Ilopango International Airport
Ilopango International Airport | |||||||||||
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 Satellite view of Ilopango Int'l Airport | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military and Charter | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of El Salvador | ||||||||||
| Operator | CEPA | ||||||||||
| Serves | San Salvador | ||||||||||
| Location | San Salvador | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 615 m / 2,018 ft | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 13°41′30″N 089°07′32″W / 13.69167°N 89.12556°W | ||||||||||
| Website | www.aeropuertodeelsalvador.com | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  MSSS Location in El Salvador | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Ilopango International Airport (ICAO: MSSS) is an airport located on the eastern part of the city of San Salvador, El Salvador, once serving the city as its international airport until it was replaced by the larger and more modern Comalapa International Airport, located about 50 km south of the city. Currently, Ilopango is used for military, air taxi, and charter aviation only. It also holds the annual Ilopango Air Show. The airport is also home to the National Aviation Museum (Museo Nacional de Aviación) of San Salvador, which is housed in the old terminal building.
History
Ilopango was one of the largest and busiest airports in Central America. During the civil war, due to its location, it was a perfect target for bombs from the guerrillas. It ended its international flight service in January 1980, with the building of the bigger and more modern Comalapa International. Currently, there is a plan that involves the modernization and enlargement of the airport to accommodate modern aircraft. In 2001, the administration of the airport passed from the military to the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA), which is in charge of planning the modernization project. [1]
Rehabilitation
Ilopango has the problem that many airports in Central America have: it borders on the city and has houses near it so its runway can't be expanded. Its hangars will be relocated and modernized to serve as a modern commercial airport. CEPA has announced that they will begin rehabilitating the airport in late 2013 to allow short domestic flights within Central America.
Ilopango Airport has new signage on the main runway, and a revamped passenger room, as part of preparations being made for new airlines that will begin operating in May 2014. The President of the Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) has reported that a resurfacing of the airport's taxiway will be underway before initial operations of TAES Airlines in February 2015 and TAG Airlines in March 2015. Volaris is in the process of getting government approval to fly between the cities of Mexico and San Salvador
Among the work already done in the old airport adequacy of passenger room, which seats 25 people is now built. In addition to installing adequate seats for passengers, new air conditioning system for the comfort of travelers who are expected to begin to use these facilities in March 2015, when TAG Airlines begin operations in Ilopango Airport, El Salvador.
In January 2016, CEPA has begun building a new passenger terminal due to the high demands of TAG Airlines and CM Airlines. The new passenger terminal will increase the capacity while providing a dedicated Salvadorean immigration and customs area. The new MSSS Ilopango Airport terminal is expected to be completed in mid-2016.
Other facilities
The El Salvador Civil Aviation Authority has its headquarters on the airport property.[3]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger Airlines
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos | Guatemala City,[4] San Pedro Sula Charter: Roatan |
| Taxi Aéreos de El Salvador | San Miguel, San Salvador (SAL) |
| CM Airlines | Tegucigalpa, Roatan |
Some airlines that served Ilopango in the past
- Aviateca (Guatemala)
- Lacsa (San José (CR))
- TACA [Now part of Grupo TACA] (San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, Guatemala, New Orleans, Miami, México, Guatemala, Managua, San José, Panamá, Belize)
- Copa Airlines (Panama City, Guatemala, Managua, San José, Cartagena, Barranquilla)
- SAM (San Andres Island)
- Iberia (Madrid via Santo Domingo)
- Pan Am (New York, Houston-Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Guatemala)
- Sahsa (Tegucigalpa)
References
- ^ Corporación Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegación Aérea
- ^ Template:WAD
- ^ Home. Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved on January 5, 2013. "Km 9 1/2 Boulevard del Ejercito Nacional, Aeropuerto Ilopango, El Salvador"
- ^ http://www.laprensagrafica.com/2015/06/16/aerolinea-guatemalteca-operara-desde-ilopango
