Venezuela will reopen the main international airport serving Caracas to commercial passenger flights on September 1, more than two months after two powerful earthquakes damaged its terminals and forced airlines to move their operations elsewhere.
The Simón Bolívar International Airport at Maiquetía has remained closed to regular passenger traffic since June 24. The airport authority, IAIM, confirmed that domestic and international operations will resume from temporary facilities while repairs to the main terminal complex continue.
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Four temporary areas have been built in airport parking areas, with separate facilities for domestic and international departures and arrivals. The international departure terminal covers about “46,300 sq ft (4,300 m²), has four gates and can accommodate approximately 780 passengers, while the domestic facility has three gates and capacity for around 480 passengers.
The temporary facilities will initially handle only part of Maiquetía's previous traffic. Flights diverted to other Venezuelan airports, particularly Barcelona and Valencia, are therefore expected to continue after September 1 as operations in Caracas gradually recover.
The reopening had initially been planned for August 24 but was postponed after tests of the temporary facilities. Authorities subsequently carried out additional simulations before confirming the September 1 date.
Several airlines have already started announcing their return to Maiquetía. Laser Airlines plans to resume operations from Caracas on September 1, while Rutaca has also scheduled domestic flights from the airport.
Bogotá-Caracas on September 4
LATAM Airlines Colombia will return three days later. The carrier confirmed on Thursday that its Bogotá-Caracas service will resume on September 4 with three weekly flights, on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets will go on sale on August 29.
LATAM operated seven weekly flights between Bogotá and Caracas before the June earthquakes. The airline said frequencies could increase as additional operating capacity becomes available at Maiquetía.
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Other international carriers have yet to confirm when they will transfer flights back to Caracas. During the closure, airlines moved part of their Venezuelan operations to Barcelona and Valencia, which became temporary alternatives for passengers who previously used Maiquetía.
The June 24 earthquakes, reported at magnitudes of approximately 7.2 and 7.5, caused extensive damage to the airport complex and forced the suspension of passenger operations. Cargo flights resumed earlier, but the main passenger terminals remain under repair.
Located about 12 miles (20 km) from Caracas, Maiquetía is Venezuela's main international gateway and normally concentrates much of the country's international air traffic.
