Guatemala Airport

I was in Guatemala Airport at the beginning of 08/05. The airport from the outside is certainly an interesting '60s building if not well maintained. Arrivals is good the lines are quick but the taxi/bus/hire car/hotel desks are before you leave the building and you have to beg and plead to be allowed back in again (without taking luggage)! Departures are good the lines quick people friendly lots of shops to buy last minute tourist tat duty free and Guatemalan fast food (well worth it when you are flying AA to BOS via MIA without even a chance of buying food!). Overall a reasonable experience for a poor country! I especially liked the No dogs and No guns notices on the entrance doors!

A new international airport has become a necessity. Built in 1968 La Aurora is simply obsolete and overcrowded. It has not been remodeled since it opened. The local press has recently highlighted a long list of deficiencies ranging from the shortness of its runway flanked on one side with buildings and a ravine on the other to filthy and oftentimes inoperable restroom facilities. La Aurora is rated as a category 2 airport under international civil aviation safety classifications. The new airport is not expected to be completed until 2010 at the earliest if opposition from groups wanting to keep the airport in Guatemala City doesn't sabotage the government's plans. In the meantime management of La Aurora has been handed over to a joint public/private sector group in the hopes of completing extensive renovations and expansion in the near future.

I go through Guatemala City's La Aurora airport several times each year and am always discovering shops services and other pleasant surprises tucked throughout the terminal which I had overlooked on my previous visits. The only major drawback to La Aurora is that passenger traffic has outgrown available space. During the peak hours -- especially in the early morning -- there is simply nowhere to put the additional staff that could handle the passengers. This can produce a badly overcrowded and somewhat confusing check in area and long lines. Having to go to a separate (and somewhat obscurely located) line to pay a $3 airport security tax produces yet another line but it moves very quickly. These problems can usually be avoided by avoiding an early morning departure and taking a late morning or early afternoon flight. Once you get checked in and have found where to pay your security tax you will be in for a most welcome surprise. The terminal has some of the best shopping in Latin America ranging from tiny shops packed with local crafts at very low prices to the more typical upscale duty free merchandise. There are coffee bars and snack bars throughout -- both before and after passport control.

Relatively small but efficient and clean. General facilities are good good duty free shopping. Some gates are much nicer that others especially toilets. Can be crowded at peak hours but not really a problem to move around or get in or out of it. The government has announced a new larger international airport will be built 60 km. South leaving La Aurora only for local flights and non commercial civil aviation. Eventually both airports are to be connected by a fast rail service.