The first phase of expansion for El Salvador´s International Airport will start next year.
According to the president of the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA), Enrique Córdova, the $ 40 Million investment of the first phase includes expanding immigration areas and passenger screening as well as the addition of four new boarding sleeves.
The second phase includes a new terminal and a new runway, "for 2012-2013 ....
The enlargement of El Salvador International Airport will be conducted in two phases.
By the end of the year the first phase schedule will be ready, which includes small changes in the exits and check-in area.
"In the second phase the institution will enlarge the parking area and will duplicate its capacity for handling travelers. They are still looking for financing sources for this project and one of the potential providers is the World Bank" noted the article in Elmundo.com.sv.
Officials are considering issuing bonds or taking loans to finance the expansion of AIES International Airport.
Guillermo López Suárez, president of CEPA, the Airports Authority, explained they need $25 million to fund the expansion, and that they must study priorities, as this transaction would increase the country's level of debt.
Vilma Calderón, president of COEXPORT, the exporters association of El Salvador, remarked: "It is totally viable for it [AIES] to increase its level of debt, it is a solvent company".
AIES, the International Airport of El Salvador, earned the certification of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
It is the first Central American airport to receive this certification; the airports of Panama and Nicaragua are currently in the process of getting it.
"No airport in the world operates without a permit, but this certification will boost AIES, as ICAO communicates which airports comply with its standards.
$25 million have been earmarked for expanding El Salvador International Airport (AIES); public bidding would begin in 2011.
Immigration and customs areas will be expanded first, as "bottlenecks" regularly happen there, explained Guillermo López Suárez, president of CEPA, the State's airports and ports commission.
"Such area currently occupies 3.690 square meters, and will be expanded in 2.827 m2...
Roberto Kriete, President of TACA Airlines, restated the need to enlarge AIES, the International Airport of El Salvador.
While participating in a forum in Colombia, the businessman remarked: "El Salvador Airport is getting too small, and unless we start seriously thinking in an expansion right now ... it will be difficult for it to be ready when we need it, and it may force us to move our operations from El Salvador to another country.
Canadian company SNC-Lavalin presented their proposal for expanding the airport.
Ernesto Altschul is the manager of CEPA, the government authority overseeing the project. He said that "Generally, they endorse the concept by Aéroports de Paris of a three-stage terminal".
"In Septebmer 2007, CEPA received from Aéroports de Paris (AdPi) a 3-stage master plan for developing El Salvador International Airport (AIES).
CEPA finances will only allow them to invest $21.8 million that is considered critical to maintaining operations in 2009.
The Executive Autonomous Port Commission (CEPA) of El Salvador has committed its finances to the payment of the loan from the Japanese JBIC Bank for the construction of La Unión Port, leaving few resources for other investments. This year, the entity will only make certain investments considered "critical" so that the normal operation of Acajutla Port and the International Airport of El Salvador will not be affected.
While the government can not recover the investment made in Union Port, resources for the expansion of the airport cannot be counted on.
El Salvador publishes in its website: " CEPA has on a master expansion plan, which was presented at the end of 2007 by Airports of Paris, that contemplates the future infrastructure development capacity of the airfield in various phases at a cost of more than $700 million.
With an investment of $17.8 million, the Autonomous Executive Port Commission will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the El Salvador International Airport in Comalapa.
The works include the resurfacing of the runway scheduled for next year, the immediate replacement of lights and signs, and the construction of a platform for aircraft maintenance.
Keeping the El Salvador International Airport operating during the night shift to receive 3 cargo flights and one passenger flight requires $438,000 in annual expenses.
According to Albino Roman, President of the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) "the commercial flight and the three cargo flights during said shift can be transferred to other shifts, which run from 6:00 am to 2:00 p.