Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Velasco Astete
International Airport is located in the city of Cusco
, in southeastern Peru
. Cusco, a principal tourist attraction in Latin America, receives various domestic flights as well as some international flights. Its runways are completely paved. Currently, it operates at limited capacity due to its precarious location near the city's center. Despite these limitations, the airport has consistently ranked as Peru's second most important air terminal, handling 1,288,200 national and international passengers in 2009, as reported by CORPAC.
vian pilot Alejandro Velasco Astete
who was the first pilot to cross the Andes
in 1925. This first flight was from Lima
directly to Cusco
. Later that year, in September, while trying to avoid crashing into spectators at an airshow in the city of Puno
he crashed and was killed. In recognition of his pioneering achievements in Peruvian aviation history, the airport was named in his honor.
on a JFK-LIM-CUZ-LIM-JFK routing in the late 90s (1998–1999) using Boeing 757-200 aircraft. However, these flights were discontinued due to a number of factors, including the airport's limited services and facilities as well as the Peruvian government's refusal to grant passenger transportation rights between Lima
and Cuzco. American still holds the rights to this route and can resume flights at the company's discretion.
There have been a number of talks of construction of a new airport in the suburb of Chinchero, but this has created controversy as this area is home to the Pampas of Chinchero, an ecological monument.
In the past the airport received international flights from La Paz
operated by Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano
. However after this airline's bankruptcy in the early 2000s, the route has been taken over by Aerosur
, which also serves Santa Cruz de la Sierra's Viru Viru International Airport
. The airport also received flights from the city of Arica
in Chile
operated by the defunct Chilean airline Ladeco
.
. A number of years ago, it was the first Peruvian airport to make use of jetways. The runway is paved and is 3400 meters (11,155 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide.
turboprop
, crashed shortly after takeoff from the Cusco airport, killing 99 of the 100 people on board, plus two people on the ground, in the deadliest accident in Peru's aviation history to that date. 49 of the passengers were high school exchange students visiting Peru from Buffalo, New York
. Investigation revealed the accident was caused by improper piloting technique and poor maintenance. The airline was suspended and fined by the Peruvian government. A memorial — a large white cross with a nameplate — has been erected for the victims near the crash site, about a mile and a half west-north-west from the airport.
Astete
Astete is a Spanish surname, from an ancient basque - castilian lineage. The etymology of "Astete" comes from the Basque language: "Aste" possibly a variation of "Arte" means oak, and "ete" is a suffix to nearby location...
International Airport is located in the city of Cusco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
, in southeastern Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. Cusco, a principal tourist attraction in Latin America, receives various domestic flights as well as some international flights. Its runways are completely paved. Currently, it operates at limited capacity due to its precarious location near the city's center. Despite these limitations, the airport has consistently ranked as Peru's second most important air terminal, handling 1,288,200 national and international passengers in 2009, as reported by CORPAC.
Name
It was named in honor of the PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian pilot Alejandro Velasco Astete
Alejandro Velasco Astete
Alejandro Velasco Astete was a Peruvian pilot, most recognizable for being the first man to fly over the Andes. He was 28 years old upon his death....
who was the first pilot to cross the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
in 1925. This first flight was from Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
directly to Cusco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
. Later that year, in September, while trying to avoid crashing into spectators at an airshow in the city of Puno
Puno
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 100,000. The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro as capital of the province of...
he crashed and was killed. In recognition of his pioneering achievements in Peruvian aviation history, the airport was named in his honor.
History
Previously, the airport was served by American AirlinesAmerican Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
on a JFK-LIM-CUZ-LIM-JFK routing in the late 90s (1998–1999) using Boeing 757-200 aircraft. However, these flights were discontinued due to a number of factors, including the airport's limited services and facilities as well as the Peruvian government's refusal to grant passenger transportation rights between Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
and Cuzco. American still holds the rights to this route and can resume flights at the company's discretion.
There have been a number of talks of construction of a new airport in the suburb of Chinchero, but this has created controversy as this area is home to the Pampas of Chinchero, an ecological monument.
In the past the airport received international flights from La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
operated by Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano
Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano
Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano S.A. was an airline serving as flag carrier of Bolivia. It operated domestic and international flights, aiming at passenger as well as cargo transport. LAB was active for more than 80 years, having been based in Cochabamba most of the time, with Cochabamba Airport being an...
. However after this airline's bankruptcy in the early 2000s, the route has been taken over by Aerosur
Aerosur
Compañía Boliviana de Transporte Aéreo Privado Aerosur, S.A.,, usually shortened and styled AeroSur is a privately-owned airline from Bolivia, which serves as the country's flag carrier since 1998, along with state-owned Boliviana de Aviación...
, which also serves Santa Cruz de la Sierra's Viru Viru International Airport
Viru Viru International Airport
Viru Viru International Airport is an aviation facility located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.The idea to build a new, modern airport in Santa Cruz was conceived in 1976, in view of the obsolence of the old airport known as El Trompillo. Soon after, construction of the airport began...
. The airport also received flights from the city of Arica
Arica
Arica is a city in northern Chile. "Arica" may also refer to:Places* Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile* Arica Airport , Chile* Arica, Amazonas, town in Colombia* Rio Aricá-açu, tributary of the Cuiabá River south of Cuiabá, BrazilOther...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
operated by the defunct Chilean airline Ladeco
Ladeco
Ladeco was a former Chilean airline; Ladeco is the acronym of "Línea Aérea Del Cobre" or the "Airline of Copper," in reference to the principal Chilean export.-History:...
.
Design
The airport has a number of commodities which attend to the multitude of tourists which visit the city of CuscoCusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
. A number of years ago, it was the first Peruvian airport to make use of jetways. The runway is paved and is 3400 meters (11,155 feet) long and 45 meters (148 feet) wide.
Airlines and destinations
Accident
On August 9, 1970, LANSA Flight 502, a four-engine engine Lockheed L-188A ElectraLockheed L-188 Electra
The Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
, crashed shortly after takeoff from the Cusco airport, killing 99 of the 100 people on board, plus two people on the ground, in the deadliest accident in Peru's aviation history to that date. 49 of the passengers were high school exchange students visiting Peru from Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Investigation revealed the accident was caused by improper piloting technique and poor maintenance. The airline was suspended and fined by the Peruvian government. A memorial — a large white cross with a nameplate — has been erected for the victims near the crash site, about a mile and a half west-north-west from the airport.