facebook
linkedin
twitter
About Us
  • BFSI
  • Energy
  • Infocom
  • Mining
  • Venture
  • Industry
  • Travel
  • Civic
  • Food, Health, Ag
  • Real Estate
  • Responsibility
  • Economy
  • Law & Justice
  • Interview
  • Analysis
cali airport colombia alfonso bonilla aragon

Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport in Cali Opens New International Terminal

Posted On June 24, 2017
By : Jared Wade
Comment: Off
Tag: Aerocali, airport, alfonso bonilla aragón, american airlines, ani, Antonio Silva, avianca, cali, copa airlines, Copa Airlines Colombia, luis fernando andrade, National Infrastructure Agency, Tame, valle de cauca, Wingo

Operations began today at the new international terminal of Cali’s Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport. With a dozen flights scheduled, this high-traffic travel day marked the culmination of a long-planned investment of $75 million USD (230 trillion pesos) intended to upgrade the primary landing ground for flights arriving in western Colombia.

The first flight departed for Panama at 5:15 am to kick off the new concourse’s first day of service, during which officials projected the new wing to transport more than 2,600 passengers on 12 flights.

A test flight arrived at the terminal last Saturday, and an ceremony attended by Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was held in March. But this weekend, in the midst of high travel season in Colombia during a month with several holidays, launched the true start of operations, including inaugural flights that arrived in Cali today from the United States, Spain, Panama, and Peru.

Officials say that, in part due to the new international terminal, which measures 19,600 square meters, the airport is now able to handle up to 10 million passengers per year.

Antonio Silva, manager of Aerocali, the organization that operates Alfonso Bonilla Aragón, said that the updates have transformed the airport into a modern facility more capable of managing large traffic loads and accommodating international travelers accustomed to the convenience widely available in Europe and the United States.

“We have state-of-the-art technology, state-of-the-art boarding bridges, an x-ray system, passenger information,” said Silva while addressing the media recently. “Everything has been checked and tested, and we hope that the Vallecaucans are very happy with all these new facilities.”

Luis Fernando Andrade, president of Colombia’s National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), and other public officials have been pleased to bring the new terminal online before the upcoming summit for the Pacific Alliance this week in Cali. Heads of state from each of the free-trade agreement member nations — Colombia, Mexico, Chile, and Peru — are expected to attend, as are top foreign officials from various nations.

Andrade also said that some 1,400 direct and indirect jobs resulted from the large construction project, which was planned in order to allow for further expansion down the road if the demand for air travel in the region calls for it. “The building was constructed in such a way that it may be extended in the future according to the needs of the region and the country,” said Andrade. “It is a development that will allow efficient and secure modular growth.”

Currently, there are at least 10 different recurring direct flights that will use the new terminal. Avianca, the largest carrier in Colombia, will operate routes between Cali and Miami, New York, Madrid, Lima, San Salvador, and Guayaquil. Avianca also has set up a VIP lounge in the terminal.

Additionally, American Airlines has a flight between Cali and Miami, the Colombian arm of Copa Airlines will run a route to Panama City, and Ecuadorian carrier Tame will operate a flight to Esmeraldas. The discount Copa-owned airline Wingo will also offer a route between Cali and Panama City.

The airport expansion was one of many planned throughout the country. Bogotá is continuing on a plan to build an entire second airport in the capital, and the large airports in Medellín, Cartagena, and Barranquilla are all in various stages of expansion.

Simón Bolívar International Airport in Santa Marta has already completed a major renovation that turned it from an outdated, mostly open air terminal to a more modern facility that offers convenient service for tourists who want to visit the popular Tayrona National Park on the Caribbean coast.

Photo credit: National Infrastructure Agency

DON'T MISS OUT: The only English-language Colombia news that's strictly business, markets, & investment!
Join global executives & investors by subscribing to our FREE weekly updates
I agree to have my personal information transferred to MailChimp ( more information ) DISCLAIMER: Protección de Datos Personales Artículo 15 de la Constitución Política de Colombia, ley 1581 de 2012 y decreto 1377 de 2013.
We will never spam you or share your email address ¡Nunca Jamás!

