Toncontín International Airport: Difference between revisions

Toncontín Airport

*Aeropuerto Toncontín*
Toncontín Airport; Aeropuerto Toncontín
	IATA: TGU; ICAO: MHTG;
Summary
Airport type	Military/Public
Owner/Operator	EMCO S.A
Serves	Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Elevation AMSL	3,307 ft / 1,008 m
Coordinates	14°03′42″N 087°13′01″W / 14.06167°N 87.21694°W
Website	toncontin.aeropuerto.hn
Map
	TGU Location in Honduras
Runways
Statistics (2018)
Total Passengers
Total Passengers	617,526
	Source: AIP, EMCO, S.A.

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Toncontín Airport (IATA: TGU, ICAO: MHTG) formerly Toncontín International Airport, also known as Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport is a civil and military airport located 6 km (4 mi) from the centre of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

The History Channel programme Most Extreme Airports ranks it as the second most extreme airport in the world.^[3] The approach to the airport is considered to be one of the most difficult in the world to all aircraft, especially in inclement weather conditions.

History

Since the 19th century, the plains south of Tegucigalpa became known as the "Potrero Los Llanos", part of a farm adjoining the farm Loarque. In these areas, some political events took place. José Santos Guardiola defeated General José Trinidad Cabañas, seizing presidency of the republic. "El Llano" as it was known, is to the south end of Comayagüela. On a road to the south is the field that served for the takeoff and landing of aircraft. Currently, this forms the Hernán Acosta Mejía (HAM) Air Force base. The first landing was in 1921 when a single-engine plane from the Bristol Aeroplane Company landed with Captain Dean Ivan Lamb in command. He was received by President Rafael López Gutiérrez who broke a bottle of champagne on one of the aircraft's propellers.

The origin of the name Toncontín is unknown, but experts say that it is a word derived from the Nahuatl word "Tocotín", the name of an ancient and sacred dance of Yucatán in Mexico.

Aviator Luigi Venditti conducted several flights using the natural floodplain from Toncontín. Jose Villa, an Italian national, was another precursor of Honduran aviation who conducted flights from Toncontín, as did Starnaivola, Enrique Massi, Ball, and Clarence H. Brown.

The civil war in 1924 caused President Tiburcio Carías Andino to realise that aviation had a great future in Honduras, providing an ideal transport solution for the mountainous country, as well as being a strategic military weapon. For these reasons and with the growth of commercial aviation and the emergence of the Honduran Air Force, General Tiburcio Carías acquired the land that was to become Toncontín Airport in 1933. On January 5, 1934, the airport was inaugurated with the landing of a Douglas DC-3 from Pan American World Airways. Months later TACA opened "Hotel Toncontín" to accommodate passengers in transit, and Pan-Am built a hangar.

During the Football War of 1969, Toncontín Airport was a major target for the Salvadoran Air Force, and was bombed on several occasions, thus preventing the Honduran Air Force from launching its aircraft. The airport was repaired in a matter of days, and the Hondurans countered, making good progress.

Facilities

Toncontín before the renovation of the hillside runway

Toncontín after the renovation of the hillside runway

The airport received much notoriety as being one of the most dangerous in the world due to its proximity to mountainous terrain, its short runway, and its historically difficult approach to runway 02.^[3] For years efforts were made to replace it with Soto Cano Air Base in Comayagua, which did not occur until 2021 when Comayagua International Airport opened there. In the meantime, Toncontín was significantly improved by the work of the Airport Corporation of Tegucigalpa (ACT) and InterAirports, a company contracted by the Honduran government to administer the country's four major airports.

The airport has a single asphalt runway, situated at an elevation of 1,005 m (3,297 ft) AMSL. Until May 2009, the runway was only 6,112 ft (1,863 m) in length. In 2007, the approach to runway 02 was made significantly easier by work which systematically bulldozed a large portion of the hillside, immediately before the threshold. Following this work, in May 2009, the southern end of the runway received a 984 ft (300 m) extension, lengthening it to 7,096 ft (2,163 m). As of 2011, the runway is listed as being 2,021 m × 45 m (6,631 ft × 148 ft).

Boeing 737-200s operated by seasonal charter airline Aviatsa are the largest aircraft that normally land at Toncontín. Even with its recent runway extension, Toncontín's runway is still significantly shorter than that of most international airports. It is so short, in fact, that many aircraft seen by plane spotters are seen to be touching down on the displaced threshold of the runway,^{[citation needed]} which by aviation law is not allowed to be landed on.

Historically, larger aircraft have occasionally landed at Toncontín, such as a Douglas DC-8 on a mission with Orbis International in 1987, a C-17 Globemaster in 2008, 2009 and 2011,^[4]^[5] and Boeing 757s operated by American Airlines, which in 2015 replaced them with Airbus A319s. In the 1980s and early 1990s, SAHSA operated Boeing 727s and Boeing 737s from its hub at Toncontín.

Toncontín International Airport has 4 gates (2 in the new terminal), a post office, a bank and bureau de change, many restaurants, and several airline lounges, as well as a duty-free shop, car rental services, and a first-aid room. The old terminal is undergoing renovation, and will be used for domestic flights in the future. The new terminal was used for international flights until 2021.

Toncontín was also the home of the Aeroclub de Honduras (Honduran Air Club).

International flights suspension

On May 30, 2008, the crash of TACA Flight 390 prompted the announcement by then Honduran President Manuel Zelaya that all large aircraft operations would move to the Soto Cano Air Base. This move would effectively move all international traffic from Toncontín, limiting its use to only domestic flights and small aircraft.^[6]

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) completed a review of Toncontín and made safety recommendations regarding the airport. On June 25, 2008, President Zelaya reiterated his position of severely restricting international traffic to and from Toncontín and announced his intention to form a commission that would oversee implementing the safety recommendations of the ICAO report.^{[citation needed]}

On July 8, 2008, President Zelaya announced the reopening of Toncontín airport at a news conference following a three-hour meeting with businessmen, who had demanded commercial flights resume at Toncontín due to Soto Cano Air Base being too far from Tegucigalpa. Zelaya reiterated that all commercial flights would eventually use the new airport at Soto Cano from 2009. This however, was canceled after Zelaya was removed from office on June 28, 2009, in the 2009 Honduran coup d'état.^[7] International flights continued to operate to Toncontín until November 15, 2021.^[8]^[9]

