New Jorge Chávez International Airport terminal cleared to begin operations in Peru
After a lengthy process marked by setbacks and delays, the new Jorge Chávez International Airport terminal has received authorization to begin operations, following the issuance of the Airport Operation and Services Certificate by the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC), an agency under Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC).
The certification allows for a soft launch phase starting May 15, with full operations scheduled to begin on June 1, 2025. The DGAC verified that the infrastructure complies with all technical and regulatory requirements established by Peruvian law, including Article 9 of the Civil Aeronautics Law and RAP 314.
As part of the evaluation process, the DGAC oversaw a series of operational exercises in coordination with Lima Airport Partners (LAP), the airport’s concessionaire. These included tests of the HBS/BHS system for checked luggage inspection and handling, as well as various airside maneuver drills.
The certificate is conditional upon ongoing compliance with safety and efficiency standards. The MTC retains the authority to suspend, revoke, or annul the certification in case of non-compliance.
You might be interested
According to the ministry, this certification marks the end of the technical-administrative process enabling the new terminal's operation—a milestone in Peru’s air connectivity, as emphasized by the agency.
First airlines to operate at the new Jorge Chávez terminal
In this initial “soft launch” phase, five airlines will begin controlled operations at the new terminal.
Lima Airport Partners (LAP) announced that the first will be Aerolíneas Argentinas, which will begin operating from the new terminal on May 15, arriving at 8:00 p.m. and departing at 10:40 p.m.
On May 16, Air Europa will follow, arriving daily from Madrid at 4:20 a.m. and departing at 10:20 a.m. That same day, Volaris will make its debut at the terminal, arriving from Mexico at 5:00 a.m. and departing at 6:15 a.m.
Wingo will operate on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, arriving from Bogotá between 12:55 a.m. and 1:10 a.m., and departing between 1:45 a.m. and 2:00 a.m., depending on the day.
Lastly, Dominican airline Arajet will begin operations on May 16, with arrival times ranging between 12:10 a.m. and 3:40 a.m., and departures between 3:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. It will operate four times per week from Punta Cana, and twice from Santo Domingo.
Passengers flying on these routes should note that the new terminal is located on Av. Morales Duárez, and LAP advises arriving at least three hours before international flights and two hours before domestic flights.
A long-awaited launch finally within reach
The opening of the “new Jorge Chávez Airport” — more accurately, a new terminal rather than a completely new airport — has been a subject of controversy for over a year.
Originally slated to open in December 2024, airlines raised concerns about launching during the holiday peak season, fearing potential issues during the critical ramp-up phase. As a result, the inauguration was postponed to January 29, then again to March 30, 2025.
When everything seemed set, the MTC again ordered a delay, citing that not all operational tests had been completed to the required standards. LAP publicly contested the decision, stating that by March 14, 99.5% of the project had been completed. Nevertheless, the government prevailed, and the “new Jorge Chávez” was once again placed on hold.
In 2024, Lima’s Jorge Chávez Airport handled 24.5 million passengers, a 15.2% increase from the previous year, making it the sixth busiest airport in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The expansion project—an investment of USD 1.3 billion—began in 2019 and included a new control tower and a second runway, both operational since 2023. Construction on the new terminal started in 2022, and once completed, it will raise the airport’s capacity to 40 million passengers per year.
The expansion is part of a broader Airport City project, which also includes a new fuel plant, hotels, an air cargo transfer center, new customs warehouses, and logistics areas, as well as a future free trade zone.
AUTOR
Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline. Base: ROS Origen: RES
Comentarios
Para comentar, debés estar registrado
Por favor, iniciá sesión