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'{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox airport | name = La Aurora International Airport | nativename = ''Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora'' | nativename-r = | image = MGGT6.jpg | image-width = 250 | IATA = GUA | ICAO = MGGT | type = Military/Public | owner = Ministerio de Comunicaciones, Infraestructura y Vivienda | operator = [[Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (Guatemala)|Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil]] | city-served = [[Guatemala City]] | location = [[Guatemala City]], Guatemala | elevation-m = 1,509 | coordinates = {{coord|14|34|54|N|090|31|36|W|region:GT|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Guatemala | pushpin_label = MGGT | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Guatemala | website = | metric-elev = yes | metric-rwy = yes | r1-number = 02/20 | r1-length-m = 2,987 | r1-surface = Asphalt | stat-year = 2016 | stat1-header = Passengers | stat1-data = 2,759,347 | footnotes = Source: Guatemalan [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]]<ref name="AIP">[http://www.cocesna.org/includes/tng/pub/tNG_download4.php?id=100&lng=0&KT_download1=b76fc0359c3ff35440b9ddaf7e987211 MGGT – LA AURORA Internacional]</ref> }} '''La Aurora International Airport''' ({{lang-es|Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora}}) {{Airport codes|GUA|MGGT}} serves [[Guatemala City]], [[Guatemala]]. It is located {{Convert|6.4|km|abbr=on}}<ref name="AIP"/> south of Guatemala City's center and {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} from [[Antigua Guatemala]]. It is administered by the ''[[Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (Guatemala)|Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil]]''. La Aurora International Airport is the primary airport of Guatemala. The airport went through a massive modernization and expansion. The airport is now able to accept a greater number of flights and larger aircraft. It provides high standard installations to the traveler. The old terminal has been renovated in accordance with its original design. It was partly demolished and was expanded with a new glass-designed concourse and is now able to accommodate up to twenty-two aircraft. {{Citation needed|date=October 2015}} The greater project was completed by December 2008. The airport currently has two terminals: Central and North. La Aurora International Airport is [[List of the busiest airports in Central America|the fourth busiest airport in Central America]] in terms of passenger traffic, surpassed only by [[Tocumen International Airport]] in [[Panamá]], [[Juan Santamaría International Airport]] in Costa Rica, and [[Comalapa International Airport]] in El Salvador. In June 2007 the airport was certified as Category I; currently (2015), it is considered as Category 3 due to poor management of the installations and government issues, certified by the [[FAA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elperiodico.com.gt/es/20070612/actualidad/40582/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2008-01-14 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201165422/http://www.elperiodico.com.gt/es/20070612/actualidad/40582/ |archivedate= 1 December 2008 |df= }}</ref> == Overview == La Aurora is being renovated, along with other airports in Guatemala, such as [[Mundo Maya International Airport]], [[Quetzaltenango Airport]], [[Puerto Barrios Airport]], and [[San José Airport (Guatemala)|San José Airport]]. In July 2007, seven new gates were opened. These gates are equipped with jetway bridges and modern conveniences, also a new parking garage was also built and it can handle up to 500 vehicles. There are brand new ticket counters. 2007 brought significant gate expansion (11 new gates were available starting December 2007). The airport now has two concourses. The northern concourse has 12 traditional gates and 3 remote gates. The central concourse, is used for larger aircraft as it provides 4–6 gates depending on the size of the aircraft. The airport's runway currently measures {{Convert|2987|x|60|m|abbr=on|0}}.<ref name="AIP"/> There have been efforts in the past to expand the runway but this has not yet been possible since there's a commercial area to the north of the runway and a small ravine near the southern side of the runway. Still, the renovation of the runway is in progress. The first phase consists in repaving the runway as well modernizing the illumination system. Future plans to expand the taxiway repave and move all the cargo facilities to [[San José Airport (Guatemala)|San José Airport]] in [[Escuintla]] and [[Puerto Barrios Airport]] in [[Izabal Department|Izabal]]. This will make room for more passenger terminal area and improved taxiways. Finally, the airport administration building is being refurbished and a regional terminal is being built. La Aurora International Airport has 2 Exclusive VIP Lounges. Los Añejos Business Lounge serving [[Iberia Airlines|Iberia's]] first class passengers<ref>http://grupo.iberia.com/portal/site/grupoiberia/menuitem.abd8f742ddc74535bd52b210721061ca/;jsessionid=L2Jja1Mt2AUE3quLfFBRzpPZRXBl1hvOAxWDuZA9fWJB1xMAuaIr!