The Peruvian Ministry of Transport and Communications reported the immediate closure of air operations at the Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport of Cusco (CUZ) until 18:59 on Friday, January 13.
“This action is carried out to safeguard the integrity of people and the safety of aeronautical operations,” said the agency.
The Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation (CORPAC), state administrator of the Cusco airport indicated that the Provincial Prosecutor and the General of the National Police of Peru alerted about clashes with a mob of protesters who intend to attack its facilities, as also happened in Juliaca.
“We reiterate the call for calm and serenity of the protesters who, although they have the right to demonstrate, are attacking the physical integrity of people and airport infrastructure for no apparent reason, leaving without air connectivity to their own region, hindering the economic development of our country, affecting tourism and putting at risk the transfer by air, in the face of a health emergency,” concluded Corpac.
CUSCO: TEMO UNA MASACRE. TODO CUSCO SE DIRIGE AL AEROPUERTO A TOMARLO A ESTAS HORAS DE LA TARDE. SOLO LA LLUVIA QUE SE ALISTA PARA CAER LOS PUEDE SALVAR… pic.twitter.com/Tip4Kqk5AA
— Mario Cansaya Esquivel (@MarioFredhi) January 12, 2023
Local media reported that thousands of demonstrators sympathetic to ousted president Pedro Castillo have been trying to reach the Velasco Astete airport since Wednesday. Dozens of people were injured and one died.
For this Thursday, Cusco airport had scheduled 66 flights between arrivals and departures, of which 28 had to be cancelled due to the decision to suspend all operations. If the scheduled date and time of reopening for tomorrow at 19:00 is maintained, another 50 flights will be canceled. This means that more than 10,000 passengers will be affected in total.
In December, Cusco was closed for almost four days and the situation reached international relevance given the large number of foreigners who were stranded on the eve of the New Year holidays.
With 3.9 million passengers mobilized in 2019 prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, Cuzco Airport it is the second most important in Peru as it is the gateway to Machu Picchu.
