El Salvador continues to strengthen its air connectivity as the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) reported 80 percent progress in the construction of the new baggage handling terminal at the San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Airport. The project responds to the rapid growth in passenger demand at the country’s main air gateway, which has experienced record traffic in recent years.
During an interview on Diálogo 21, CEPA President Federico Anliker explained that the expansion has been developed in phases to address congestion in critical areas. “We have reached 80 percent completion on this project, and we have moved forward step by step. We already inaugurated the pre-check-in area, which was also saturated,” Anliker said.
Once completed, the new terminal will have the capacity to handle more than 10,500 bags and up to 6,000 passengers per hour. The project, which broke ground in September 2025, represents an investment exceeding $47.2 million and covers more than 17,000 square meters on the eastern wing of the terminal inaugurated two years ago. Authorities expect construction to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.
CEPA also announced future improvements, including a new parking structure that will add 2,000 spaces to the existing 2,500. In 2025 alone, the airport served more than 5.2 million passengers, moved nearly 40 million kilograms of cargo, and registered 51,000 commercial operations, a five percent increase compared to 2024.
Beyond the capital, Anliker confirmed continued progress at the Pacific International Airport in eastern El Salvador, where earthworks have reached 75 percent completion. “These works are being carried out with environmental care, especially due to nearby rivers. We adapt to nature,” he stated, adding that CEPA maintains its commitment to environmental protection as the project advances toward its first phase, expected to be completed within the next two years.