🇨🇴 Santa Ana Airport

Santa Ana Airport (IATA: CRC, ICAO: SKGO) is a public airport serving Cartago, Colombia. It is owned and operated by Aerocivil.

Notable Features and History:

• Opened in 1947, Santa Ana Airport played a significant role in the transportation system of the northern Cauca Valley, serving as a regional hub with regular flights to major Colombian cities like Bogotá and Medellín during its "golden age" in the 1950s–1970s.
• Leading airlines, such as Avianca, actively used the airport for passenger transport during this period.
• Its commercial importance declined with the development of ground infrastructure and the growth of larger airports in nearby cities like Pereira and Armenia.
• By the end of the 20th century, most major carriers ceased regular flights, and the airport reoriented towards private and business aviation, aviation schools, and government services.
• A significant reconstruction in 2015-2016 updated the runway and passenger terminal to meet modern safety standards.
• In 2008, low-cost airline EasyFly briefly resumed commercial passenger operations but ceased due to a lack of passengers.
• The airport activated runway lights and a control tower beacon in 2008, enabling night operations.
• In 2010, there were plans for the airport to become a significant cargo hub, potentially the first or second most important in Colombia, with investments in a passenger terminal, warehouses, and platform expansion, alongside a proposed Free Trade Zone and railway connection.

Current Status:

• Santa Ana Airport is a small regional airport primarily serving general aviation, charter flights, and corporate flight departments.
• It does not receive scheduled airline flights.
• The airport has one asphalt runway (01/19) measuring 2,200 meters (7,218 feet).
• Its elevation is 2,979 feet (908 meters) above sea level.
• The single passenger terminal is compact and serves both arriving and departing passengers.
• The airport is suitable for turboprops and short-field specialist aircraft, such as the King Air and PC-12, but restricts most jet operations due to its runway length.
• Fuel (Jet/Avgas) is available, and its hours of operation are 1100 - 2300 UTC-5.
• Customs and immigration services are not available.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, kupi.com, skyscrapercity.com, skyaccess.com, businessairnews.com*