-3744398 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425044739/http://grupo.iberia.com/portal/site/grupoiberia/menuitem.abd8f742ddc74535bd52b210721061ca/%3Bjsessionid%3DL2Jja1Mt2AUE3quLfFBRzpPZRXBl1hvOAxWDuZA9fWJB1xMAuaIr%21-3744398 |date=25 April 2012 }}</ref> and Copa Club, a VIP Lounge for passengers travelling on [[Copa Airlines]] and [[United Airlines]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.copaair.com/sites/cc/es/nuestros-productos/pages/presidents-club.aspx |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-10-04 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928095353/http://www.copaair.com/Sites/CC/es/Nuestros-productos/Pages/Presidents-Club.aspx |archivedate=28 September 2011 |df= }}</ref> Cargo operations are handled beside the passenger terminal building by [http://www.combexim.com.gt COMBEX-IM] or in the DHL hangars. <ref>[http:/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/Terminal_Norte_Aeropuerto_la_Aurora.jpg]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The head office of the ''[[Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (Guatemala)|Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil]]'' is located in the airport Zone 13.<ref>"[http://www.aaib.gov.mn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=61&lang=en ADDRESSES OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AUTHORITIES As of March 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903022656/http://www.aaib.gov.mn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=66&Itemid=61&lang=en |date=3 September 2011 }}." [[Air Accident Investigation Bureau (Mongolia)|Air Accident Investigation Bureau]]. Retrieved on 22 January 2012. "GUATEMALA Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil Aeropuerto Internacional "La Aurora" Zona 13 Guatemala, Centro América"</ref><ref>"[http://www.dgacguate.com/soft/descargas/834.pdf A 01/11 31 ENE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309211728/http://dgacguate.com/soft/descargas/834.pdf |date= 9 March 2016 }}." ''[[Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (Guatemala)|Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil]]''. Retrieved on 22 January 2012. "Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora 9 Av. 14–75 Zona 13 C.P. 1013"</ref> ==History of La Aurora== ===World War II=== [[File:Laauroraairpot1940.jpg|thumb|Original airport building, circa. 1940.]] During [[World War II]], the airport was used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[Sixth Air Force]] defending the Central American coastline against [[Axis powers]] submarines. The first American personnel began arriving in December 1941; the airfield was improved and expanded by the [[805th Engineer Aviation Battalion (United States)|United States' 805th Engineer Aviation Battalion]] in early 1942. During its period of American use, the military facilities of the airport were known as '''Guatemala City Air Base'''. Flying units assigned to the airport were: * [[51st Fighter Squadron]] (Detachment) ([[32d Air Operations Group|32d Fighter Group]]), 2 January 1942 – 9 March 1943, (P-40 Warhawk) * [[74th Bombardment Squadron]] ([[40th Air Expeditionary Wing|40th]], [[6th Air Mobility Wing|6th Bombardment Groups]]), 9 January 1942 – 7 April 1944 (B-18 Bolo, B-17 Flying Fortress) * [[44th Bombardment Squadron]] ([[40th Air Expeditionary Wing|40th Bombardment Group]]) 6 July 1942 – 4 June 1943, (B-18 Bolo) Detachments from the airfield operated intermittently from [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San Jose Airport]], [[San José, Costa Rica]], and [[Puerto San José]], [[Guatemala]] from 1942 though 1944. After the war ended, a small number of Americans remained at the airport performing training duties with the Guatemalan Air Force and also operating a weather station (MATS 6th Weather Squadron). United States personnel were restricted to base during the [[Guatemalan revolution]] following the death of [[Francisco Javier Arana|Colonel Francisco Xavier Arana]] on 18 July 1949. Some artillery shells landed on the base during the violence. The facility was closed on 28 July 1949 and turned over to Guatemalan authorities. ==Airlines and destinations== ===Passenger=== [[File:MGGT1.jpg|thumb|Check-in counters at the airport.]] [[File:MGGT5.jpg|thumb|Main corridor at the airport.]] [[File:MGGT11.jpg|thumb|Waiting room at the airport.]] {{Airport-dest-list | [[Aeroméxico Connect]] | [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]] | [[American Airlines]] | [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]]<br>'''Seasonal:''' [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago-O'Hare]] | [[Avianca]] | [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogotá]] | [[Avianca Costa Rica]] | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]], [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José (CR)]] | [[Avianca El Salvador]] | [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[El Salvador International Airport|San Salvador]] | [[Avianca Guatemala]] | [[Mundo Maya International Airport|Flores]], [[Augusto C. Sandino International Airport|Managua]], [[Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport|San Andres]], [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José (CR)]] | [[Avianca Honduras]] | [[Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport|San Pedro Sula]], [[Toncontín International Airport|Tegucigalpa]] | [[Copa Airlines]] | [[Augusto C. Sandino International Airport|Managua]], [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City]], [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José (CR)]] | [[Copa Airlines Colombia]] | [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City]] | [[Delta Air Lines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]] |[[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]] | [[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid]]{{ref|1|1}} | [[Interjet]] | [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]] | [[Spirit Airlines]] | [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport|Fort Lauderdale]] | [[Transportes Aereos