Chinchero International Airport facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chinchero International Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional de Chinchero
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Site of the airport in May 2023
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Aeropuertos Andinos del Perú | ||||||||||
| Serves | Cusco | ||||||||||
| Location | Chinchero District, Urubamba province, Peru | ||||||||||
| Opened | 2026-2027 (scheduled) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | ft / 3,720 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 13°25′S 72°04′W / 13.41°S 72.06°W | ||||||||||
| Runway | |||||||||||
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The Chinchero International Airport is a new airport being built in the town of Chinchero, Peru. This town is in the Cusco Region. The airport is planned to be a big international airport. It will take the place of the older Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. Chinchero Airport is very high up, about 3,720 meters (12,205 feet) above sea level.
Contents
Airport History
The idea for an airport in Chinchero started a long time ago, in 1978. The Peruvian government wanted to build a new airport there. However, these plans were put on hold for many years. This was due to a difficult period in Peru's history.
Early Plans and Land Acquisition
Later, when things became more peaceful, people living in the area agreed to sell their land. This happened in 2011. In 2012, the president at the time, Ollanta Humala, signed laws. These laws allowed the government to buy the land needed for the airport. This process is called expropriation. It means the government can take private land for public use, with fair payment.
Construction Begins
On February 3, 2017, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski announced that construction would begin. The actual building work started in 2019. In October 2019, Peru and South Korea announced they would work together. South Korea offered technical help for the airport's construction.
Delays and Progress
When the airport plans were first shared, it was hoped to open in 2021. But the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru caused delays. The opening date was then moved to 2025. On November 19, 2021, a company called Hyundai Engineering & Construction officially started work on the site. Their president, Yoon Young-joon, attended the ceremony.
In June 2024, there were more construction delays. The estimated completion date was moved to September 2026. However, it was thought that it might be finished earlier, by April 2026. In October 2024, Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, signed an agreement. This agreement changed the work for the main construction group. They would now focus only on building the terminal. A separate process to find companies to build the runway and control tower was planned for 2025. This construction is expected to happen in the first half of 2026.
Airport Plans
The Chinchero Airport is designed to operate 24 hours a day. When it first opens, it will be able to serve about five million passengers each year. There are also plans to make it even bigger in the future. This expansion would allow it to handle up to eight million passengers annually.
See also
In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Chinchero para niños
