José María Córdova Airport Expansion Faces Delays Due to Government Lack of Funds for Second Runway

During a session of the Sixth Commission of the Senate (higher chamber of the Congress), Vice Minister of Infrastructure of Colombia Liliana María Ospina, confirmed that the government currently lacks the financial resources to fund the second stage of the José María Córdova Airport expansion project in Rionegro, Antioquia. This is the second biggest airport in Colombia and serves Medellín, along with the smaller Olaya Herrera Airport.
“This phase exceeds the current administration’s budgetary planning. At present, only funds for the first stage have been allocated,” Ospina stated during the debate called by Senator Esteban Quintero, as informed by local website MiOriente.

The airport’s master plan is structured in three phases, intended to support long-term growth and modernization. According to Ospina, the master plan is already more than 90% complete, with the final components expected by August 2025.

The airport has seen a significant rise in activity, with 12.5 million passengers and 129,000 tons of cargo passing through the terminal over the past year. The proposed upgrades are intended to address this growing demand and align with operational projections through 2055.

The first stage (2025–2030), for which funds have already been allocated, will enhance the airport with fast exits on the existing runway, taxiway extensions, the expansion of runway safety zones, a remote aircraft parking platform, a reconfiguration of the cargo terminal, internal building improvements, and the expansion of the waste collection and passenger terminal areas. This phase will also include the construction of parking facilities.

However, Ospina emphasized that while the first phase is funded, the most costly component of it—the acquisition of surrounding properties—will not be supported by the current government. “We have conducted reference appraisals for the land acquisition, which exceeds $1 trillion COP ($240M USD as of the date of publication)

The second stage (2035–2041) includes the highly anticipated construction of a second runway and terminal—considered vital for future airport capacity.

The plan also includes a third stage (through 2055), with additional developments to reach full operational capacity.
The total cost of implementing the full master plan is projected at $14.4 trillion COP (more than $3 billion USD)
Senator Esteban Quintero, who convened the Senate debate, criticized the government’s inaction, saying: “No administration built the second runway—Petro’s won’t either. This government has failed the people of Eastern Antioquia.”

In the session the four-lane road expansion project connecting El Tablazo to the airport was also discussed. According to Óscar Torres, president of the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI), designs are complete, and a formal agreement is expected within six months. However, the project still awaits a budget participation from the Antioquia Governor’s Office. The new four-kilometer road would help ease traffic congestion and link with the new traffic interchange currently under construction.

Headline photo: Senator Esteban Quintero (Centro Democrático Party), who called this debate (Photo: Youtube / Comisión Sexta de Senado)