Punta del Este has another aerodrome, in addition to the well-known Capitan de Corbeta Carlos A Curbello International Airport «Laguna del Sauce» (PDP-SULS) and the Departmental Aerodrome Punta del Este «El Jaguel» (SUPE). As of late 2021, there is also one at the exclusive Hotel Fasano Las Piedras, which has its private runway.
Since its inauguration in 2010, Fasano Las Piedras has established its reputation as a leading premium hotel in Eastern Uruguay and in South American tourism. Its main guests come from neighboring countries such as Argentina and Brazil, but it also hosts many visitors from the United States. The hotel has become a highly sought-after destination for those seeking VIP tourism and a unique first-class experience on the shores of Punta del Este.
See also:
Flights from Aerolíneas Argentinas to Punta del Este after the end of the summer season
How much is your time worth? The boom in executive aviation
The National Directorate of Civil Aviation and Aeronautical Infrastructure (DINACIA) authorized in 2020 the runway of the Hotel Fasano Las Piedras, which subsequently had some setbacks due to questioning and conjectures by officials of the Frente Amplio, requiring documentation from the DINACIA and the Ministry of Agriculture, for alleged irregularities in the placement of the runway, all of which was overcome.
The first air operation took place on December 25, 2021, when an Embraer Phenom 300 registration PR-DHP, landed at its facilities coming from Brazil.
The hotel’s aerodrome is located within a property that spans 480 hectares. The landing strip is 1,260 meters long and is complemented by other facilities such as an 18-hole golf course, a polo field, an equestrian center, and various service and amenity structures. This airstrip not only has the capacity to receive small and medium-sized aircraft but also different-sized helicopters.
Punta del Este VIP Aerodrome
The operation of the aerodrome is in charge of the concession company of the Laguna del Sauce Airport. With an 05/23 orientation, the runway is 1260 mts (4133ft) long and 18 mts wide. Secondly, it should be clarified that only daytime visual flight operations (VFR) are authorized, in addition to having a heliport north of the runway located at coordinates 34º52’29”S/054º54’45”W
This aerodrome is located within the ATZ SUPE (2.3 NM north of the «El Jagüel» aerodrome), corresponding to class G airspace, being only 9.1 NM from the VOR LDS corresponding to the international airport of Punta del Este, SULS.
In the summer season, the airspace surrounding «Fasano Las Piedras» is congested by the aeronautical activity of the Punta del Este Airport (SULS), the Departmental Aerodrome «El Jaguel» (SUPE), gliding flights from the San Carlos Gliding Club (SUSC) and parachute practice in the La Barra del Maldonado area, indicate sources from Volemos.UY.
Also, for the presentation of the FPL, consultations on weather, authorizations, and flight operations are governed and controlled by the TWR SULS on frequency 118.7.
Without a doubt, it is a great bet, as developments like that of the Hotel Fasano Las Piedras contribute to developing VIP tourism in a very unique country like Uruguay, where its declining executive aviation is limited to receiving operators and aircraft mainly from Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Historically, in the country of Artigas, the use of the bus was privileged, setting aside the advantages of non-regular and regular air transport, justifying the lack of investment in transport and infrastructure, with the excuse that distances between destinations are short.
It should be noted that this premium hotel is the first in Punta del Este to have a private runway, but not the first in Uruguay. The thermal complex «Altos del Arapey», located in the department of Salto, in the northwest of the country, also has a private runway.