Toncontín today

In 2009 TACA Airlines could not operate to Toncontín and apparently the rest of the country's airports because of a state debt to Honduras, but on May 20, 2009, TACA said that the problems with Honduras were resolved.^[10]
In 2009 Authorities at the airport finally decided to make use of masks and other measures to prevent the H1N1 flu virus, since the number of cases had risen to 34 in the country.^[11]
In 2009, one year after the crash of TACA Flight 390 at Toncontín airport that killed five people, business owners near the site of the tragedy complained that they had not been compensated.^[12]
In 2008 Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya said that Tegucigalpa, the capital of the country, would benefit from the construction of the Palmerola airport, while others claim that this was an attempt to close Toncontín.^[13]
The Civil Aviation Authority of Honduras temporarily suspended the operating license of Islena Airlines, part of the Taca El Salvador group, for outstanding debts of 37 million Honduran lempira, leaving the service of internal flights to Honduras in crisis.^[14]
In May 2009, a 984 ft (300 m) extension was completed on the south end of the runway, increasing the length of the runway from 6,112 ft (1,863 m) to 7,096 ft (2,163 m). The extension is helpful for take-offs to the north, and rare landings from the north, however, it is debatable whether it will assist with standard landings from the south due to the proximity to nearby mountains.
On July 5, 2009, the airport was closed to all flights and the airspace in and around Toncontín was severely restricted due to the planned arrival of ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya. Zelaya's private Venezuelan jet was not given landing clearance by the Authorities at Toncontín and the military blocked the single runway with vehicles and troops. The plane was then diverted to Managua, Nicaragua.^[15]
Due to the bombing attempt by Al-Qaeda of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 on December 25, 2009; the security at Toncontín was increased with the use of undercover police officers at the airport.^[16]
On January 27, 2010, Honduran ex-president Manuel Zelaya and his family left the country after 120 days seeking refuge at the Brazilian Embassy, they left at 14:45 from Toncontín International Airport, to the Dominican Republic, where Zelaya proposed to hold a trial against the people who ran the 2009 Honduran constitutional crisis. Thousands of Hondurans were present outside the airport to witness the moment Zelaya left the country.^[17]
In April 2011, the airport authority and the government of Honduras resumed airport relocation talks and announced that work on the new Palmerola airport would start by the fall of 2011 after years of efforts to replace Toncontín International with an airport at Palmerola in Comayagua where the Soto Cano Air Base is located.^[18] However, in a September 25, 2011 update, President Lobo stated officials were still "evaluating the pros and cons" of constructing the new airport.^[19] This comes three years after former President Manuel Zelaya had announced that all commercial flights would be transferred to Soto Cano Air Base; however, work on the new terminal at Soto Cano was then cancelled after Zelaya was removed from office on 28 June 2009 in the 2009 Honduran coup d'état.^[20] Upon realization of the Palmerola airport, commercial flights to and from Toncontín would continue to operate but will be limited to small aircraft and domestic flights.^[21]
During 2018, the airport received 625,593 passengers.^[22]
As of December 15, 2021, all international carriers operating at Toncontin have moved operations to the new recently inaugurated Comayagua International Airport located in the military air base of Palmerola, located 70 km (43 mi) from Tegucigalpa. Among the airlines that have moved operations are: American Airlines, Avianca El Salvador, Copa Airlines and United Airlines. Airlines such as Aeroméxico Connect and Spirit Airlines are the new international carriers operating to/from Tegucigalpa/Comayagua.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Airlines	Destinations
Aerolíneas Sosa	La Ceiba, Roatán^[23]^[24]
Aviatsa	Seasonal charter: Roatán^[25]
CM Airlines	Puerto Lempira, Roatán, San Pedro Sula^[26]
Lanhsa	La Ceiba^[27]

Cargo

Airlines	Destinations
DHL de Guatemala	Guatemala City

Operations

Runway 02 approach

Because of the terrain in Tegucigalpa, aircraft cannot easily be accommodated on a traditional straight-in approach for Runway 02, the most frequently used runway because of wind direction. Instead, an RNAV (GPS) approach is used, resembling a circle-to-land approach. Aircraft are routed through shallower terrain in a circular fashion, then follow along the Anillo Periferico road to a cloverleaf interchange, at which point aircraft take a sharp left turn to line up with runway 02. ^[28] Until the partial demolition of the hillside, aircraft experienced limited ground clearance just before the threshold, hence had to approach slightly higher than optimal, increasing the challenge of the landing already made challenging by the short 1,830 metres (6,000 ft) runway. To maximize the amount of runway available, many aircraft land on the 350 metres (1,150 ft) displaced threshold, just before the actual 02 threshold.^[29]

Runway 02 departure

Departures from runway 02 must turn to a heading of 018 degrees and then climb swiftly to 9000 feet to avoid mountainous terrain just north of the airport. Because of the short length of the runway and the high altitude of the airport, aircraft require a large amount of power to do this, making late go-arounds potentially dangerous if not executed properly, especially in a plane with a poorer power-to-weight ratio that climbs slower.

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at TGU airport. See Wikidata query.

Accidents and incidents

7 June 1962: A Curtiss C-46 Commando, (HR-SAL), a cargo flight operated by SAHSA, crash-landed at Toncontín when the left undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Both crew members survived but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.^[30]
30 June 1966: A Douglas DC-6, (HR-TNG), operated by Transportes Aéreos Nacionales overran the runway on landing and was destroyed by fire.^[30]
20 February 1967: A Douglas DC-6, (HR-SAS) operated by SAHSA overran the runway whilst attempting to land on runway 01 at Toncontín. According to crew reports, the reverse thrust mechanism failed to engage and the crew had to brake hard causing two tires to catch fire. The nose gear overran the runway into a ditch, followed by the left main gear leg. Out of 50 passengers and 5 crew on board, 4 were killed.^[30]
25 November 1969: A Douglas DC-3, (HR-ANA), operated by SAHSA crashed while attempting to land on runway 01 at Toncontín. A strong wind gust upset the aircraft during flare, which pushed the aircraft towards the terminal buildings. The crew force-turned away from the buildings and crashed. All 15 passengers and 3 crew survived.^[30]
26 May 1970: A de Havilland Heron operated by Aero Servicios crashed during approach to runway 19, 1.5 km (0.93 mi) from the runway. The aircraft banked steeply to the left, and crashed in a nearby valley. The cause of the accident was attributed to a stall brought about by turbulent wind conditions at low altitude. 4 passengers and 2 crew were killed.^[30]
25 February 1989: A privately owned Douglas DC-6 (HR-AKZ) struck a mountain on approach to Toncontín and crashed. All 10 people aboard were killed.^[30]
21 October 1989: TAN-SAHSA Flight 414, a Boeing 727-200 on approach to runway 01 at Toncontín, crashed into a nearby hill, killing 131 of 146 people aboard. The cause of the crash was attributed to pilot error by disregarding the prescribed approach procedures.^[30]
1 April 1997: A U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo plane overshot the runway at Toncontín and came to rest on a civilian highway interchange, where it caught fire. The cause of the crash was attributed to excess speed on landing, resulting in a prolonged flare. The aircraft touched down 2,000 ft (610 m) beyond the runway 02 threshold.^[30]
30 May 2008: TACA Flight 390, an Airbus A320, overran the runway after landing on runway 02 at Toncontín. The aircraft plunged 20m down an embankment and came to rest on a road. 3 of the 124 people aboard and 2 people on the ground were killed.^[30]
14 February 2011: Central American Airways Flight 731, a Let L-410 Turbolet, crashed on approach to Toncontin 20 km from the airport, in Las Mesitas, Municipio de Santa Ana. All 14 aboard were killed.
22 May 2018: A chartered Gulfstream G200 jet flying from Texas to Honduras crash landed at the Toncontin International Airport in Honduras's capital Tegucigalpa. At least six Americans were injured. The Gulfstream G200 aircraft was on a private flight from Austin, Texas, when it skidded off the runway. Authorities have given conflicting accounts of how many were on board, some saying six or nine, but a police official did say "Thank God there are no fatalities." One witness told AFP he helped five men and a woman out of the plane, all of whom were "practically unharmed". The executive jet, which split in half, had veered into a ditch, a Honduran official told local media.^[31]

