The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, started the construction of the first phase of the Pacific Airport on Tuesday, representing an investment of 386.4 million dollars. The inauguration took place in the department of La Unión, about 180 kilometers from the capital.
"It took us five and a half years to lay this first stone... the construction is well underway," Bukele stated. The financing for this phase has been made possible thanks to a loan of 320 million from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), a contribution of 16.4 million from the Government of Spain, and 50 million of own funds.
It is expected that this first phase of the new airport will be operational in 2027, receiving about 300,000 passengers a year with around 2,000 flights. In a second stage, the capacity is projected to be expanded to 8,000 flights and one million passengers annually.
Bukele indicated that the first phase will be dedicated to commercial flights, while once the second phase is completed, it will be used for private flights. The president highlighted that the project would generate 300 million dollars in revenue in the first year and would be an attraction for private investment in the country.
The International Pacific Airport project received financing from CAF last year, approving loans of 465 million dollars for El Salvador. This initiative, along with the remodeling of the Ilopango airport and the installation of the country's first submarine cable, is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.