Airport type Military Location Managua 09/27 3,006 Owner Government of Nicaragua | Operator República de Nicaragua Elevation AMSL 217 ft / 66 m 3,006 9,862 | |
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Punta Huete Airport (ICAO: MNFC) is an airport located in the municipality of San Francisco Libre in Managua, Nicaragua.
History
The Punta Huete Airport was built in the 80's for the landing of MiG 21 airplanes. After Humberto Ortega revealed that Nicaragua had approached France and the Soviet Union for Mirage or MiG fighter planes, the United States warned against introducing modern combat jets to the region. Although Nicaragua began construction of the new airbase with a longer runway and protective revetments, it did not succeed in acquiring new fighter aircraft.
In 2010, the airfield was renovated as an alternative to the Managua Airport for passenger and cargo airplanes. Located at the north shore of Lake Managua, the Punta Huete Airport could become in the near future a major airport in Nicaragua. The 3 km runway allows the landing of all types of aircraft, including large airplanes such as the Boeing 747, the Russian An-124 or the U.S. manufactured C-5 Galaxy, with a capacity of 122 tons.