Mar de Cortés International Airport

The Mar de Cortés International Airport (IATA: PPE, ICAO: MMPE), also known as Puerto Peñasco International Airport, is the first fully privately funded airport in Mexico. It was built by Grupo Vidanta and is located in La Jolla de Cortés, 15 minutes from the city of Puerto Peñasco in the state of Sonora and 5 minutes from some of the larger hotel and condominium developments by the Sea of Cortés.[1]

Mar de Cortés International Airport

Aeropuerto Internacional del Mar de Cortés
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerGrupo Vidanta
ServesPuerto Peñasco
LocationLa Jolla de Cortes, Sonora, Mexico
Elevation AMSL88 ft / 27 m
Coordinates31°21′7.2″N 113°18′20.2″W
Map
Mar de Cortés International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
18/36 8,398 2,560 Concrete
Statistics (2019)
Total PassengersN/A
Source: Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil

History

The first airfield in Puerto Peñasco was opened during the 1940s, used by Mexicana de Aviación as a stop over on its route from Mexico City to Mexicali. The airfield consisted of an office with a telegraph operator, who provided information about route conditions. A second, larger airfield was built in 1973, with a small terminal building. It was declared as an official international point of entry on August 5, 1994.[2]

The airfield was significantly improved in 2005 through an important investment by Grupo Vidanta, and included repaving of runway and ramp, enlargement of the air terminal and car parking, construction of the AFF station and perimeter fencing; and vertical and horizontal signage. At the same time, a new commercial airport was being developed and built 10 miles east of the existing airfield.[2]

The new airport was inaugurated on November 5, 2009, when President Felipe Calderón's presidential plane landed on the runway for the Border Governors' meeting.[3] The airport was officially open to the public on October 31, 2009,[4] operating as a Mexican Airport of Entry (M-AOE). The old airfield was then closed.[5] The airport is able to handle airplanes of Boeing 767 size and larger. The concrete runway is 2500 meters long and 60 meters wide;[6][7] it is the fourth runway in Mexico to be built entirely with concrete provided by Cemex,[8] and was awarded a Premio Obras Cemex in 2007.[9]

Aeroméxico served the airport in past years, but suspended operations in 2014.[10]

TAR started domestic flights in July 2016, cancelling them four months later.[11]

In 2016, Puerto Peñasco received 2,466 passengers, while in 2017 were 90 passengers, according to data released by the Direction General of Civil Aeronautics.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Aéreo Servicio Guerrero Hermosillo

See also

References
  1. "Entre dichos, frases e infraestructura". CNNExpansion.com. 2010-05-28. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  2. "About Mar De Cortes International Airport". Aeropuerto Mar de Cortés. Archived from the original on 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  3. "Reunión de gobernadores fronterizos México- Estados Unidos". Blogs.periodistadigital.com. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  4. Alvarado, Mariana (2009-10-28). "Rocky Point airport to open next week for private flights". Azstarnet.com. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  5. "Inicia Operaciones El Aeropuerto Internacional Mar De Cortes - Puerto Peñasco". Visitapenasco.com.mx. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  6. Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Habrá nuevo aeropuerto en Mar de Cortés - Negocios". CNNExpansion.com. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  8. "Busca operador para el nuevo aeropuerto - Obras". CNNExpansion.com. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  9. Archived September 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Aeroméxico suspends Puerto Peñasco flight". Rocky Point 360. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  11. "TAR Airlines to begin flights to Puerto Peñasco". Puerto Peñasco 360. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
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