Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete
Aerial overview of CUZ
IATA: CUZ ICAO: SPZO
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	CORPAC S.A.
Serves	Cusco
Opened	December 1964; 60 years ago (1964-12)
Focus city for	LATAM Airlines Perú
Elevation AMSL	10,860 ft / 3,310 m
Coordinates	13°32′08″S 71°56′37″W / 13.53556°S 71.94361°W / -13.53556; -71.94361
Map
CUZ Location in Peru
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 10/28 11,146 3,397 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Total Passengers 3,004,412 Aircraft operations 23,373
Source: Corporación Peruana de Aeropuertos y Aviación Comercial

The Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport ((IATA: CUZ, ICAO: SPZO)) is a busy airport in Cusco, Peru. Cusco is a very popular place for tourists in South America. This airport handles many flights from inside Peru and some from other countries.

The airport's runway is fully paved. It operates with some limits because it is quite close to the city center. Even with these challenges, it is Peru's second most important airport. In 2023, over 3 million passengers used it for their travels.

About the Airport's Name

The airport is named after a brave Peruvian pilot, Alejandro Velasco Astete. In 1925, he was the first pilot to fly an airplane across the mighty Andes mountains. His amazing flight went directly from Lima to Cusco.

Later that year, in September, he was flying at an airshow in Puno. To avoid hitting people watching, he crashed and sadly passed away. The airport was named in his honor to remember his important achievements in Peruvian aviation.

Airport History

Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in March 2006

This airport started operating in December 1964. For a short time from 1998 to 1999, American Airlines flew here from New York City. These flights stopped because the airport had limited services. Also, the Peruvian government did not allow them to carry passengers between Lima and Cusco.

In the past, big airlines like Aeroperú and Faucett Perú mostly controlled flights here. Both of these airlines went out of business in the late 1990s.

New Airport Plans

On February 3, 2017, Peru's President announced plans for a new airport. This new airport, called Chinchero International Airport, is being built near Chinchero, about 30 minutes from Cusco. Construction began in November 2021.

The new airport is expected to be completed soon. Once it opens, the Velasco Astete International Airport is planned to close. The new airport is designed to handle up to 6 million passengers. Its main goal is to bring more tourists directly to Cusco. This will help travelers avoid stopping at Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport.

There have been some concerns about the new airport. People worry about its environmental impact and safety. Even UNESCO has tried to stop its construction. They are concerned it could harm famous Incan sites like Machu Picchu and other ancient ruins.

Airport Design

Check-in counters at the airport.

Gates at the airport.

Baggage claim bands at the airport.

The airport has many features to help the large number of tourists visiting Cusco. It was one of the first airports in Peru to use jetways. Jetways are those enclosed bridges that connect the airport building to the airplane.

The runway is paved and is about 3,400 meters (11,146 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide. The runway needs to be very long because of the airport's high elevation. At high altitudes, the air is thinner. This means planes need more runway space to get enough lift to take off. Also, airplane engines produce less power in thin air. This makes planes climb more slowly after takeoff.

Because of tall mountains on three sides, this airport has only one main way to use its runway. Planes can only land from the south, on runway 28. They can only take off in the opposite direction, from runway 10.

Airlines and Destinations

Many airlines fly to and from Cusco, connecting it to other cities in Peru and South America.

Getting To and From the Airport

The airport is about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) from the historic center of Cusco. Passengers have several ways to get to the city and other tourist spots in the Cusco Region.

Taxis

You can find authorized taxi companies inside the airport terminal. Their service counters are in the arrivals area. Taxi prices can change based on how many people are traveling and how much luggage they have.

Airport Shuttle

Several companies offer airport shuttle services. These include Aeroexpreso Airport Shuttle, Cusco Airport Shuttle, and Cusco Shuttle. The last two have been operating for many years and provide door-to-door transfers.

Car Rental

Car rental companies like Sixt, Thrifty, Dollar, and Hertz have offices. You can find them across from the airport's main entrance.

Train

PeruRail has a sales office inside the airport. Here, you can buy tickets for trains to Machu Picchu Pueblo and Puno. However, the airport does not have its own train station nearby. Passengers need to take a taxi or an airport shuttle to reach the Wanchaq, San Pedro, or Poroy train stations to catch their train.

Important Events

On August 9, 1970, a plane called LANSA Flight 502 crashed shortly after taking off from Cusco Airport. Sadly, most people on board and two people on the ground did not survive. This was a very serious accident for Peru's aviation history at the time. Many of the passengers were high school exchange students visiting Peru from Buffalo, New York.

Investigations showed that the accident was caused by incorrect piloting and poor aircraft maintenance. The airline was suspended and fined by the Peruvian government. A memorial, which is a large white cross with a nameplate, was placed near the crash site to remember those who passed away.

See also

In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete para niños