Aeropuertos Uruguay took over Salto airport announcing new passenger terminal

In a ceremony held last Friday, attended by local and national authorities, Aeropuertos Uruguay, part of Corporación América Airports, took over Salto International Airport “Nueva Hespérides”, located in the northwest of the country.

It is the third airport, after Carmelo and Rivera, to be managed by Aeropuertos Uruguay since it received, in 2021, from the Uruguayan state, the concession for six stations within the framework of the creation of the National System of International Airports, which were added to those already operating for more than a decade, Carrasco (serving Montevideo) and Punta del Este.

According to the company, investments of more than US$60 million will be made during the concession term, including works, operation, and maintenance expenses.

Starting in the second half of 2023, the first tasks will begin, including refurbishing office spaces for state entities, the purchase of firefighting equipment, and the installation of a fiber optic ring and a security system.

Subsequently, a new passenger terminal will be built, the runway and taxiways will be resurfaced, and a new approach lighting system with LED technology will be installed.

“It is an honor to start operating and managing Salto Airport. We want to add our efforts and contribute a grain of sand to the work being done by the community to promote tourism and development of the department,” said Diego Arrosa, CEO of Aeropuertos Uruguay, during the ceremony.

“We do not doubt that the modernization of the airport and the synergies generated with local stakeholders will have a great positive impact, developing not only connectivity but also boosting the development of tourism and creating a hub of activity,” he concluded.

The mayor of Salto, Andrés Lima, said there is a great expectation on the part of the local tourism sector regarding the modernization of the airport, given that it will help open new perspectives for the Termas Destination.

“From the departmental government, we are more than open to work actively and jointly, between the different levels of government and with the private sector, to materialize the works and improvements that Salto needs in terms of infrastructure, as we are already doing in the Central Hortícola del Norte, the dry port or the barge port, laying the foundations and conditions for growth and above all, thinking of our people, to generate new and better opportunities,” he commented.

The Nueva Hespérides International Airport (STY/SUSO) of Salto has a concrete runway 1,588 meters long and a grass runway 750 meters long.

No scheduled passenger flights currently operate there. The last company to do so was BQB Líneas Aéreas between 2010 and 2013.

With information from Aviacionline