Share the news!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Print
  • WhatsApp
  • LinkedIn
  • Skype

Related

Share your thoughts:

comments

About the Author
Jared Wade is editor in chief of Finance Colombia. He is a Bogotá-based journalist with 15 years of experience covering topics including business, financial services, Latin America, and sports. Email him at jared.wade(at) financecolombia.com or follow him on Twitter at @Jared_Wade.
  • google-share
Previous Story

Air Canada to Offer Seasonal Direct Flight from Toronto to Cartagena Starting December 18

Next Story

Copa Airlines Orders 15 Boeing 737 MAX 10 Aircraft for Delivery in 2020

Related Posts

Grand Bahamas photo © Loren Moss
0

Bahamas Seeks Air Connectivity With Colombia

Posted On May 18, 2022
, By Loren Moss
Roberto Kriete, avianca's main shareholder and chairman of the Board of Directors.
0

Shareholders Of Viva, Avianca & Gol Announce The Creation Of Abra Group To Dominate South American Skies

Posted On May 11, 2022
, By Loren Moss
Photo © Loren Moss
0

Viva’s Aggressive Expansion Continues With New Colombian, International Destinations

Posted On April 5, 2022
, By Loren Moss




Search

RECENT

POPULAR

COMMENTS

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants today reveals Leonor Espinosa of Leo, Bogotá, as the 2022 winner of The World’s Best Female Chef Award, sponsored by Nude Glass

Colombian Leonor Espinosa Named "World's Best Female Chef"

Posted On May 18, 2022
Grand Bahamas photo © Loren Moss

Bahamas Seeks Air Connectivity With Colombia

Posted On May 18, 2022
Roberto Kriete, avianca's main shareholder and chairman of the Board of Directors.

Shareholders Of Viva, Avianca & Gol Announce The Creation Of Abra Group To Dominate South American Skies

Posted On May 11, 2022
Colombia’s attorney general charged Russian national Sergein Vagin and six other people

Alleged Russian Spy Charged…With Running A Gambling Mafia

Posted On April 12, 2022

Viva Launches Nonstop Routes To Buenos Aires, Argentina From Medellín & Bogotá, Colombia

Posted On April 12, 2022

Romanian Cybercriminal Mihai Ionut Paunescu Captured In Colombia

Posted On June 29, 2021
Photo montage courtesy EPM

EPM’s Board of Directors Resign En Masse, Creating Crisis For Mayor Daniel Quintero

Posted On August 17, 2020

Court Blocks Colombia’s $370 Million USD Emergency Loan To Bankrupt Avianca Airlines

Posted On September 12, 2020

Deadly Riots & Protests Against Police Brutality Break Out Across Colombia

Posted On September 10, 2020

AVIANCA IS BANKRUPT

Posted On May 10, 2020

[…] damn what she said. She and...

Posted On April 4, 2022

[…] by short sellers seeking to...

Posted On March 22, 2022

[…] no longer travel freely...

Posted On March 8, 2022

[…] Duque’s administration will...

Posted On March 8, 2022

[…] See also: 13 Police Injured In...

Posted On March 3, 2022

Watch This!

Consider Advertising With Us

Click here to visit Expat Group's English site

Subscribe Free

don't forget to include "http://"
* = required field
Your Background / Function








unsubscribe from list

RECENT

POPULAR

COMMENTS

The World’s 50 Best Restaurants today reveals Leonor Espinosa of Leo, Bogotá, as the 2022 winner of The World’s Best Female Chef Award, sponsored by Nude Glass

Colombian Leonor Espinosa Named "World's Best Female Chef"

Posted On May 18, 2022
Grand Bahamas photo © Loren Moss

Bahamas Seeks Air Connectivity With Colombia

Posted On May 18, 2022
Roberto Kriete, avianca's main shareholder and chairman of the Board of Directors.

Shareholders Of Viva, Avianca & Gol Announce The Creation Of Abra Group To Dominate South American Skies

Posted On May 11, 2022

Romanian Cybercriminal Mihai Ionut Paunescu Captured In Colombia

Posted On June 29, 2021
Photo montage courtesy EPM

EPM’s Board of Directors Resign En Masse, Creating Crisis For Mayor Daniel Quintero

Posted On August 17, 2020

Deadly Riots & Protests Against Police Brutality Break Out Across Colombia

Posted On September 10, 2020

[…] damn what she said. She and...

Posted On April 4, 2022

[…] by short sellers seeking to...

Posted On March 22, 2022

[…] no longer travel freely...

Posted On March 8, 2022

Watch This!

Contact Us (Click the image):

Pages

  • About Us
  • Colombia Events, Conferences, Festivals and Important Dates
  • Contact Us
  • main
  • Media Partnerships
  • Privacy Policy
  • Search Results
  • Whatsapp test page
Copyright 2014-2020 Finance Colombia All Rights Reserved. We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.
Posting....
WhatsApp us