El Salvador International Airport. The Inter-American Development Bank said Thursday it approved a $195 million loan to help modernize El Salvador’s San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport, aiming to expand capacity, improve service quality, and strengthen air-transport management.
The IDB said the financing, structured as a targeted investment loan, supports national authorities in upgrading infrastructure at the country’s principal airport, which currently handles nearly all international operations and 99.8% of national air traffic.
According to the bank, the funds will carry a 23-year term, a 7.5-year grace period, and interest based on the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, a benchmark tied to U.S. Treasury-backed transactions.
The institution said the project will improve airport service standards and reinforce institutional capacity in areas such as planning, daily operations, infrastructure oversight, and long-term management of air-transport services.
The announcement follows CEPA’s launch of a new modernization phase in early September, a multiyear effort expected to draw more than $245 million in additional investment over the next four years.
The bank said a modern and efficient airport system could broaden opportunities to capitalize on the sector’s economic and social benefits, particularly as passenger demand continues to rise across the region.
IDB projections estimate the upgraded airport could serve 7.7 million passengers annually by 2030, supported by expansions to the terminal building, aircraft apron, passenger services, and key operational facilities.
CEPA reported that the airport handled 5.2 million passengers in 2024, underscoring the need for expanded space, improved mobility, and new infrastructure to manage higher traffic volumes.
The plan includes building the second phase of the terminal expansion, enlarging the aircraft apron, and constructing a foxtrot taxiway and a new vehicle parking structure serving the main terminal.
Additional works will include a dedicated facility for the Fire and Rescue Service, designed to strengthen emergency response capacity and align the airport with international safety and operational standards.
The IDB said the loan aligns with its broader regional initiative to support productivity and economic integration through modern, sustainable infrastructure, especially in countries seeking stronger logistics and transportation networks.
Officials said the investment will benefit 7.7 million projected passengers and support more than 518,000 people, directly or indirectly linked to tourism, as well as 1.8 million who depend on wider economic activity tied to air transport.
