Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (IATA: ASU, ICAO: SGAS) is Paraguay's main national and international gateway, located at Luque, serving the capital city, Asunción. It is named after the Paraguayan aviator Silvio Pettirossi and was formerly known as President Stroessner International Airport, after Paraguay's former head of state General Alfredo Stroessner.
In 2017, Pettirossi handled a record 1.2 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in the country. It is the main international hub for Amaszonas Paraguay and LATAM Paraguay.
Video Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
History
The airport serves as hub for LATAM Paraguay, formerly known as TAM Paraguay, TAM Mercosur and LAP (Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas).
The terminal building splits into two international concourses, the north concourse with 2 gates (5 and 6) and the south concourse with 4 gates (1 to 4).
Iberia provided direct flights to Asunción from Madrid from 1966 (or perhaps 1968) till the mid-nineties. Lufthansa flew once a week from Frankfurt to Asunción from 1971 to 1980, with DC-10 service starting in 1974. For both airlines, the flights included multiple destinations in South America.
On 17 December 2015, the first Air Europa flight arrived from Madrid, Spain to the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque and provided the first direct connection between Paraguay and Europe in 21 years. The airplane arrived with the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Marcela Bacigalupo and more than 200 invited guests. The flight had 98% of its seats occupied and before the airplane departed Madrid, there was an inauguration ceremony of the new route which was attended by the president of the airline, Juan José Hidalgo, the ambassador of Paraguay in Spain, Antonio Rivas, and the vice-minister of Paraguayan Industry, Oscar Stark. Mr. Hidalgo highlighted "the high seat occupancy of the inaugural flight," which, in his opinion, shows "success" is expected for this route.
Maps Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
Accessibility and location
The airport, located within Luque, may be reached from the city of Asuncion via the Aviadores del Chaco Avenue, which runs adjacent to nearby Ñu Guasú Park. Asuncion's local bus line 30-A links the city center with the airport's terminal. The airport is also near the headquarters of CONMEBOL, the continental governing body of association football in South America.
Visas on arrival
The Silvio Pettirossi Airport offers tourist visas on arrival with a maximum duration of 90 days for a reciprocity fee to citizens of:
- Australia - US$135
- Canada - US$150
- United States of America - US$160
- New Zealand - US$140
- Taiwan - free
- Russia - US$160
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Statistics
In 2012, The Guaraní International Airport registers 45 private flights daily, plus 2 commercial flights of TAM. A freighter flights mentioned with a frequency of 3-4 times per week in addition besides flight instruction school pilot operating in the terminal. As of 2013, the airport registers more Cargo operations than passenger travel with TAM being the only airline that operates for public flights. It maintains approximately 200 passengers per day, including private and cargo flights. Including Cargo flights, as well as TAM's São Paulo-Asunción flight which stops at the airport, there are 15 to 20 daily flights which are registered in the terminal.
These data show number of passengers movements into the airport, according to the Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil's Aviation Sector Summary Reports.
Top routes
Accidents and incidents
- 16 June 1955: a Panair do Brasil Lockheed L-049/149 Constellation registration PP-PDJ operating flight 263 from São Paulo-Congonhas to Asunción hit a 12m tree while on final approach to land at Asunción. Part of the wing broke off, the aircraft crashed and caught fire. Of the 24 passengers and crew aboard, 16 died.
- 27 August 1980: Transporte Aéreo Militar - TAM Paraguayo, a Douglas C-47B registration FAP2016 crashed on approach to Silvio Pettirossi International Airport. The aircraft was on a flight to Ayolas when an engine failed shortly after take-off and the decision was made to land back at Asunción. One person was killed
- 4 February 1996: a LAC Colombia cargo Douglas DC-8-55F registration HK-3979X flying from Asunción to Campinas on an empty positioning flight from Asunción. At VR power was reduced on no. 1 engine and, after rotation, also on the no. 2 engine. With the gear still down and flaps at 15° the aircraft lost control and crashed on a playing field 2 km past the runway. The crew possibly used the positioning flight as an opportunity for crew training. All four occupants of the aircraft and 20 persons on the ground died.
Gallery
See also
- List of airports in Paraguay
- Transport in Paraguay
- List of airports by ICAO code: S#SG - Paraguay
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
External links
- Airport information for SGAS at World Aero Data. Data current as of October 2006.Source: DAFIF.
- Airport information for SGAS at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- Current weather for SGAS at NOAA/NWS
- Accident history for ASU at Aviation Safety Network
- Silvio Pettirossi International Airport
- A-Z World Airports Online - Asuncion - Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU/SGAS)
- Ground Handling & FBO On Asuncion (ASU/SGAS)
- Google Map of ASU
- Flickr group for photos of ASU
Source of article : Wikipedia
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