Palmerola International Airport / José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base (IATA: XPL, ICAO: MHPR) serves Palmerola, HN. It has 10 scheduled routes to 8 destinations in 5 countries, operated by 9 airlines.
- Modern and Clean Facilities: Travelers consistently describe the airport as well-organized, clean, efficient, and pleasant, with a modern, attractive, and well-laid-out terminal. It was opened in late 2021 as a replacement for Toncontín Airport for international flights, offering safer operations due to its flat terrain and longer runway.
- Terminal Amenities: The spacious terminal (approximately 40,000 square meters) features 7 jet bridges, VIP lounges (like the Tenampua VIP Lounge), duty-free shopping zones, food courts with local cuisine, and readily available Wi-Fi. The airport is also designed to be family-friendly with changing tables and small play corners, and accessible for passengers with reduced mobility.
- Efficient Security: The security check process is generally rated positively by travelers. Current wait times for security can be as low as approximately 16 minutes.
- Spacious and Secure Parking: The airport offers a spacious, secure parking lot with hundreds of spaces, including both covered and uncovered sections. It's within walking distance of the check-in hall and monitored 24/7 with cameras.
- Slow and Dysfunctional Immigration/Customs: A significant point of frustration for many travelers is the slow and often indifferent attitude of health, immigration, and customs officials. Online registration systems for both immigration and customs are frequently reported as dysfunctional, leading to delays upon arrival.
- Aggressive Taxi Touts: Upon exiting customs, travelers have reported being immediately accosted by shouting taxi touts, which can be an unpleasant experience.
- Restroom Size: There has been a complaint regarding the small size of the restrooms in the arrivals area (first level), specifically mentioning limited stalls and urinals leading to queues.
- Transportation Costs/Distance to Tegucigalpa: The airport is located approximately 70-80 km (about 1.5 hours drive) from Tegucigalpa. While taxis are available, they can be expensive (around $70-$100).
Bottom line: In summary, Palmerola International Airport is praised for its modern infrastructure, cleanliness, and amenities, offering a comfortable environment once inside the main terminal areas. However, the experience can be significantly hampered by inefficiencies and issues within the immigration and customs processes, as well as the onward journey to Tegucigalpa, which may involve costly taxi fares or less direct bus options.
Routes from XPL
8 nonstop destinations · 9 airlines.
Airlines at XPL
9 carriers operate scheduled departures.
Route Network Map
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Airport routes
Palmerola International Airport / José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base (XPL) offers 10 flight routes operated by 9 airlines. Major carriers include American Airlines, Amerijet International, Avianca and others. Popular destinations from Palmerola include El Salvador Int'l, Miami Intl, Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, Tocumen Int'l, Dallas-Fort Worth Intl.
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Common questions about XPL
Quick answers, straight from the schedule data.
How many destinations have nonstop flights from XPL?
Palmerola International Airport / José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base has 10 scheduled routes to 8 destinations in 5 countries, operated by 9 airlines.
Which airlines fly from Palmerola International Airport / José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base?
9 carriers operate scheduled departures, including American Airlines, Amerijet International, Avianca.
Where is Palmerola International Airport / José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base located?
Palmerola International Airport / José Enrique Soto Cano Air Base is located in Palmerola, HN, at an elevation of 2061 ft. Its IATA code is XPL and ICAO code is MHPR.