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More space needed at Peru's Jorge Chavez International Airport

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

An increasing number of travelers leaving and entering Peru is pushing Lima Airport Partners (LAP) to open another runway and make space for a greater number of planes and airlines.

The space needed by airlines cannot be satisfied, thus limiting the development of Jorge Chavez International, the country's most important airport, affirmed Jaime Daly, the general manager of LAP.

Daly explained that aside from the land required for the construction of an additional runway, which is to be built between 2009 and 2013, airlines needed more space to park and work on their planes.

It was reported the airport is much shorter on space because increased efficiency as well as a rise in tourism have made Jorge Chavez the South American hub for airlines such as LAN and Taca.

Jorge Chavez is currently at over 80 percent its capacity and frequently uses 90 percent of its space.

Daly explained LAP was talking to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to see if the government could provide them with state property that is currently not being used.

LAP has invested $230 million in Jorge Chavez Airport and is to invest another $100 million in its expansion.

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# Mike says :
14 August, 2008 [ 19:38 ]

You know, if they just plowed over some of Callao, no one would notice.

# henry says :
15 August, 2008 [ 06:52 ]

That airport is too small. Lima need a second one as new direct non-stop flights are opening to Shangai, Hongkong, Tokio, and Melbourne.
LAP are doing good money so far without investing as it should be.
Karl

# Splaktar says :
15 August, 2008 [ 18:17 ]

Yep, major expansion and investment is needed badly.  It is no where near the capacity needed to service the entire Lima metropolitain area let alone all of Peru.  It would also help if other airports were expanded enough to support international flights.  Currently Arequipa (city of 1 million people) still does not accept any international flights and is not prepared for them (also having space problems).

Are there any international airports in Peru other than the one in Lima?

# peloflex says :
15 August, 2008 [ 23:08 ]

there are many international airports in Peru... I would say too many to mention.

Iquitos
Arequipa
Puerto Maldonado
Cusco
Trujillo
Piura
Chiclayo
Pucallpa
Tacna
Juliaca
and Jorge Chavez in Lima

# Frequent Flyer says :
16 August, 2008 [ 11:13 ]

Aside from the sea port, the airport is the next most important infrastructure item we have.  I fly in and out of Lima on international flights weekly.  When the new terminal opened a couple of years ago it was marvelous because I could board the plane through a jetway and didn't have to ride a bus and climb stairs to board the plane like it was 1963.  Now half the flights I take, I have to board a bus and climb the stairs to board the plane.  Why?  Because the airport terminal cannot accomodate the quantity of flights.  They are now expanding the terminal.  Much needed. 
The next thing that Peru needs to do is take a bulldozer (or aerial bombing runs) to the route from the airport to San Isidro and make the drive into Peru something more than a chaotic freak show.  The cambis and taxis are suicidal.  The casinos and night clubs are cheezy.

# Splaktar says :
16 August, 2008 [ 13:20 ]

Oh there are much more dangerous ways to get from the airport to San Isidro and other areas ;)

I see your list of international airports, but I don't beleive that they actually have international flights.  I know that Arequipa does not have any international connections.  I don't think most on that list do either.

# peloflex says :
16 August, 2008 [ 17:17 ]

you're right!

I've just answered your question. all those airports are listed as international...

# jose says :
16 August, 2008 [ 20:50 ]

Regarding international airports:

The list 'peloflex' gave is correct. And there are few scheduled international flights to airports other than Lima:

 Cuzco - La Paz (Aerosur)

 Arequipa - Arica (Sky Airline)

Also, there are charter flights from all over the world to the international airports in Peru (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco, etc).

Finally, each of those international airports is supposed to be able to handle international flights, i.e. immigration checkpoints (I don't think all of those airports fullfill this requirement, even though the Peruvian state brands those airports as 'international').

The thing is that the Peruvian state categorizes the airports (either international or national). It is up to the airlines to fly to those airports, and as we know few do because they are unattractive to them, mainly because they are small, the routes are not profitable or they don't have the necessary equipment.

Jose

# Splaktar says :
17 August, 2008 [ 11:07 ]

Ah, cool.  I have never heard of or seen Sky Airlines (from Chile) in the last 3 years living in Arequipa.  So I checked out their website.  They only sell tickets within Chile online.  So you can't book a flight from Arequipa to Arica unfortunately.  It appears that the only time they fly to Arequipa is for charter/tour type packages.  This is only for Chileans to visit Peru and then leave.  Not for Peruvians to visit Chile.

Either way, there is enough demand for tourists going to Arequipa, Cusco, Puno, etc that the south is more than capable of supporting a major international airport.  Currently the planes from Lima to Arequipa/Cusco/Juliaca are extremely busy and often packed with international tourists (many of whom have no interest in Lima).

I guess the main problem now is that they don't have a place to put this airport.  Juliaca and Arequipa airports are way too small to support a true international hub.  Cusco is fairly small but suffers from bad weather and strikes far too often. 

Arequipa seems like the obvious choice (quick/cheap flight or bus from here to Cusco/Puno, etc).  Perhaps this is something they are looking at, as I've heard of them wanting to build a new airport far out of town so that they have plenty of space.