Silvio Pettirossi International Airport

Aeropuerto Internacional Silvio Pettirossi
Summary
Airport typePublic/military
ServesAsunción
LocationLuque, Paraguay
OpenedJune 11, 1938 (1938-06-11)
Hub for
Time zoneTime in Paraguay (UTC−04:00)
Elevation AMSL89 m / 292 ft
Coordinates25°14′23″S 057°31′09″W / 25.23972°S 57.51917°W / -25.23972; -57.51917
Map
ASU is located in Paraguay
ASU
ASU
Location of airport in Paraguay
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
02/20 3,353 11,001 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Passengers876,625 Increase 102%
Aircraft operations48,108 Increase 8%
Metric tonnes of cargo14,308 Decrease 7%
Statistics: DINAC[1]

Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (IATA: ASU, ICAO: SGAS) is an international airport in Luque, Paraguay, which serves Paraguay's capital city, Asunción, and indirectly serves the nearby city of Clorinda, Formosa, in Argentina. The airport is named after Paraguayan aviator Silvio Pettirossi. Between 1980 and 1989, it was known as President Stroessner International Airport, after the former head of state, Alfredo Stroessner.

It is the main international hub for LATAM Paraguay and Paranair.

Some of its facilities are shared with the Ñu-Guazú Air Force Base of the Paraguayan Air Force.

History

The airport was inaugurated on 11 June 1938.[2] The airport's runway was constructed in the 1960s, and was resurfaced in 1985.[3]

Spanish airline Iberia provided direct flights to Asunción from Madrid from around 1968 until the mid-1990s.[4] Lufthansa flew once a week from Frankfurt to Asunción from 1971 to 1980, with DC-10 service starting in 1974.[5] For both airlines, the flights included multiple stops in destinations throughout South America. Also, between the early 1990s and 1996, Lineas Aereas Paraguayas flew nonstop to Frankfurt with its DC-10.

2000s

The check-in at the airport in 2008

In November 2004, the director of Direccion Nacional de Aeronautica Civil (DINAC), Eustaquio Ocáriz, told ABC Color that the airport's runway, which had repair work started in 2001, but halted due to lack of funds, would be completed by the early months of 2005.[3]

On 31 July 2007, at 05:10am, a group of five men stole US$1,000,000 from a money exchange on the bottom floor of the airport.[6][7][8] One of the robbers, Juan Pablo Ortigoza, was detained, along with others.[9] Another robber was captured in Encarnación.[10] It was later discovered that the robbery was planned in Asunción's Tacumbú prison.[11] One of the arrested stated they received US$60,000 for the robbery.[12] The money was going to be sent on a flight to Uruguay.[13][14]

In May 2008, a report concluded that Paraguay's aeronautic systems were in a critical state and needed to be replaced.[15] In November 2009, new instrument landing systems began operating.[16] The equipment was acquired at a cost of €967,400.[16] The previous system that was replaced was installed in 1980.[16] The implementation of the system made Paraguay up to date with the requirements of international security as a member of the OACI.[16]

2010s

In January 2013, various improvements were made to the terminal.[17] By 2015, some airlines had ceased operations at the airport, including American Airlines.[18] On 17 December 2015, Air Europa began service between Pettirossi and Madrid, Spain, creating the first direct connection between Paraguay and Europe in 21 years.[19]

In 2017, airport infrastructure specialist Carlos Achucarro estimated that the airport would require expansion before 2024.[18] In January 2018, DINAC reported that the airport has seen a 15 percent rise in travellers from 2013 to 2017.[20] The airport also saw an increase in flights, from 20 daily flights to about 60 flights by 2018.[20]

2020s

Pettirossi Airport ceased operating commercial flights for 7 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, DINAC announced a ceremony for the resumption of flights.[21][22]

In November 2020, drugs were found by agents of the National Secretary of Antidrugs. They were disguised as parcels and were to be sent to various countries.[23] In February 2021, plans for a second terminal were unveiled, to be started in 2022.[24] In October 2021, a new route, operated by Paranair, was announced between Pettirossi and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.[25]

Terminals

The interior of the airport in 2009

The original passenger terminal, located near threshold 02, is now instead used by Grupo Aerotáctico (GAT) of the Paraguayan Air Force. The current terminal began service on 20 March 1980.[26]

