Honduras on Friday inaugurated Palmerola International Airport, shared with a US military base, to replace the current airport in the capital, considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
The first flights to Palmerola, in the Comayagua Valley, 75 km north of the capital Tegucigalpa, will not leave for a month, when the control tower and facilities for airlines and passengers are completed.
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With Palmerola, “
Honduras is at the forefront of air connectivity
,” President Juan Orlando Hernández said in a speech at the inauguration ceremony.
"
We will maintain the civilian terminal and our joint task force (military with the United States) because it is good for Honduras,
" he added.
Toncontin Airport, surrounded by mountains and with a short runway, is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
AFP
The cost of the airport facilities, including a 2,800 m runway and a 39,000 m2 terminal, amounts to some 200 million dollars (172 million euros).
The airport will be operated by a Honduran company and a German consortium, for a 30-year concession.
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The United States had built the Palmerola air base in 1985, used in particular to deliver American aid to the Contras, the rebellion opposed to the government of Nicaragua.
At least 500 American soldiers are still stationed there.
The capital's Toncontin airport, where around 800,000 passengers pass a year, surrounded by mountains and with a short runway, is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.
He also suffered from weather conditions which made maneuvering difficult for the pilots.
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