References

^ "MHTG – Toncontín / Internacional". AIP de Centroamerica. Tegucigalpa: Corporación Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegación Aérea – COCESNA. 18 November 2010. pp. MHTG AD 2–1–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
^ Memoria de Sostenibilidad 2014-2015
^ ^a ^b Most Extreme Airports; The History Channel; August 26, 2010
^ "Past Destinations: 1987". Orbis. 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ C17 USAirForce @ Toncontin on YouTube
^ Staff writers (31 May 2009). "En sesenta días se habilitará Palmerola". La Tribuna (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2011. ^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Thelma Mejía (2 June 2009). "Soldier, Sailor, Airport Builder?". Inter Press Service English News Wire. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ "Aeropuerto Toncontín solo operará aviones para 33 pasajeros". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-11-06.
^ "En su centenario aeropuerto Toncontín dejará de operar vuelos internacionales". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-11-06.
^ Staff writers (20 March 2009). "Comunicado de Taca sobre mora con el Estado". El Heraldo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ Staff writers (30 May 2009). "A seis llegan los hospitalizados por sospechas de influenza A-H1N1". La Tribuna (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2011. ^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ "A un año del accidente de TACA todavía siguen las quejas". La Tribuna (in Spanish). 31 May 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2011. ^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Staff writers (20 May 2009). "La capital de Honduras tendrá dos aeropuertos". El Heraldo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ Marino Ortariz (23 June 2009). "Suspendido permiso a línea aérea "Isleña" del grupo Taca". Hondudiario (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ Staff writers (6 July 2009). "Zelaya's jet blocked in Honduras". BBC News. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ Staff writers (28 December 2009). "¡Redobladas medidas de seguridad en Toncontín!". La Tribuna (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ ""Volveremos": Mel Zelaya". El Progresoresiste (in Spanish). 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ La Tribuna Editor (2011-04-09). "Spanish: Construction of Palmerola will start in September". laTribuna.com. Retrieved 2011-08-28. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help) ^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ La Tribuna editor (2011-09-25). "Spanish: Government evaluates acquisition for construction of terminal in Palmerola". LaTribuna.hn. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-28. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ Thelma Mejía (2009-06-02). "Honduras: Soldier, Sailor, Airport Builder?". AllBusiness.com. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
^ Lara Barrera, Bessy (March 14, 2018). "Aeropuerto de Toncontín seguirá atendiendo los vuelos locales". Retrieved October 8, 2018.
^ "Toncontín Airport will only receive airplanes for 33 passengers" (in Spanish). El Heraldo. May 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
^ "American Airlines traslada operaciones en Tegucigalpa al Aeropuerto Palmerola". 14 December 2021.
^ "Avianca también confirma traslado de sus operaciones a Palmerola desde el 16 de diciembre". 13 December 2021.
^ "Gobierno de Honduras intentó favorecer a cómplice de Tony Hernández". May 1, 2020.
^ "CM Airlines suma una nueva aeronave a su flota de aviones y celebra su 15 aniversario a lo grande". 19 July 2023.
^ @PalmerolaHN (15 December 2021). "¡BIENVENIDO UNITED AIRLINES A PALMEROLA! ✈️A partir de mañana jueves 16 de diciembre operará desde Palmerola."U…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
^ "Toncontín (MHTG) Airport Charts, Jeppesen, 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "Rwy 02 displaced threshold". Google Maps. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport profile". Aviation Safety Network. 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
^ "Honduras plane crash: Private jet splits in half in crash landing". BBC News. 23 May 2018.

External links

Media related to Toncontín International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
OpenStreetMap - Toncontín Airport
Interairports (Spanish)
Video of a landing at Toncontín (YouTube)
(in Spanish) Humberto Galo Romero. "Nicaragua y Honduras en conexión directa Archived 2013-11-04 at the Wayback Machine." La Prensa (Nicaragua). October 22, 2013.

[aip_mhtg-1] "MHTG – Toncontín / Internacional". AIP de Centroamerica. Tegucigalpa: Corporación Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegación Aérea – COCESNA. 18 November 2010. pp. MHTG AD 2–1–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2011.

[Memoria_2014-2015-2] Memoria de Sostenibilidad 2014-2015

[ReferenceA-3] Most Extreme Airports; The History Channel; August 26, 2010

[4] "Past Destinations: 1987". Orbis. 2011. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[5] C17 USAirForce @ Toncontin on YouTube

[6] Staff writers (31 May 2009). "En sesenta días se habilitará Palmerola". La Tribuna (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2011. ^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[7] Thelma Mejía (2 June 2009). "Soldier, Sailor, Airport Builder?". Inter Press Service English News Wire. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[8] "Aeropuerto Toncontín solo operará aviones para 33 pasajeros". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-11-06.

[9] "En su centenario aeropuerto Toncontín dejará de operar vuelos internacionales". Diario El Heraldo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-11-06.

[10] Staff writers (20 March 2009). "Comunicado de Taca sobre mora con el Estado". El Heraldo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[11] Staff writers (30 May 2009). "A seis llegan los hospitalizados por sospechas de influenza A-H1N1". La Tribuna (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2011. ^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[12] "A un año del accidente de TACA todavía siguen las quejas". La Tribuna (in Spanish). 31 May 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2011. ^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[13] Staff writers (20 May 2009). "La capital de Honduras tendrá dos aeropuertos". El Heraldo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[14] Marino Ortariz (23 June 2009). "Suspendido permiso a línea aérea "Isleña" del grupo Taca". Hondudiario (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[15] Staff writers (6 July 2009). "Zelaya's jet blocked in Honduras". BBC News. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[16] Staff writers (28 December 2009). "¡Redobladas medidas de seguridad en Toncontín!". La Tribuna (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[17] ""Volveremos": Mel Zelaya". El Progresoresiste (in Spanish). 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[18] La Tribuna Editor (2011-04-09). "Spanish: Construction of Palmerola will start in September". laTribuna.com. Retrieved 2011-08-28. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help) ^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[19] La Tribuna editor (2011-09-25). "Spanish: Government evaluates acquisition for construction of terminal in Palmerola". LaTribuna.hn. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2011-09-28. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)

[20] Thelma Mejía (2009-06-02). "Honduras: Soldier, Sailor, Airport Builder?". AllBusiness.com. Retrieved 2011-09-28.

[21] Lara Barrera, Bessy (March 14, 2018). "Aeropuerto de Toncontín seguirá atendiendo los vuelos locales". Retrieved October 8, 2018.

[22] "Toncontín Airport will only receive airplanes for 33 passengers" (in Spanish). El Heraldo. May 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2019.

