Amid the July national holidays, progress on the new terminal of Jorge Chávez International Airport was celebrated, having reached over 90% completion five months ahead of the scheduled inauguration date.
The concessionaire, Lima Airport Partners, highlighted that the new single passenger terminal will begin operations in December this year and will be able to handle up to 30 million passengers. According to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Peru, 2018 was the year with the highest passenger movement at the airport, with 23,659,099 travelers. In 2023, it reached 22,876,785 passengers.
To enhance traveler comfort, new technologies have been added, such as a new baggage handling and inspection system (BHS), security inspection lines with CT scanners and automatic tray return systems, heavy baggage transport systems, 6 airport operations control rooms, implementation of boarding areas with boarding bridges and remote gates, among others.
“This is a crucial year for the country as we are in the final stretch to deliver to Peru a new airport that will be unique in South America for the systems and equipment being installed, and that will also have the capacity to handle 30 million passengers annually from its first year of operation. Today we celebrate that this new “Jorge Chávez” will be a new pride for Peru, and we reaffirm our commitment to offering our passengers the best airport operation at the future airport, without having to envy other terminals in the world. We are already at 90% completion, five months before its opening,” said Karla Urdiales, Communications Leader of LAP.
Key advancements of the new Jorge Chávez terminal
Installation of security and baggage handling systems, and increased heavy cargo management
As part of the passenger baggage management system, 7 CT scanners have been installed for hand baggage inspection. A total of 27 inspection lines will be installed for all domestic, international, and connecting flights. With this system, passengers will not need to remove liquids or electronics from their luggage when passing through security controls, as this system has a 360° view that can identify any prohibited items as hand baggage.
Four CT scanners will be installed for checked baggage inspection, one per check-in island, allowing 2,700 bags to be screened per hour in three islands at the start of operations in December 2024 and 3,440 bags per hour with the four check-in islands enabled by 2025.
It is highlighted that it will be the first airport in the region to have this advanced system for all its flights.
Advanced systems for handling heavy baggage are being installed. These elevators will allow heavy baggage to be handled more easily. 22 of these mechanical systems have already been installed for outbound flight baggage, and 12 more are being installed for inbound flight baggage.
Implementation of aircraft maneuvering rooms and airport control centers
A New Digital Platform Management Center is being implemented to direct aircraft to their parking positions. This advanced system will guide aircraft movement on the platform safely and efficiently through a remote control center, supported by screens and cameras installed on the new terminal’s platform.
Additionally, an Operations Control Center, IT Control Center, Maintenance Control Center, Security Control Center, and a Crisis Room for airport management are being implemented.
A more spacious terminal for passenger circulation
Also, 90 check-in counters, 42 self-service check-in kiosks, as well as flight information screens, and the equipment for TUUA (Single Airport Use Fee) registration have already been installed.
Various airport boarding areas have been signposted, and glass partitions have been installed in mixed-use areas. The New Jorge Chávez will have 59 boarding gates: 46 with boarding bridges and 13 with buses.
A wide pedestrian boulevard connecting the new terminal to the city is also progressing, along with landscaping and gardening work on the façade. Additionally, the finishing of restrooms and seating in various public areas of the new terminal is ongoing. Finally, 37 elevators, 33 escalators, and 10 moving walkways for passengers have been installed, along with the delivery of the first commercial spaces of the New Terminal to Lagardere, Morpho, LATAM, Acurio Restaurantes, Retail Services, and Collinson.
“LAP and the entire team work daily to make the opening of the New Jorge Chávez International Airport an important milestone for Peru, as it will represent a qualitative leap in the country’s airport infrastructure. The new terminal will help improve Peru’s connectivity with the world and boost the country’s economic and tourist development, while generating more than 120,000 jobs in its first year of operations,” concluded the LAP representative.
