{"id":20375,"date":"2025-05-20T17:13:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T22:13:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fertur-travel.com\/blog\/?p=20375"},"modified":"2025-05-20T17:15:55","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T22:15:55","slug":"new-terminal-at-lima-airport-opens-with-trial-phase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fertur-travel.com\/blog\/2025\/new-terminal-at-lima-airport-opens-with-trial-phase\/20375\/","title":{"rendered":"New Terminal at Lima Airport Opens with Trial Phase"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lima’s gleaming new airport terminal is officially in business \u2014 but the journey to smooth operations is just getting off the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The revamped Jorge Ch\u00e1vez International Airport welcomed its first international flight last Thursday night, marking the launch of a phased \u201cmarcha blanca\u201d (white march) designed to test all systems before a full transition scheduled for June 1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Terminal<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The inaugural Aerol\u00edneas Argentinas flight from Buenos Aires landed at 8:00 p.m. on May 15, 2025, carrying 180 passengers, according to El Comercio<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are starting a process of refinement so that we arrive on June 1 in optimal condition,\u201d said C\u00e9sar Sandoval, Peru\u2019s Minister of Transportation and Communications. Sandoval oversaw the opening ceremony with other high-ranking officials, including Economy Minister Ra\u00fal P\u00e9rez Reyes and Tourism Minister \u00darsula Le\u00f3n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A World Class Airport <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Aerial<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The new terminal is three times larger than the existing airport, measuring 2,906,256 square feet (270,000 square meters). Plans call for phasing out the old airport<\/a> and converting it into a mega shopping center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new Jorge Chavez International Airport is located on Avenida Morales Du\u00e1rez in Callao, Peru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entry to the airport is exclusively by vehicle – there is no pedestrian access. This is because the distance from the entry bridges to the terminal is approximately 1.24 miles (2 km), making it impractical to walk with luggage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transportation options to the airport include public transportation buses, the private Lima Airport Express shuttles, and private vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new terminal has four floors of service areas, compared to only two floors in the existing terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glitches Amid the Fanfare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first passenger to emerge from the international arrivals area, 18-year-old Gonzalo Bueno of Argentina, received Peruvian chocolates and called the terminal \u201cvery modern.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI’m very happy to be here,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But several travelers and waiting family members voiced confusion and frustration about access routes, lack of signage, and operational kinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There were no signs, and the driver didn\u2019t know where to drop me off,” said an elderly woman waiting for her granddaughter arriving from Italy, as reported by Infobae<\/a>. She added, “It\u2019s been frustrating. I still haven\u2019t seen her, even though she landed over an hour ago. There were only three immigration counters open.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reporters and visitors alike struggled to find the proper lanes along Morales Du\u00e1rez Avenue \u2014 now the only entry to the terminal. LAP\u2019s signage directing vehicles to short-term and long-term parking was unclear, resulting in many vehicles taking wrong turns and having to double back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trial Phase Underway<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Five airlines \u2014 Aerol\u00edneas Argentinas, Air Europa, Volaris, Arajet, and Wingo \u2014 are participating in the test phase, with an estimated six to ten flights per day. “This trial period will help fine-tune every process and ensure everything runs efficiently,” said P\u00e9rez Reyes. “When passengers arrive, they\u2019ll find automated systems and faster procedures.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to arrivals from Buenos Aires, flights from Madrid, Mexico City, Punta Cana, and Bogot\u00e1 are scheduled over the coming days, according to Lima Airport Partners (LAP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new terminal\u2019s access route, Morales Du\u00e1rez Avenue, was recently renovated at a cost of more than 40 million soles (about $10.7 million USD), featuring new pavement, smart traffic lights and signage. The road is now the exclusive gateway for passengers arriving by taxi or private vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Five-Star Hotel at Jorge Chavez International Airport <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hotel Wyndham Costa del Sol has built a five-star hotel with with 249 rooms in the new terminal and will be ready to receive guests on June 1. Another three-star hotel with 338 rooms is scheduled to open in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full Launch Planned for June<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The airport operator plans a full transition from the old terminal to the new one on June 1. Airport operations will be paused for 12 hours \u2014 from midnight to noon \u2014 to complete the switchover. Officials said the downtime mirrors global standards for airport transitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The terminal is eventually expected to handle 30 million passengers annually. But on opening day, the experience was uneven. While the infrastructure drew praise, limited pedestrian access and inconsistent traffic flow left room for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is only the beginning,\u201d Sandoval said. \u201cWith each flight, we get closer to the airport that Peru deserves\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Jorge Chavez International Airport Terminal Layout<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n