[23] "American Airlines traslada operaciones en Tegucigalpa al Aeropuerto Palmerola". 14 December 2021.

[24] "Avianca también confirma traslado de sus operaciones a Palmerola desde el 16 de diciembre". 13 December 2021.

[25] "Gobierno de Honduras intentó favorecer a cómplice de Tony Hernández". May 1, 2020.

[26] "CM Airlines suma una nueva aeronave a su flota de aviones y celebra su 15 aniversario a lo grande". 19 July 2023.

[27] @PalmerolaHN (15 December 2021). "¡BIENVENIDO UNITED AIRLINES A PALMEROLA! ✈️A partir de mañana jueves 16 de diciembre operará desde Palmerola."U…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

[28] "Toncontín (MHTG) Airport Charts, Jeppesen, 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

[29] "Rwy 02 displaced threshold". Google Maps. Retrieved 2 January 2019.

[aviation-safety.net-30] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport profile". Aviation Safety Network. 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.

[31] "Honduras plane crash: Private jet splits in half in crash landing". BBC News. 23 May 2018.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|National airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras}}
-{{Infobox Airport
+{{Infobox airport
-| name         = Toncontín International Airport
+| name                = Toncontín Airport
-| nativename   =
+| nativename          = <small>''{{lang|es|Aeropuerto Toncontín}}''</small>
-| nativename-a =
-| nativename-r =
+| nativename-a        =
-| image        = Toncontin.JPG
+| nativename-r        =
+| image               = Tegucigalpa Airport overview OJEV.jpg
-| image-width  =
-| caption      =
+| image-width         =
-| IATA         = TGU
+| caption             =
-| ICAO         = MHTG
+| IATA                = TGU
-| type         = Military/Public
+| ICAO                = MHTG
-| owner        =
+| type                = Military/Public
-| operator     = [[Military of Honduras]]
+| owner-oper          = EMCO S.A
-| city-served  =
+| city-served         = [[Tegucigalpa]], [[Honduras]]
-| location     = [[Tegucigalpa]]
+| location            = <!--If different than above-->
-| elevation-f  = 3,294
+| metric-elev         =
-| elevation-m  = 1,004
+| elevation-f         = 3307
-| coordinates  = {{Coord|14|03|39|N|087|13|02|W|type:airport}}
+| coordinates         = {{coord|14|03|42|N|087|13|01|W|region:HN|display=inline,title}}
-| website      =
+| pushpin_map         = Honduras
-| metric-rwy   = Yes
+| pushpin_label       = '''TGU'''
+| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Honduras
-| r1-number    = 02/20
+| website             = [https://toncontin.aeropuerto.hn/ toncontin.aeropuerto.hn]
-| r1-length-f  = 6,112
-| r1-length-m  = 1,863
+| metric-rwy          = y
-| r1-surface   = [[Asphalt]]
+| r1-number           = 02/20
-| stat-year    =
+| r1-length-m         = 2,163
+| r1-surface          = Asphalt
-| stat1-header =
-| stat1-data   =
+| stat-year           = 2018
-| stat2-header =
+| stat1-header        = Total Passengers
-| stat2-data   =
+| stat1-data          = 617,526
+| footnotes           = Source: [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]],<ref name="aip_mhtg">{{Cite web |url= http://www.cocesna.org/pagina.ais.php?id=88&lng=0 |title= MHTG – Toncontín / Internacional |access-date= 24 May 2011 |date= 18 November 2010 |format= PDF |work= AIP de Centroamerica |publisher= Corporación Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegación Aérea – COCESNA |location= Tegucigalpa |pages= MHTG AD 2–1–10 |archive-date= 2 October 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111002132556/http://www.cocesna.org/pagina.ais.php?id=88&lng=0 |url-status= dead }}</ref> EMCO, S.A.<ref name="Memoria 2014-2015">[http://www.interairports.hn/memoria14-15/MemoriaAeropuertosHonduras2014-2015.pdf Memoria de Sostenibilidad 2014-2015]</ref>
-| footnotes    =
 }}
-'''Toncontín International Airport''' {{airport codes|TGU|MHTG}} is a civil and military [[airport]] that serves [[Tegucigalpa]], [[Honduras]]. It is 6 km away from Tegucigalpa's center.
+'''Toncontín Airport''' {{Airport codes|TGU|MHTG}} formerly '''Toncontín International Airport''', also known as '''Teniente Coronel Hernán Acosta Mejía Airport''' is a civil and military [[airport]] located {{convert|6|km|abbr=on|0}} from the centre of [[Tegucigalpa]], [[Honduras]].
+The [[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]] programme ''Most Extreme Airports'' ranks it as the second most extreme airport in the world.<ref name="ReferenceA">''Most Extreme Airports''; [[History (U.S. TV channel)|The History Channel]]; August 26, 2010</ref> The approach to the airport is considered to be one of the most difficult in the world to all aircraft, especially in [[inclement weather]] conditions.
-[[Image:757landing-toncontin.jpg|thumb|left|757 landing at Toncontín runway]]
-The airport's single [[runway]] is 1,863 [[metre|m]] (6,112 [[foot (unit of length)|feet]]) in [[length]] and is at an [[altitude]] of 1,004 m (3,294 feet). [[Boeing 757]]s are the largest aircraft that can land at Toncontín, as it is one of the shortest international runways in the world.
+==History==
-During the [[Football War]] of 1969, Toncontín was a major target for the [[Military of El Salvador|Salvadoran Air Force]], and it was [[bomb]]ed on several occasions.
+{{unreferenced section|date=October 2021}}
+[[File:Toncontinairport.jpg|thumb|Toncontín in the 1980s]]
+Since the 19th century, the plains south of Tegucigalpa became known as the "''Potrero Los Llanos''", part of a farm adjoining the farm Loarque. In these areas, some political events took place. [[José Santos Guardiola]] defeated General [[José Trinidad Cabañas]], seizing presidency of the republic. "''El Llano''" as it was known, is to the south end of Comayagüela. On a road to the south is the field that served for the takeoff and landing of aircraft. Currently, this forms the Hernán Acosta Mejía (HAM) Air Force base. The first landing was in 1921 when a single-engine plane from the [[Bristol Aeroplane Company]] landed with Captain [[Dean Ivan Lamb]] in command. He was received by President [[Rafael López Gutiérrez]] who broke a bottle of champagne on one of the [[aircraft]]'s [[Propeller (aircraft)|propellers]].
+The origin of the name ''Toncontín'' is unknown, but experts say that it is a word derived from the [[Nahuatl]] word "Tocotín", the name of an ancient and sacred dance of [[Yucatán (state)|Yucatán]] in [[Mexico]].
-Toncontín International Airport has 4 gates (2 in the new terminal), 2 baggage claim belts, 150 short term [[parking]] spaces, a [[post office]], a bank, a ''[[bureau de change]]'', many [[restaurant]]s, several [[airline]] lounges, a [[duty|duty free]] shop, car rental services and a [[first aid]] room.  The old terminal is undergoing renovation, and will be used for domestic flights in the future. The new terminal is now used for international flights.
+Aviator Luigi Venditti conducted several flights using the natural floodplain from Toncontín. Jose Villa, an Italian national, was another precursor of Honduran aviation who conducted flights from Toncontín, as did Starnaivola, Enrique Massi, Ball, and Clarence H. Brown.
-Toncontín is also the home of the ''Aeroclub de Honduras''.
