Quetzaltenango Airport

Quetzaltenango Airport
IATA: AAZICAO: MGQZ
Summary
Airport type Joint
Operator Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil
Location Quetzaltenango
Elevation AMSL 7,779 ft / 2,371 m
Coordinates 14°51′56″N 091°30′07″W / 14.86556°N 91.50194°W / 14.86556; -91.50194Coordinates: 14°51′56″N 091°30′07″W / 14.86556°N 91.50194°W / 14.86556; -91.50194
Map
Quetzaltenango Airport

Location in Guatemala

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 2,103 6,900 Asphalt
Source: DAFIF[1]

Quetzaltenango Airport (IATA: AAZ, ICAO: MGQZ) (Aeropuerto de Quetzaltenango, or Aeropuerto de Xelajú) serves the city of Quetzaltenango also known as "Xelajú" or "Xela" and western Guatemala. It is operated and administrated by DGAC - Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil de Guatemala.

General

'Quetzaltenango Airport is located in the Guatemalan highlands, in the northeastern part of the city of Quetzaltenango.

The airport is currently undergoing massive construction works, as part of a nationwide airport rehabilitation program. Serving Guatemalas second largest city, AAZ aims to gain international status, along with La Aurora International Airport and Mundo Maya International Airport. The whole region hopes to profit economically from this new airport. So far, the next airport to Quetzaltenango with regular airline connections was 200 km (120 mi) away, in Guatemala City. Until 2006 the airfield in "Xela" only consisted of a grass/gravel runway. It had no significant terminal building and only a small hangar. Air traffic was very limited due to many missing essential features for a safe and unobstructed operation. In September 2006 construction works began,[2] which include:[3]

An emergency operations center has been installed at the airport in order to respond faster to disasters like hurricane Stan in the future.[4] The new runway was inaugurated by president Oscar Berger on January 10, 2008. The terminal is still under construction, and it would be ready by late 2013.

Criticism

Aviation in Quetzaltenango

Quetzaltenango 1

Quetzaltenango 1 is the name of the first aircraft built in Central America, Miguel Angel Castroconde is responsible for the airplane with the name Quetzaltenango 1, plane he built with the help of his son becoming the PrimerCconstructor an aircraft in Guatemala.

On May 12, 2003 After the first flight that lasted 30 minutes, followed by further testing done only to a volunteer who offered to accompany him, now see it is regular with his son and friends who ask you to take them to feel Quetzaltenango the excitement of seeing a plane built in this city.

Airlines

AirlinesDestinations
Aviones Comerciales de Guatemala (Avcom) charter flights
Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos Guatemala City, Charter flights

Previous carriers and destinations

Incidents

On 1 November 1998 a Douglas DC-3 (N3FY) carrying 18 crew and passengers crashed near the airport into mountainous terrain. Bad weather during approach is the probable cause. There were 11 fatalities.[8]

On 13 October 1999 a private Bell 206 helicopter (TG-AMA) crashed near Quetzaltenango. Both occupants were killed.[9]

Notes

External links

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