming in too steep, too fast and on a runway with standing water from a tropical storm which had just passed over. A great amount of runway had passed under the plane before touchdown and the pilot forced the landing. In spite of thrust reversers used, the plane could not slow down in time, began to shudder from excessive wheel-braking, overshot the runway and crashed into some structures. Surprisingly, there were no fatalities and the only injured people were 3 non-passengers. The aircraft was written off
External links
- Cargo services provided by COMBEX-IM
- La Aurora International Airport group in Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100285901848&ref=search&sid=689151026.3475543759..1