+The [[Second Honduran Civil War|civil war in 1924]] caused President [[Tiburcio Carías Andino]] to realise that aviation had a great future in Honduras, providing an ideal transport solution for the mountainous country, as well as being a strategic military weapon. For these reasons and with the growth of commercial aviation and the emergence of the [[Honduran Air Force]], General Tiburcio Carías acquired the land that was to become Toncontín Airport in 1933. On January 5, 1934, the airport was inaugurated with the landing of a [[Douglas DC-3]] from [[Pan American World Airways]]. Months later [[Grupo TACA|TACA]] opened "Hotel Toncontín" to accommodate passengers in transit, and Pan-Am built a hangar.
-The origin of the name ''Toncontín'' is unknown. This airport has received much criticism for being one of the most dangerous in the world due to its proximity to the mountains and for years efforts have been made to replace it with [[Soto Cano Air Base|Soto Cano airport]] in [[Comayagua]], currently an airbase. Toncontín has been improved significantly by the work of CAT (the Airport Corporation of Tegucigalpa) and by INTERAIRPORTS, a company hired by the government of Honduras to administer the four airports of the country.
+During the [[Football War]] of 1969, Toncontín Airport was a major target for the [[Military of El Salvador|Salvadoran Air Force]], and was bombed on several occasions, thus preventing the [[Honduran Air Force]] from launching its aircraft. The airport was repaired in a matter of days, and the Hondurans countered, making good progress.
-== Airlines and Destinations ==
-*[[American Airlines]] (Miami)
-*[[Atlantic Airlines de Honduras]] (Roatan, La Ceiba, Puerto Lempira, San Pedro Sula, Útila, Guanaja, Belize City, Ahuas, Bluefields, Corn Island, Grand Cayman, Managua, Puerto Cabezas)
-*[[Continental Airlines]] (Houston-Intercontinental)
-*[[Copa Airlines]] (Panama City, San José (CR))
-*[[Grupo Taca|TACA]] (Miami, San Salvador, Guatemala City, San Pedro Sula)
-*[[Islena Airlines]] (La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula)
-*[[Aerolineas Sosa]] (San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Roatan, Puerto Lempira)
+==Facilities==
-== Accidents and Incidents ==
+[[File:Toncontin.JPG|thumb|right|Interior of Toncontín]]
+[[File:Toncontinearly.jpg|thumb|right|Toncontín before the renovation of the hillside runway]]
+[[File:757finalTGU.jpg|thumb|right|Toncontín after the renovation of the hillside runway]]
+The airport received much notoriety as being one of the most dangerous in the world due to its proximity to mountainous terrain, its short runway, and its historically difficult approach to runway 02.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> For years efforts were made to replace it with [[Soto Cano Air Base]] in [[Comayagua]], which did not occur until 2021 when [[Comayagua International Airport]] opened there. In the meantime, Toncontín was significantly improved by the work of the Airport Corporation of Tegucigalpa (ACT) and [[InterAirports]], a company contracted by the Honduran government to administer the country's four major airports.
+The airport has a single [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]] [[runway]], situated at an elevation of {{convert|1005|m|abbr=on|0}} [[Sea level#AMSL|AMSL]]. Until May 2009, the runway was only {{convert|6112|ft|abbr=on|0}} in length. In 2007, the approach to runway 02 was made significantly easier by work which systematically bulldozed a large portion of the hillside, immediately before the threshold. Following this work, in May 2009, the southern end of the runway received a {{convert|984|ft|abbr=on|0}} extension, lengthening it to {{convert|7096|ft|abbr=on|0}}. As of 2011, the runway is listed as being {{Convert|2021|x|45|m|abbr=on|0}}.
-The worst crash associated with the airport came in [[1989]], when a Honduran airliner hit a nearby hill, killing 133 people.<ref name="CNN"/>
+[[Boeing 737#737-200|Boeing 737-200]]s operated by seasonal charter airline [[Aviatsa]] are the largest aircraft that normally land at Toncontín. Even with its recent runway extension, Toncontín's runway is still significantly shorter than that of most international airports. It is so short, in fact, that many aircraft seen by plane spotters are seen to be touching down on the [[displaced threshold]] of the runway,{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}} which by aviation law is not allowed to be landed on.
-In [[1997]], a [[U.S. Air Force]] [[C-130]] cargo plane overshot the runway at Toncontin and rolled 200 yards before bursting into flames on a major boulevard, killing three people aboard.<ref name="Yahoo"/>
+Historically, larger aircraft have occasionally landed at Toncontín, such as a [[Douglas DC-8]] on a mission with [[Orbis International]] in 1987, a [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17 Globemaster]] in 2008, 2009 and 2011,<ref>{{cite web | title=Past Destinations: 1987 | url=http://www.orbiscanada.ca/Default.aspx?cid=8111&lang=1 | publisher=Orbis | year=2011 | access-date=10 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706192630/http://www.orbiscanada.ca/Default.aspx?cid=8111&lang=1 | archive-date=6 July 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{youTube|2rHe56CHAD0|C17 USAirForce @ Toncontin}}</ref> and [[Boeing 757]]s operated by [[American Airlines]], which in 2015 replaced them with [[Airbus A319]]s.  In the 1980s and early 1990s, [[SAHSA]] operated [[Boeing 727]]s and [[Boeing 737]]s from its hub at Toncontín.
-On [[May 30]], [[2008]] an [[Airbus A320]],  [[Grupo TACA]] '''[[TACA Flight TA390|flight 390]]''' from [[San Salvador]], overran the runway in approach to Tegucigalpa Airport.<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |title=7 dead after airliner overshoots Honduras runway |url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/05/30/honduras.crash.ap/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=[[30 May]] [[2008]] |accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref><ref name="Yahoo">{{cite news |first=Freddy |last=Cuevas |title=Passenger jet overshoots runway in Honduras |url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080530/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/honduras_plane_crash |publisher=Yahoo |date=[[30 May]] |accessdate=2008-05-30}}</ref> The accident was partly blamed on bad weather conditions.<ref name="Yahoo"/> At least 7 fatalities have been confirmed.<ref name="CNN"/> There have been renewed calls to permanently shut down the non-compliant airport. The location of the crash was 14.0702, -87.2141.<!-- Unconfirmed -->
+Toncontín International Airport has 4 gates (2 in the new terminal), a post office, a bank and ''[[bureau de change]]'', many restaurants, and several airline lounges, as well as a [[duty-free shop]], car rental services, and a first-aid room. The old terminal is undergoing renovation, and will be used for domestic flights in the future. The new terminal was used for international flights until 2021.
-== References ==
+Toncontín was also the home of the ''[[Aeroclub de Honduras]]'' (Honduran Air Club).
+==International flights suspension==
+On May 30, 2008, the crash of [[TACA Flight 390]] prompted the announcement by then Honduran President [[Manuel Zelaya]] that all large aircraft operations would move to the [[Soto Cano Air Base]]. This move would effectively move all international traffic from Toncontín, limiting its use to only domestic flights and small aircraft.<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers | title=En sesenta días se habilitará Palmerola | url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2008/05/31/post10035037/ | work=La Tribuna | date=31 May 2009 | language=es | access-date=10 August 2011 }} {{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
