Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport

Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Alfredo Vásquez Cobo, IATA: LET, ICAO: SKLT) is an international airport located in Leticia, Colombia's southernmost city and capital of the Amazonas Department.

Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorAerocivil
ServesLeticia, Colombia
Elevation AMSL277 ft / 84 m
Coordinates4°11′40″S 69°56′35″W
Websiteaerocivil.gov.co/...
Map
LET
LET
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 2,010 6,168 Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
Passengers333,050
Sources: GCM[1] Google Maps[2]

The airport is of utmost importance for the Amazon region, as it is the main gateway to the rest of the country and serves the tri-border area between Colombia, Brazil and Peru.

History

Before Leticia had an established airport, the Colombian Air Force flew PBY Catalina aircraft from the interior of Colombia to the river banks of the city. Gustavo Rojas Pinilla seeing the need to better connect the Amazon region of Colombia to Bogota ordered for an airport to be built.

In 2015, Juan Manuel Santos, the then president of Colombia, announced an investment of over $142 billion Colombian pesos (or $42 million US dollars) to replace the existing facilities with brand new passenger and cargo terminals, control tower, parking and common areas, and access roadways.[3] Construction was expected to conclude on November 30, 2018, however due to delays the new facilities are expected to be completed by June 2019.[4]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Avianca Bogotá
LATAM Colombia Bogotá
Satena La Chorrera, La Pedrera, Tarapacá

Statistics
Annual Passenger Traffic[5]
Year Passengers % Change
2019333,050 18.8%
2018270,298 6.7%
2017289,682 8.7%
2016266,443 10.6%
2015240,790 10.7%
2014217,419 24.1%
2013175,152 9.2%
2012160.380 4.3%
2011153,777 1.9%
2010156,697 25.2%
2009125,104 35.6%
200892,257-

Colonel Herbert Boy Air Base

Permanently stationed onsite is the Amazonas Air Group, of the Colombian Air Force, which operates out of the Colonel Herbert Boy Air Base. The air base shares the same runway with the airport and jointly manage other facilities.

Accidents
  • On November 18, 2006, an AeroSucre Boeing 727 crashed during landing due to poor weather and fog against a television antenna with 40 meters of height. The three members of crew, as well as the three passengers, died in the accident.

See also

References
  1. Airport information for LET at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. Google Maps - Leticia
  3. https://www.aviacol.net/noticias/el-nuevo-aeropuerto-de-leticia-sera-construido-en-su-totalidad.html
  4. https://www.elespectador.com/economia/entrega-del-aeropuerto-de-leticia-vuelve-ser-postergada-articulo-827386
  5. Statistics. "Estadísticas Operacionales".


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