President Nayib Bukele today laid the first stone for the construction of the Pacific Airport in La Unión, a major infrastructure project aimed at boosting the country’s economic growth. The president assured that no one was displaced or expropriated for the project, as all land was purchased through negotiations with landowners and occupants.

The Pacific Airport will be built in three phases, with expansions to the runway and boarding gates. The first phase will accommodate 300,000 passengers annually, the second phase will increase capacity to 1 million passengers, and the third phase aims to handle 5 million passengers. The first phase, with an investment of $386.4 million, is expected to generate $300 million in income.

The airport is set to begin operations in the second half of 2027. Additionally, the project includes five sustainability initiatives focused on water, energy, and solid waste management, along with environmental mitigation efforts such as flora recovery and anti-pollution measures.

President Bukele also highlighted that over $1.4 billion will be invested in infrastructure projects in the eastern region of El Salvador. «This investment will not only improve the country’s infrastructure, especially in the east, but it will also promote economic growth,» said the president. «It is estimated that each international passenger generates around $1,000, and with 300,000 passengers in the first year, this will result in a $300 million annual economic impact.»

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