+The [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] (ICAO) completed a review of Toncontín and made safety recommendations regarding the airport. On June 25, 2008, President Zelaya reiterated his position of severely restricting international traffic to and from Toncontín and announced his intention to form a commission that would oversee implementing the safety recommendations of the [[ICAO]] report.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
+On July 8, 2008, President Zelaya announced the reopening of Toncontín airport at a news conference following a three-hour meeting with businessmen, who had demanded commercial flights resume at Toncontín due to Soto Cano Air Base being too far from [[Tegucigalpa]]. Zelaya reiterated that all commercial flights would eventually use the new airport at Soto Cano from 2009. This however, was canceled after Zelaya was removed from office on June 28, 2009, in the [[2009 Honduran coup d'état]].<ref>{{cite news | author=Thelma Mejía | title=Soldier, Sailor, Airport Builder? | agency=Inter Press Service English News Wire | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-164549356.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106095427/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-164549356.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 November 2012 | date=2 June 2009 | access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref> International flights continued to operate to Toncontín until November 15, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aeropuerto Toncontín solo operará aviones para 33 pasajeros|url=https://www.elheraldo.hn/pais/1288206-466/aeropuerto-toncontín-solo-operará-aviones-para-33-pasajeros|access-date=2021-11-06|website=Diario El Heraldo|language=es-HN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=En su centenario aeropuerto Toncontín dejará de operar vuelos internacionales|url=https://www.elheraldo.hn/tegucigalpa/1494191-466/aeropuerto-toncontin-cierre-vuelos-internacionales-centenario|access-date=2021-11-06|website=Diario El Heraldo|language=es-HN}}</ref>
+==Toncontín today==
+{{prose|date=January 2017}}
+[[File:Aerial view of Tegucigalpa 2008-12-14 02.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Toncontín International Airport]]
+* In 2009 [[Avianca El Salvador|TACA Airlines]] could not operate to Toncontín and apparently the rest of the country's airports because of a state debt to Honduras, but on May 20, 2009, TACA said that the problems with Honduras were resolved.<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers | title=Comunicado de Taca sobre mora con el Estado | url=http://www.heraldohn.com/País/Ediciones/2009/03/20/Noticias/Comunicado-de-Taca-sobre-mora-con-el-Estado | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125170856/http://www.heraldohn.com/Pa%C3%ADs/Ediciones/2009/03/20/Noticias/Comunicado-de-Taca-sobre-mora-con-el-Estado | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 January 2013 | work=El Heraldo | date=20 March 2009 | language=es | access-date=10 August 2011 }}</ref>
+* In 2009 Authorities at the airport finally decided to make use of masks and other measures to prevent the [[H1N1]] flu virus, since the number of cases had risen to 34 in the country.<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers | title=A seis llegan los hospitalizados por sospechas de influenza A-H1N1 | url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2009/05/30/post10065387/ | work=La Tribuna | date=30 May 2009 | language=es | access-date=10 August 2011 }} {{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
+* In 2009, one year after the crash of [[TACA Flight 390]] at Toncontín airport that killed five people, business owners near the site of the tragedy complained that they had not been compensated.<ref>{{cite news | title=A un año del accidente de TACA todavía siguen las quejas | url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2009/05/31/post10065459/ | work=La Tribuna | date=31 May 2009 | language=es | access-date=10 August 2011 }} {{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
+* In 2008 Honduras' President [[Manuel Zelaya]] said that Tegucigalpa, the capital of the country, would benefit from the construction of the [[Comayagua International Airport|Palmerola airport]], while others claim that this was an attempt to close Toncontín.<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers | title=La capital de Honduras tendrá dos aeropuertos | url=http://www.elheraldo.hn/País/Ediciones/2009/05/20/Noticias/La-capital-de-Honduras-tendra-dos-aeropuertos | work=El Heraldo | date=20 May 2009 | language=es | access-date=10 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527022951/http://www.elheraldo.hn/Pa%C3%ADs/Ediciones/2009/05/20/Noticias/La-capital-de-Honduras-tendra-dos-aeropuertos | archive-date=27 May 2009 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
+* The Civil Aviation Authority of Honduras temporarily suspended the operating license of [[Islena Airlines]], part of the [[Grupo TACA|Taca El Salvador group]], for outstanding debts of 37 million [[Honduran lempira]], leaving the service of internal flights to Honduras in crisis.<ref>{{cite news | author=Marino Ortariz | title=Suspendido permiso a línea aérea "Isleña" del grupo Taca | url=http://www.hondudiariohn.com/H/content/suspendido-permiso-l%C3%ADnea-a%C3%A9rea-isle%C3%B1-del-grupo-taca | work=Hondudiario | date=23 June 2009 | language=es | access-date=10 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326102408/http://www.hondudiariohn.com/H/content/suspendido-permiso-l%C3%ADnea-a%C3%A9rea-isle%C3%B1-del-grupo-taca | archive-date=26 March 2012 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
+* In May 2009, a {{convert|984|ft|abbr=on|0}} extension was completed on the south end of the runway, increasing the length of the runway from {{convert |6112|ft|abbr=on|0}} to {{convert|7096|ft|abbr=on|0}}. The extension is helpful for take-offs to the north, and rare landings from the north, however, it is debatable whether it will assist with standard landings from the south due to the proximity to nearby mountains.
+* On July 5, 2009, the airport was closed to all flights and the airspace in and around Toncontín was severely restricted due to the planned arrival of ousted Honduran president [[Manuel Zelaya]]. Zelaya's private Venezuelan jet was not given landing clearance by the Authorities at Toncontín and the military blocked the single runway with vehicles and troops. The plane was then diverted to [[Managua]], [[Nicaragua]].<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers| title=Zelaya's jet blocked in Honduras | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8135358.stm | work=BBC News | date=6 July 2009 | access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref>
+* Due to the bombing attempt by [[Al-Qaeda]] of [[Northwest Airlines Flight 253]] on December 25, 2009; the security at Toncontín was increased with the use of undercover police officers at the airport.<ref>{{cite news | author=Staff writers | title=¡Redobladas medidas de seguridad en Toncontín! | url=http://www.latribuna.hn/web2.0/?p=80152 | work=La Tribuna | date=28 December 2009| language=es| access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref>
