Jorge Chávez International Airport is recognised by World Travel Awards

Jorge Chávez International Airport in Peru has experienced rapid growth over the past 12 years thanks to a concession agreement with the local government.

As a result, JCIA is now widely recognised as a secure and efficient air terminal, last year welcoming 13 million passengers.

Last month it received the title of South America’s Leading Airport from World Travel Awards. Here Breaking Travel News flies in to see what separates Jorge Chávez International Airport from its competition.

Beginnings of the concession

Lima Airport Partners (LAP) was granted a 30-year concession to manage Jorge Chávez International Airport on February 14th, 2001.

At that time the state of Peru’s main air terminal reflected 40 years of lack of investment in maintenance and modernisation.

In this light, the Peruvian government decided that considerable investments in infrastructure and equipment should be carried out over an initial period, irrespective of the volume of passengers arriving at Jorge Chávez International Airport.

Modernisation works extended over two phases, completed in December 2004 and December 2008, respectively.

A strategic location

Jorge Chávez International Airport’s strategic location makes it a key interconnection point for South American passengers.

Reflecting this, LAN and TACA, two important foreign airlines, have established Jorge Chávez International Airport as their hub.

This provides important advantages:

• As the main entrance point into Peru, it is a key element for promoting the country in general and Lima in particular.
• It connects Peru with the rest of the world, and Lima with other cities and regions in the country.
• Jorge Chávez International Airport articulates the nationwide cargo system, as Lima concentrates almost 70 per cent of Peru’s industry and trade.

Infrastructure

Today Jorge Chávez International Airport boasts an 86,194 m2 terminal (39,467 m2 in 2001), a 373,792 m2 platform (165,000 m2 in 2001), a 3,507-meter runway, 54 aircraft parking positions, six baggage belts for international flights, 19 passenger loading bridges, 28 boarding lounges, 30 migration positions at the international arrivals area, 16 migration positions at the international departures area, and over 100 commercial outlets, restaurants and service providers.

Investments and transfers

Total investments carried out by LAP as of June 2013 amount to US$312 million.

In addition, after more than 12 years under the Jorge Chávez International Airport concession, LAP has transferred more than US$1.3 billion to the Peruvian government in concession fees, transfers to government entities, and taxes.

A rewarded effort

For over 20 years the World Travel Awards has celebrated excellence in the tourism industry around the world.

A the World Travel Awards South & Central America Gala Ceremony, this year held in Lima, Jorge Chávez International Airport was declared South America’s Leading Airport for the fifth consecutive year.

The airport beat other nominated airports, such as Brasilia International Airport (Brazil), Antonio Carlos Jobim Airport (Brazil), Buenos Aires International Airport (Argentina), and Santiago International Airport (Chile).

A grand airport for a greater Peru

A vast Jorge Chávez International Airport expansion project has been launched.

Peru’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications has initiated the gradual delivery of a seven million m2 area to LAP with an aim to continue the modernisation of Jorge Chávez International Airport.

LAP will carry out the necessary engineering studies to design and build Jorge Chávez International Airport’s new infrastructure.

The Jorge Chávez International Airport expansion project includes:

• A terminal with two independent levels (arrivals and departures).
• A parking lot at the new terminal.
• More aircraft parking positions to enhance Jorge Chávez International Airport’s capacity to respond to demand.
• A second runway, new taxiways, and adequate infrastructure to increase Jorge Chávez International Airport’s operational capacity.
• An aircraft maintenance center.
• A hotel and convention center, among other facilities usual in projects of this caliber.

More Information

There is more information on the airport on the official website.