Lima Airport Partners (LAP), operator of the Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Perú, has announced it is investing US$1.6 billion to increase the hub's infrastructure, build a new Terminal 2 and a new airport traffic control tower. It will also upgrade the current Terminal 1, among other initiatives. Nonetheless, not everyone is happy, and the Peruvian airline industry has released a statement on the subject.
LAP’s plans
Earlier this week, Lima Airport Partners executives held a press conference showing the latest news regarding the modernization of Peru’s main airport in Lima.
According to the airport operator, once the works are complete, the hub will have a new traffic control tower, two runways, and two terminals, and will be able to handle up to 37 million passengers per year.
The new control tower and second runway are expected to be delivered in July 2022, while the new Terminal will be finished by 2025.
The airlines that have the largest market share by the number of flights at the airport are LATAM (58% of Lima’s weekly departures), Sky Airline (13.5%), Star Peru (6.3%), Copa Airlines (only international flights from Panama, 3.8%), and Viva Peru (2.9%). Peru will have a new domestic airline in a few months once JetSMART begins operations in the country.
Lima Airport Partners is investing around US$1.6 billion to increase the airport’s capacity. In the existing Terminal 1, LAP is investing US$160 million, and it is introducing new systems and technologies aiming to offer a better service and passenger experience.
Moreover, third parties are also investing around the airport to build the so-called Lima Airport City. This urbanization will be a commercial development looking to incentivize the economy of the airport’s surroundings.
LAP expects these investments will allow Lima to become a regional hub, competing with other airports in South America. Many countries in the region have been heavily investing in their airport infrastructure in the last few years. Mexico built its new Felipe Ángeles International Airport; Chile inaugurated Santiago’s new Terminal 2; Colombia and Panama are increasing the infrastructure of their main hubs in Bogotá and Panama City.
Not everyone is happy though
The modernization of the Lima International Airport has been in the making for years now. The COVID-19 pandemic paused the works at the hub and changed the Peruvian government and LAP’s plans. According to the Peruvian airline industry, they reduced the expected capacity for Lima’s new Terminal.
On May 11, The Peruvian airline industry published a statement showing their disappointment at the new plans. They urged the government to discuss the developments with the airline industry and be more transparent about the changes made.
Lima Airport after the pandemic
In 2021, Lima Airport’s passenger numbers remained 45.8% below 2019 levels due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, cargo services have been a stronghold for the hub, increasing its number of flights by 75.2% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Last year, the hub closed with 30 international routes, connecting Perú with North America, Central America, South America, and Europe. Domestically, Lima had direct connectivity with 19 destinations.
Have you ever been to Lima International Airport? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.