+* On January 27, 2010, Honduran ex-president [[Manuel Zelaya]] and his family left the country after 120 days seeking refuge at the [[Brazil]]ian [[Embassy]], they left at 14:45 from Toncontín International Airport, to the [[Dominican Republic]], where Zelaya proposed to hold a trial against the people who ran the [[2009 Honduran constitutional crisis]]. Thousands of Hondurans were present outside the airport to witness the moment Zelaya left the country.<ref>{{cite news | title="Volveremos": Mel Zelaya | url=http://elprogresoresiste.codigosur.net/leer.php/4119506 | work=El Progresoresiste | date=29 January 2010 | language=es | access-date=10 August 2011 | archive-date=25 February 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225081326/http://elprogresoresiste.codigosur.net/leer.php/4119506 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
+* In April 2011, the airport authority and the government of Honduras resumed airport relocation talks and announced that work on the new Palmerola airport would start by the fall of 2011 after years of efforts to replace Toncontín International with an airport at [[Palmerola]] in Comayagua where the [[Soto Cano Air Base]] is located.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2011/04/09/%E2%80%9Calza-vuelo%E2%80%9D-en-septiembre-inicia-construccion-de-palmerola/|title=''Spanish:'' Construction of Palmerola will start in September|author=La Tribuna Editor|publisher=laTribuna.com|date=2011-04-09|access-date=2011-08-28}} {{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  However, in a September 25, 2011 update, [[Porfirio Lobo Sosa|President Lobo]] stated officials were still "evaluating the pros and cons" of constructing the new airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latribuna.hn/2011/09/25/gobierno-evalua-concesion-para-construccion-de-terminal-en-palmerola/|title=''Spanish:'' Government evaluates acquisition for construction of terminal in Palmerola|author=La Tribuna editor|publisher=LaTribuna.hn|date=2011-09-25|access-date=2011-09-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928090044/http://www.latribuna.hn/2011/09/25/gobierno-evalua-concesion-para-construccion-de-terminal-en-palmerola/|archive-date=2011-09-28}}</ref>  This comes three years after former President [[Manuel Zelaya]] had announced that all commercial flights would be transferred to Soto Cano Air Base; however, work on the new terminal at Soto Cano was then cancelled after Zelaya was removed from office on 28 June 2009 in the [[2009 Honduran coup d'état]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/society-social-assistance-lifestyle/religion-spirituality/12860292-1.html|title=Honduras: Soldier, Sailor, Airport Builder?|author=Thelma Mejía|publisher=AllBusiness.com|date=2009-06-02|access-date=2011-09-28}}</ref>  Upon realization of the Palmerola airport, commercial flights to and from Toncontín would continue to operate but will be limited to small aircraft and [[domestic flight]]s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.laprensa.hn/honduras/1160226-410/aeropuerto-toncont%C3%ADn-seguira-vuelos-locales-palmerola |title=Aeropuerto de Toncontín seguirá atendiendo los vuelos locales |first=Bessy |last=Lara Barrera |date=March 14, 2018 |access-date=October 8, 2018}}</ref>
+* During 2018, the airport received 625,593 passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elheraldo.hn/pais/1288206-466/aeropuerto-toncontín-solo-operará-aviones-para-33-pasajeros|title=Toncontín Airport will only receive airplanes for 33 passengers|language=es|publisher=El Heraldo|date=May 2019|access-date=August 5, 2019}}</ref>
+* As of December 15, 2021, all international carriers operating at Toncontin have moved operations to the new recently inaugurated [[Comayagua International Airport]] located in the military air base of Palmerola, located {{Convert|70|km|mi|lk=off|abbr=on}} from Tegucigalpa. Among the airlines that have moved operations are: [[American Airlines]], [[Avianca El Salvador]], [[Copa Airlines]] and [[United Airlines]]. Airlines such as [[Aeroméxico Connect]] and [[Spirit Airlines]] are the new international carriers operating to/from [[Comayagua International Airport|Tegucigalpa/Comayagua]].
+==Airlines and destinations==
+===Passenger===
+[[File:Copa Airlines Boeing 737-300.jpg|thumb|[[Copa Airlines]] [[Boeing 737-700]] in Tegucigalpa]]
+[[File:TA320TGU.jpg|thumb|[[TACA Airlines|TACA]] [[Airbus A320-200]] in Tegucigalpa]]
+<!-- Please use only independent sources. The airport and the airline itself are not independent sources. -->
+{{Airport-dest-list
+|[[Aerolíneas Sosa]] | [[Golosón International Airport|La Ceiba]], [[Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport|Roatán]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/spa/honduras-aviaci%C3%B3n_american-airlines-traslada-operaciones-en-tegucigalpa-al-aeropuerto-palmerola/47193086#:~:text=%2D%20La%20aerol%C3%ADnea%20estadounidense%20American%20Airlines,Fort%20Worth%20(Texas)%2C%20en|title = American Airlines traslada operaciones en Tegucigalpa al Aeropuerto Palmerola| date=14 December 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://proceso.hn/avianca-tambien-confirma-traslado-de-sus-operaciones-a-palmerola-desde-el-16-de-diciembre/|title = Avianca también confirma traslado de sus operaciones a Palmerola desde el 16 de diciembre|date = 13 December 2021}}</ref>
+|[[Aviatsa]] | '''Seasonal charter:''' [[Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport|Roatán]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://es.insightcrime.org/noticias/analisis/gobierno-honduras-commplice-tony-hernandez/|title=Gobierno de Honduras intentó favorecer a cómplice de Tony Hernández|date=May 1, 2020}}</ref>
+|[[CM Airlines]] | [[Puerto Lempira Airport|Puerto Lempira]], [[Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport|Roatán]], [[Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport|San Pedro Sula]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://roatantoday.com/cm-airlines-suma-una-nueva-aeronave-a-su-flota-de-aviones-y-celebra-su-15-aniversario-a-lo-grande/|title = CM Airlines suma una nueva aeronave a su flota de aviones y celebra su 15 aniversario a lo grande| date=19 July 2023 }}</ref>
+|[[Lanhsa Airlines|Lanhsa]] | [[Golosón International Airport|La Ceiba]]<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1471251614325428225|user=PalmerolaHN|title=¡BIENVENIDO UNITED AIRLINES A PALMEROLA! ✈️A partir de mañana jueves 16 de diciembre operará desde Palmerola."U…|date=15 December 2021}}</ref>
+}}
+===Cargo===
+{{Airport-dest-list
+|[[DHL de Guatemala]] | [[La Aurora International Airport|Guatemala City]]
+}}
+==Operations==
+===Runway 02 approach===
+Because of the terrain in Tegucigalpa, aircraft cannot easily be accommodated on a traditional straight-in approach for Runway 02, the most frequently used runway because of wind direction. Instead, an RNAV (GPS) approach is used, resembling a circle-to-land approach. Aircraft are routed through shallower terrain in a circular fashion, then follow along the Anillo Periferico road to a [[cloverleaf interchange]], at which point aircraft take a sharp left turn to line up with runway 02. <ref>{{cite web|title=Toncontín (MHTG) Airport Charts, Jeppesen, 2008|url=http://uvairlines.com/admin/resources/mhtg.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021033511/http://www.uvairlines.com/admin/resources/mhtg.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 21, 2019|access-date=13 October 2022}}</ref> Until the partial demolition of the hillside, aircraft experienced limited ground clearance just before the threshold, hence had to approach slightly higher than optimal, increasing the challenge of the landing already made challenging by the short {{convert|1830|m}} runway.