Guatemaltecos]] | [[Mundo Maya International Airport|Flores]], [[Puerto Barrios Airport|Puerto Barrios]], [[Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport|Belize City]], [[Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport|Roatán]], [[Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport|San Pedro Sula]], [[Ilopango International Airport|San Salvador-Ilopango]], [[Toncontín International Airport|Tegucigalpa]] | [[United Airlines]] | [[George Bush Intercontinental Airport|Houston–Intercontinental]], [[Newark Liberty International Airport|Newark]]<br>'''Seasonal:''' [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]] | [[Volaris]] | [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]], [[Guadalajara International Airport|Guadalajara]] | [[Volaris Costa Rica]] | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]] (begins March 17, 2018),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qcostarica.com/volaris-costa-rica-confirms-new-flights-to-los-angeles-new-york-and-washington/|title=Volaris Costa Rica confirms new flights to Los Angeles, New York and Washington|date=December 15, 2017|accessdate=December 17, 2017}}</ref> [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]], [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José de Costa Rica]], [[Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport|San Salvador]], [[Tijuana International Airport|Tijuana]] | [[Wamos Air]] | '''Seasonal:''' [[Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport|Madrid]]{{ref|2|2}} }} <small>{{note|1|1}} Iberia flight from Guatemala City to Madrid makes a stop in San Salvador or Managua, but the airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Guatemala City and San Salvador or Managua.</small><br> <small>{{note|2|2}} Wamos Air seasonal flight was suspended flights to Madrid on September 27, will resume on June 5, 2018. Vamos Air flight from Guatemala City makes a stop in Varadero, Cuba. The Airline does not have traffic rights to transport passengers solely between Guatemala City and Varadero.<ref>http://aviationews.net/blog/wamos-air-suspends-flights-to-guatemala/</ref></small> ===Cargo=== {{Airport-dest-list |[[Aereo Ruta Maya]] | Copán, [[Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport|Palenque]], Quirigua, [[Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport|Roatan]], [[Mundo Maya International Airport|Flores]] |[[Amerijet International]] | [[Miami International Airport|Miami]] |[[Avianca Cargo]] | [[El Dorado International Airport|Bogota]] | [[DHL Aviation]] | [[Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport|Guadalajara]], [[Bahías de Huatulco International Airport|Huatulco]], [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]], [[Tocumen International Airport|Panama City]], [[Juan Santamaría International Airport|San José (CR)]], [[Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport|San Pedro Sula]], [[El Salvador International Airport|San Salvador]], [[Toncontín International Airport|Tegucigalpa]] |[[FedEx Express]] | [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]] |{{nowrap|[[Florida West International Airways]]}} | [[Miami International Airport|Miami]] |[[LATAM Cargo Chile]] | [[Miami International Airport|Miami]] |[[LATAM Cargo Mexico]] | [[Mexico City International Airport|Mexico City]] |[[UPS Airlines]] | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]], [[Miami International Airport|Miami]] |[[KLM Cargo]] | [[Amsterdam Airport|Amsterdam]] |[[Cargolux]] | [[Luxembourg – Findel Airport|Luxembourg]] }} ==Statistics== In 2016, the airport handled 2,759,347 passengers.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.elsalvador.com/articulo/negocios/dos-aerolineas-ofreceran-vuelos-desde-guatemala-hacia-puerto-barrios-por-110-dolares-138720 | title=Dos aerolíneas ofrecerán vuelos desde Guatemala hacia Puerto Barrios por 110 dólares | work=[[El Diario de Hoy]] | date=23 January 2017 | accessdate=5 February 2017 | language=Spanish | trans-title=Two airlines will offer flights from Guatemala City to Puerto Barrios for $110}}</ref> ==Accidents and incidents== * On 1 March 1980, a [[Douglas C-47]] of the [[Fuerza Aérea Guatemalteca]] was damaged beyond repair near La Aurora.<ref name=ASN010380>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19800301-1 |title=Accident description |publisher=Aviation Safety Network |accessdate=24 July 2010}}</ref> * On 6 April 1993, [[TACA Airlines]] [[Boeing 767]] ran off the end of runway 19 after landing. A passenger on board filmed the landing which showed the plane coming in too steep, too fast and on a runway with standing water from a tropical storm which had just passed over. A great amount of runway had passed under the plane before touchdown and the pilot forced the landing. In spite of thrust reversers used, the plane could not slow down in time, began to shudder from excessive wheel-braking, overshot the runway and crashed into some structures. Surprisingly, there were no fatalities and the only injured people were 3 non-passengers. The aircraft was written off<ref>[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19930406-1 Aviation Safety Network, Boeing 767 Crash at MGGT]. ==References== {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}} {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://dgac.gob.gt/ Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil] {{es icon}} {{Portalbar|Guatemala|Aviation|World War II}} {{airports in Guatemala}} {{USAAF 6th Air Force World War II}} [[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces]] [[Category:Airports in Guatemala]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Guatemala City]]'