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Consecion Aeropuerto El Tepual S.A. better known to the public as Tepual Airport, is a commercial and private aviation facility which serves the touristic area of Puerto Montt, Chile.
History
After Augusto Pinochet left Chile's Presidency, a plan was put on the run by the new government to make new airports and freeways across the country, so that Chile's smaller cities could have better connections with Santiago. Puerto Montt, along with Calama and other small areas, were among the most benefitted places out of the number of Chilean cities listed on the project.
Puerto Montt had proved to be a favorite domestic tourist destination, and, during the early 1990s, the numbers of international tourists (specially those from neighboring countries such as Argentina and Peru) grew considerably. In 1995, the airport finally opened, with Lan Chile as the largest airline company flying there.
Over the years, only Lan Chile has kept on operating regular services at the airport, with a number of charter airlines also flying to El Tepual.
El Tepual is owned by a number of international companies, headed by Chile's IDC,or Administracion de Concesiones. In 1998, IDC agreed to operate the airport for twelve more years, which would make El Tepual their property until 2010.
Facilities
El Tepual is one of a large number of jetports in South America that still has passengers walk on the runway, step on airplane stairs and get into the airliner. This is possible because El Tepual handles light traffic numbers and having passengers walking on to or off from their airplane onto the runway does not present much risk to El Tepual passengers. The airport does count with two jetways (also called airplane tunnel) as well.
The airport has a restaurant, a massage facility, immigration offices and areas for handicapped persons, among other facilities.
Capability
El Tepual airport can only cater to airplanes the size of a Boeing 707 or smaller. Boeing 737s are particularly prominent among airplanes that fly to the airport.
In 2004, according to IDC estimates, one million passengers passed through the airport's gates. IDC expects that total to rise to four million passengers by 2010.
Airlines
Charter operations
A large number of different airlines operate off-regular schedule service into El Tepual. These are usually hired by tour agents or companies. One airline that has provided charter services for a very long time is Sky Airlines.
External links
"El Tepual Airport"