Airport type Public Serves Montería, Colombia Opened 1974 Elevation 11 m | Operator Aerocivil Location Los Garzones Code MTR Phone +57 4 7911476 | |
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Passenger services ceased Aces Colombia, Aires, SAM Colombia, Tavina, West Caribbean Airways, Aerotal Address Via Aeropuerto, Montería, Córdoba, Colombia Similar Universid De Córdoba, Chevignon, Universid Católica Luis Amig, Hotel Florida Sinú, Homecen | ||
Landing at los garzones airport skmr airbus a320 214 n763av avianca
Los Garzones Airport (IATA: MTR, ICAO: SKMR) is an airport serving the city of Montería in the Córdoba Department of Colombia. It is the only airport in the department that can handle modern jets (up to Airbus A330 size).
Contents
- Landing at los garzones airport skmr airbus a320 214 n763av avianca
- Cockpit landing los garzones airport monteria colombia
- Planning and Constuction
- Los Garzones Before 2008
- Contract With Airplan
- New Terminal Expansion
- Accidents and incidents
- References
The runway is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) north of Montería. The Monteria VOR-DME (Ident: MTR) is located on the field. On normal days, the airport receives 25 to 30 takeoffs and landings. It is one of the busiest airports in Colombia in terms of passenger flow.
Cockpit landing los garzones airport monteria colombia
Planning and Constuction
In the 1960s, the city's airport, San Jeronimo Airport reached it's maximum capacity. The terminal was very small and tarmac was too small to fit many aircraft. The runway was worn down and very small. Also, the city wanted Jet aircraft to fly there. The only aircraft that could land there were propeller powered. The local government had decided that the city needed a new airport to replace it. Which a long runway was planned and simple radar, since the old airport had no radar. The chosen construction site was next to the town of Los Garzones. So it was called Los Garzones Airport. After months of planning, construction started in late 1971.
Los Garzones Before 2008
The airport opened in 1974, replacing the old airport and closed it down. All operations were moved to the airport on its opening day. The runway was 6,285 feet when it first opened. The first airlines to begin operations were Avianca and Aerotal, which originally operated at the old San Jeronimo Airport. However, the runway was twice as long as the old airport. So, regional jets could be able to land there. Overtime, the airline Tavina, which was a small regional airline, started operating there in the early 1980s. Which lead to a small expansion of the terminal. Aerotal ceased operations in 1983. In, 1991, the airline ACES Colombia acquired several ATR 42s and soon started to fly there. At this time, security systems in the airport was renovated along with expanding the baggage check-in. SAM Colombia started operations there in the late 1990s, when Tavina ceased operations there. In 2001, West Caribbean Airways started operations there. ACES Colombia ceased operations in 2003 and West Caribbean Airways ceased operations in 2005. That same year, new simple ILS systems were added.
Contract With Airplan
In 2008, the terminal had three parking gates and a terminal that was 446 feet and was the busiest year the airport had ever had. The old tarmac was worn down and the terminal was very old and outdated. In late 2008, the city of Montería agreed to modernize the aging airport with help from the company Airplan. In early 2009, the control tower was renovated, then in late 2009, the original terminal was demolished and was replaced with a new terminal. In 2010, SAM Colombia ceased operations there. Then in 2014, three more gates and a new cargo terminal were added. The runway was extended to 7,546 and also was widened by 30 feet on each side the same year. Finally, the terminal was then expanded and renovated and a sixth gate was added. The expansion was completed in early December 2016.
New Terminal Expansion
The new terminal was completed in early January 2017. This new building contained fresh architecture more advanced systems than the previous terminal. The number of check-in stands increased from 17 to 22, and electric escalators were added for the first time. There were more food courts and offices on the second floor, along with the entrance to the VIP lounge. Three more gates were added to make six in total, making it easier for airlines to make new routes and destinations. The city of Montería is considering adding a new immigration hall in 2018. In 2020, it is planned to expand the tarmac to add another parking space for commercial aircraft while expanding the cargo terminal and expanding the tarmac for cargo aircraft.