🇺🇾 Nueva Hesperides International Airport

Nueva Hespérides International Airport (IATA: STY, ICAO: SUSO) is a public airport serving Salto, Uruguay, located approximately 7 km southwest of the city in the locality of Nueva Hespérides. It was declared an International Airport in 1991.

Type of facility and operations: The airport is operated by Aeropuertos Uruguay, a subsidiary of Corporación América Airports,. It handles domestic and international non-regular flights under both instrumental and visual flight rules. Its OACI category is 3D, allowing for aircraft up to Airbus A321 or Boeing 737. The airport has two runways: a 1,588 m (5,210 ft) asphalt runway and a shorter 750 m (2,460 ft) grass runway. It has an integrated terminal spanning 780 m² (8,400 sq ft). The airport offers Jet/Avgas fuel and has RFF/ARFF category 4.

Notable features or history: The airport underwent a significant modernization program in the early 2020s, costing an estimated US$13 million,. This renovation, part of a larger national airport upgrade initiative, included repaving the main runway, installing new lighting (including LED technology, integral beacons, and a Precision Approach Path Indicator), improving security, constructing a new terminal, and adding facilities for the fire department and security agencies,. The renovated airport was inaugurated in February 2024 by Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou,.

Current status: As of October 2024, the airport is served by Paranair, which connects Salto with Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo. The airport is equipped with modern infrastructure and facilities, meeting international standards. The Salto VOR-DME and non-directional beacon are located at the airport. In 2020, Salto was the second busiest Uruguayan airport for air taxi flights and national flights.

*Sources researched: en.wikipedia.org, dinacia.gub.uy, gub.uy, es.wikipedia.org, businessairnews.com*