The terminal building is split into two international concourses: the south concourse having gates 1 to 4, and the north concourse having gates 5 and 6. On May 26, 2023, renovation works of the north concourse were completed, greatly expanding the arrivals hall.[27]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Aerolíneas Argentinas Buenos Aires–Aeroparque, Córdoba (AR) (begins April 9, 2024)[28]
Air Europa Madrid
Avianca Bogotá
Boliviana de Aviación Santa Cruz de la Sierra–Viru Viru (begins January 18, 2024)[29]
Copa Airlines Panama City–Tocumen
Gol Transportes Aéreos São Paulo–Guarulhos
JetSmart Argentina Buenos Aires–Aeroparque
LATAM Paraguay Lima, Santiago de Chile, São Paulo–Guarulhos
Paranair Buenos Aires–Aeroparque, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Ciudad del Este, Córdoba (AR) (begins March 6, 2024),[30] Montevideo, Santa Cruz de la Sierra–Viru Viru
Seasonal: Florianópolis, Punta del Este, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Avianca Cargo Miami, Montevideo
LATAM Cargo Brasil Medellín–JMC, Miami

Statistics

Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to the Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (DINAC) reports:[31]

YearPassengerAircraftCargo (t)
2022876,625 Increase 102%48,108 Increase 8%14,308 Decrease 7%
2021433,732 Increase 39%44,389 Increase 25%15,313 Increase 31%
2020311,813 Decrease 75%35,405 Decrease 34%11,704 Decrease 9%
20191,239,403 Increase 2%53,353 Steady12,811 Decrease 4%
20181,211,576 Increase 3%53,443 Increase 6%13,398 Decrease 3%
20171,180,111 Increase 14%50,485 Increase 5%13,788 Decrease 2%
20161,033,168 Increase 13%48,025 Steady14,110 Increase 16%
2015910,554 Decrease 1%47,942 Increase 4%12,199 Increase 11%
2014915,425 Increase 10%46,028 Increase 15%10,954 Increase 16%
2013835,323 Decrease 4%39,974 Decrease 8%9,444 Steady
2012868,534 Increase 6%43,336 Increase 5%9,491 Increase 6%
2011823,207 Increase 12%41,462 Increase 15%8,986 Increase 34%
2010733,810 Increase 23%36,030 Increase 25%6,729 Increase 22%
2009595,145 Decrease 6%28,933 Decrease 3%5,434 Decrease 23%
2008631,33829,6837,054

Accidents and incidents

  • 16 June 1955: a Panair do Brasil–owned Lockheed L-149 Constellation, with registration PP-PDJ, was operating flight 263 from São Paulo-Congonhas to Asunción. It hit a 12m tree while on its final approach to land at Asunción. Part of the wing broke off, the aircraft crashed and caught fire. Of the 24 passengers and crew aboard, 16 died.[32][33]
  • 27 August 1959: an Aerolíneas Argentinas–owned de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4, with registration LV-AHP, was operating a flight from Buenos Aires to Asunción. While on approach to Asunción, bad weather caused a forced landing close to the airport. A crew member and a passenger died.[34]
  • 29 August 1980: a Transporte Aéreo Militar–owned Douglas C-47B, with registration FAP2016, crashed on approach to Asunción. The aircraft was on a flight to Ayolas when an engine failed shortly after take-off and the decision was made to land back at Asunción. One person died.[35]
  • 4 February 1996: a cargo LAC Colombia–owned Douglas DC-8-55F, with registration HK-3979X, was on an empty positioning flight around Asunción prior to a flight from Asunción to Campinas. At VR power was reduced on no. 1 engine and, after rotation, also on the no. 2 engine. With the gear still down and flaps at 15° the aircraft lost control and crashed on a playing field 2 km past the runway. The crew possibly used the positioning flight as an opportunity for crew training. All four occupants of the aircraft and 20 persons on the ground died.[36]

Access

The airport, located within the municipality of Luque, is located 10 km (6 mi) from downtown Asunción. It may be reached via the Aviadores del Chaco Avenue, which runs adjacent to nearby Ñu Guasú Park. Bus line 30-A links Asunción's downtown with the airport terminal.

