El Salvador International Airport.
El Salvador International Airport Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL) is located in San Luis Talpa, La Paz, about 40 kilometers from San Salvador, the country’s capital.
The International Airport, previously known as Comalapa International Airport, is the only international airport in El Salvador. It was inaugurated in January 1980.
It is the third busiest in Central America by the number of passengers, behind Panama’s Tocumen International Airport and Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaria International Airport.
| Airline | Website | Main Hub | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | *Avianca | www.avianca.com | Bogota Colombia |
| 2 | American | www.aa.com | Fort Worth, Texas USA |
| 3 | Delta | www.delta.com | Atlanta, Georgia USA |
| 4 | United | www.united.com | Chicago, Illinois USA |
| 5 | Copa | www.copaair.com | Panama City, Panama |
| 6 | Volaris | www.volaris.com | Costa Rica |
| 7 | Aeromexico | www.aeromexico.com | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 8 | Iberia | www.iberia.com | Madrid, Spain |
| 9 | Spirit | www.spirit.com | Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA |
| 10 | Frontier | www.flyfrontier.com | Denver, Colorado USA |
| 11 | Air Transat | www.airtransat.com | Montreal, Canada |
| 12 | Tag Airlines | www.tagairlines.com | Guatemala |
| 13 | Tropic Air | www.tropicair.com | Belize |
| 14 | Arajet | www.arajet.com | Dominic Republic |
SEE ALSO: El Salvador Tourism: A Journey Through Pristine Beaches, Colorful Towns, and Enchanting Parks
Avianca is the Airline that offers the most destinations from El Salvador; it has flights to many cities in North America and South America. Delta and American Airlines are the other two airlines with more routes to the United States.
El Salvador International Airport Website
El Salvador International Airport does not have a direct website. Therefore, if you need general information about the airport or flights, you can visit the CEPA information page and might get the information there.
El Salvador Airport Phone Number
El Salvador International airport does not provide a phone number for information. If you need general information about the airport, you can call CEPA at (503)2537 1300. However, it is better to contact the specific airline being used for information about arrivals or departures.
El Salvador Airport Arrivals and Departures
The Autonomous Port Executive Commission or CEPA information page provides information about departing and incoming flights. However, it is better to get the information directly from the airlines.
The Airport
According to SkyTrax, in 2019, the El Salvador airport in El Salvador was in the top 5 of the best airports in Central America and the Caribbean.
The El Salvador airport has direct flights to major cities in the United States, Central America, South America, and Europe. This airport is a central hub for Avianca Airlines, formally known as TACA Airlines, considered the official airline of El Salvador.
The airport facilities include restaurants, coffee shops, bars, duty-free shops, handicraft stores, tourist information offices, hotel booths, car rentals, and taxi services. Additionally, Wi-Fi connectivity is available throughout the terminal building.
New Airport Terminal
Starting in February 2022, the El Salvador International Airport can accommodate more passengers and airlines. The new three-level terminal expansion was inaugurated in February 2022. It includes five new waiting rooms with boarding areas, commercial and immigration spaces, and airline company offices.
The work began in 2018 to increase the passenger capacity of the airport. In 2018, before the Pandemic, El Salvador international airport served 3,392,236 passengers. With the new terminal, the international airport could serve more than 5 million passengers annually.
Airport’s History
Construction of the airport began in the mid-1970s and was completed in late 1979. The inauguration of the newly built airport was in January 1980; it replaced Ilopango International Airport. The old airport near lake Ilopango is currently being used as a regional air taxi, military, and charter aviation.
The airport was built as an initiative by President Arturo Armando Molina; the Government of Japan funded it. The airport started running in January 1980 as Cuscatlan International Airport, also known as Comalapa. The first flight was a TACA airliner bound for Guatemala City.
In March 2014, former President Mauricio Funes requested the name change for the El Salvador airport. The Legislature of El Salvador approved the name change of the airport to Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez.
Busiest International Routes
The busiest international routes linked to El Salvador’s International Airport are the following.
| Rank | Destination | Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Los Angeles CA, USA | Avianca, Delta, Volaris |
| #2 | Houston TX, USA | Avianca, Spirit, United |
| #3 | Washington DC, USA | Avianca, Volaris |
| #4 | Panama City, Panama | Avianca, Copa |
| #5 | Miami FL, USA | Avianca, American |
| #6 | San Jose Costa Rica | Avianca, Volaris |
| #7 | New York NY, USA | Avianca, Volaris |
| #8 | Mexico city, Mexico | Avianca, Aeromexico, Interjet |
| #9 | Atlanta GA, USA | Delta |
| #10 | San Francisco CA, USA | Avianca |
The International Airport Location
The Oscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdamez international airport is located in the municipality of San Luis Talpa in the Department of La Paz. Click here to see the airport’s location on google maps.
The airport is about 40 kilometers from the nation’s capital, San Salvador. It is also about 39 kilometers from Playa El Tunco, one of the most visited beaches by foreigners in El Salvador.
Who Manages the El Salvador International Airport?
The Autonomous Executive Port Commission or CEPA is the principal governmental institution in charge of managing the El Salvador airport. If you need to, you can get in touch with them at (503)2537-1300 or email them at [email protected]. SAL is the only airport in El Salvador.