+To maximize the amount of runway available, many aircraft land on the {{convert|350|m}} [[displaced threshold]], just before the actual 02 threshold.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rwy 02 displaced threshold |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@14.054463,-87.2193798,164m/data=!3m1!1e3 |website=Google Maps |access-date=2 January 2019}}</ref>
+===Runway 02 departure===
+Departures from runway 02 must turn to a heading of 018 degrees and then climb swiftly to 9000 feet to avoid mountainous terrain just north of the airport. Because of the short length of the runway and the high altitude of the airport, aircraft require a large amount of power to do this, making late go-arounds potentially dangerous if not executed properly, especially in a plane with a poorer power-to-weight ratio that climbs slower.
+==Statistics==
+{{Airport-Statistics|iata=TGU}}
+==Accidents and incidents==
+* 7 June 1962: A [[Curtiss C-46 Commando]], (HR-SAL), a cargo flight operated by [[SAHSA]], crash-landed at Toncontín when the left undercarriage collapsed on touchdown. Both crew members survived but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.<ref name="aviation-safety.net">{{cite web | title=Tegucigalpa-Toncontin Airport profile | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=TGU | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | year=2011 | access-date=10 August 2011}}</ref>
+* 30 June 1966: A [[Douglas DC-6]], (HR-TNG), operated by [[Transportes Aéreos Nacionales]] overran the runway on landing and was destroyed by fire.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 20 February 1967: A [[Douglas DC-6]], (HR-SAS) operated by [[SAHSA]] overran the runway whilst attempting to land on runway 01 at Toncontín. According to crew reports, the reverse thrust mechanism failed to engage and the crew had to brake hard causing two tires to catch fire. The nose gear overran the runway into a ditch, followed by the left main gear leg. Out of 50 passengers and 5 crew on board, 4 were killed.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 25 November 1969: A [[Douglas DC-3]], (HR-ANA), operated by [[SAHSA]] crashed while attempting to land on runway 01 at Toncontín. A strong wind gust upset the aircraft during flare, which pushed the aircraft towards the terminal buildings. The crew force-turned away from the buildings and crashed. All 15 passengers and 3 crew survived.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 26 May 1970: A [[de Havilland Heron]] operated by [[Aero Servicios]] crashed during approach to runway 19, {{Convert|1.5|km|abbr=on}} from the runway. The aircraft banked steeply to the left, and crashed in a nearby valley. The cause of the accident was attributed to a stall brought about by turbulent wind conditions at low altitude. 4 passengers and 2 crew were killed.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 25 February 1989: A privately owned [[Douglas DC-6]] (HR-AKZ) struck a mountain on approach to Toncontín and crashed. All 10 people aboard were killed.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 21 October 1989: [[TAN-SAHSA Flight 414]], a [[Boeing 727-200]] on approach to runway 01 at Toncontín, crashed into a nearby hill, killing 131 of 146 people aboard. The cause of the crash was attributed to pilot error by disregarding the prescribed approach procedures.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 1 April 1997: A [[U.S. Air Force]] [[C-130]] cargo plane overshot the runway at Toncontín and came to rest on a civilian highway interchange, where it caught fire. The cause of the crash was attributed to excess speed on landing, resulting in a prolonged flare. The aircraft touched down {{Convert|2000|ft|abbr=on}} beyond the runway 02 threshold.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 30 May 2008: [[TACA Flight 390]], an [[Airbus A320]], overran the runway after landing on runway 02 at Toncontín. The aircraft plunged 20m down an embankment and came to rest on a road. 3 of the 124 people aboard and 2 people on the ground were killed.<ref name="aviation-safety.net"/>
+* 14 February 2011: [[Central American Airways Flight 731]], a [[Let L-410 Turbolet]], crashed on approach to Toncontin 20&nbsp;km from the airport, in Las Mesitas, Municipio de Santa Ana. All 14 aboard were killed.
+* 22 May 2018: A chartered [[Gulfstream G200]] jet flying from Texas to Honduras crash landed at the [[Toncontin International Airport]] in Honduras's capital [[Tegucigalpa]]. At least six Americans were injured. The [[Gulfstream G200]] aircraft was on a private flight from [[Austin, Texas|Austin]], [[Texas]], when it skidded off the runway. Authorities have given conflicting accounts of how many were on board, some saying six or nine, but a police official did say "Thank God there are no fatalities." One witness told AFP he helped five men and a woman out of the plane, all of whom were "practically unharmed". The executive jet, which split in half, had veered into a ditch, a Honduran official told local media.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-44221209|title = Honduras plane crash: Private jet splits in half in crash landing|work = BBC News|date = 23 May 2018}}</ref>
+==See also==
+* [[West-Wind (Honduran Presidential Plane)]]
+* [[Military of Honduras]]
+* [[Transport in Honduras]]
+* [[List of airports in Honduras]]
+* [[List of the busiest airports in Central America]]
+* {{portal-inline|Honduras}}
+==References==
 {{reflist}}
-== External links ==
+==External links==
+*{{Commons category-inline|Toncontín International Airport}}
-* {{WAD|MHTG}}
+*[https://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=13/14.0457/-87.2174 OpenStreetMap - Toncontín Airport]
-* [http://www.spikedhumor.com/articles/108487/Short_Airstrip.html Landing video]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090430043508/http://www.interairports.hn/tnt.htm Interairports (Spanish)]
+*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMiG-VLYMXo Video of a landing at Toncontín] (YouTube)
+*{{in lang|es}} Humberto Galo Romero. "[http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2013/10/22/activos/166999 Nicaragua y Honduras en conexión directa] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104053157/http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2013/10/22/activos/166999 |date=2013-11-04 }}." ''[[La Prensa (Nicaragua)|La Prensa]]'' ([[Nicaragua]]). October 22, 2013.
+{{Portal bar|Latin America|North America|Aviation}}
-[[Category:Airports in Honduras]]
-[[Category:Tegucigalpa]]
+{{Tegucigalpa}}
+{{Airports of Honduras}}
+{{authority control}}
-[[de:Flughafen Tegucigalpa]]
-[[es:Aeropuerto Internacional Toncontín]]
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Toncontin International Airport}}
-[[id:Bandar Udara Internasional Toncontín]]
+[[Category:Airports in Honduras]]
-[[hu:Toncontín nemzetközi repülőtér]]
+[[Category:Buildings and structures in Tegucigalpa]]
-[[pt:Aeroporto Internacional Toncontín]]
-[[fi:Toncontínin kansainvälinen lentoasema]]

v t e Tegucigalpa
History	Timeline
Infrastructure	Water management
Transport	Toncontín International Airport
Education	Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras Main Campus Central American Technological University Tegucigalpa Campus Universidad Católica de Honduras Campus San José American School of Tegucigalpa DelCampo International School Discovery School, Tegucigalpa International School of Tegucigalpa Lycée Franco-Hondurien
This list is incomplete. • Honduras portal