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ↑ "INFORME ESTADISTICO DEL TRANSPORTE AÉREO ENERO A DICIEMBRE - 2022" [Airtraffic Statistic 2022] (PDF; 635 KB) (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "Reseña Historica", DINAC (in Spanish), 9 January 2010, archived from the original on 4 December 2021, retrieved 25 February 2021
  3. 1 2 "En marzo de 2005 finalizará bacheo de la peligrosa pista del "Silvio Pettirossi" - Economía - ABC Color". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  4. ↑ "A 50 años del primer vuelo de Iberia a Asunción". 1 July 2016. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Un día como hoy de 1974 Lufthansa llegaba a Asunción con DC10". 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  6. ↑ "Los megaasaltos más sonados en Paraguay". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  7. ↑ https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/implicado-en-robo-en-aeropuerto-fue-desplumado-a-dos-dias-del-atraco-1004971.html%3foutputType=amp
  8. ↑ https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/suplementos/judicial/golpe-en-aeropuerto-1618000.html%3foutputType=amp
  9. ↑ https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/arrestan-a-megaasaltante-por-el-robo-del-millon-de-dolares-1000666.html%3foutputType=amp
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/el-robo-de-un-millon-de-dolares-fue-planificado-en-la-carcel-de-tacumbu-999676.html%3foutputType=amp
  12. ↑ https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/habria-recibido-us-60000-tras-robo-en-el-aeropuerto-1011076.html%3foutputType=amp
  13. ↑ https://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/policiales/roban-un-millon-de-dolares-en-asalto-en-el-aeropuerto-999321.html%3foutputType=amp
  14. ↑ "Detenidos en San Lorenzo tuvieron vinculación con robo en el aeropuerto - Nacionales - ABC Color". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  15. ↑ "El aeropuerto de Silvio Pettirossi podría dejar de operar en 45 días | Innovación". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Comenzó a operar el nuevo ILS del aeropuerto Silvio Pettirossi". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "Aeropuerto Silvio Pettirossi muestra nueva imagen - Interior - ABC Color". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Sostienen que ampliación de aeropuerto internacional de Asunción solamente requiere US$30M | AméricaEconomía | AméricaEconomía". 16 January 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  19. ↑ Color, ABC. "Llegó a Paraguay primer vuelo de Air Europa - Nacionales - ABC Color". Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  20. 1 2 Noelia Ferreira (17 January 2018). "Dinac modifica el Silvio Pettirossi para mejorar calidad del servicio - .::Agencia IP::". Ip.gov.py. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "La Nación / Dinac se prepara para la reapertura comercial del Silvio Pettirossi". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "La NaciĂłn / Este jueves reinician vuelos comerciales en el aeropuerto Silvio Pettirossi". Lanacion.com.py. 21 October 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  23. ↑ "La Nación / Alerta aeropuerto Paraguay: Drogas disfrazadas de encomiendas". Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  24. ↑ "La nueva terminal del aeropuerto Silvio Pettirossi recibirá financiación del MOPC" (in Spanish). Icex.es. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  25. ↑ "Nueva ruta que conecta Asunción con Santa Cruz de la Sierra fue habilitada". Ultimahora.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  26. ↑ "Un día como hoy se inauguraba la actual terminal del aeropuerto de Asunción". Aeronauticapy (in Spanish). 20 March 2019. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  27. ↑ "Inauguran ampliación del Espigón Norte del aeropuerto Silvio Pettirossi". Aeronauticapy (in Spanish). 28 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  28. ↑ "Aerolíneas Argentinas crece en Paraguay (doble vuelo diario y nueva ruta COR-ASU)". Aeronauticapy (in Spanish). 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  29. ↑ "Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) inició la venta de pasajes a Asunción con conexiones a Estados Unidos, Perú y España". Aviacionline (in Spanish). 11 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  30. ↑ Paranair launches flights between Córdoba and Asunción to compete with Aerolíneas Argentinas
  31. ↑ "Datos Estadísticos mensuales del Transporte Aéreo Comercial en Paraguay". Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (DINAC) (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  32. ↑ "Accident description PP-PDJ". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  33. ↑ Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Noite do Paraguai". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 145–149. ISBN 978-85-7430-760-2.
  34. ↑ "Accident description LV-AHP". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  35. ↑ "Accident description FAP2016". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  36. ↑ "Accident description HK-3979X". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
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