page_title: Simón Bolívar International Airport (Colombia)
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Simón Bolívar International Airport (Colombia) / History
caption_attribution_description: Español: Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar de Santa Marta Colombia
context_page_description: Simón Bolívar International Airport is the airport serving Santa Marta city. The airport is located 14 kilometres south of Downtown Santa Marta, the capital of the Magdalena Department, on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. 18 kilometres north of the municipality of Ciénaga in Colombia.
  It is operated by Aeropuertos De Oriente S.A.S., through a concession agreement with Aerocivil. The airport was recognized as an international airport in 2007, but it is operating domestic flights only and currently serves as hub for low-cost carrier Viva Air Colombia.
  It is named in honor of Simón Bolívar, the military and political leader who played a leading role in the establishment of several South American countries as sovereign states.
context_section_description: The construction of the Santa Marta airport was inaugurated on December 8, 1949, by the company Líneas Aéreas Nacionales, for the Magdalena Department, a modern airport that will satisfy pressing and urgent regional needs. Back in those days, the airport had exceptional location conditions since it was used to operate by water and land. The dirt track was located parallel to the sea and is built in two stages: the first with 1,200 meters long and the second with an extension to 1,000. For the operation of seaplanes, there is sufficient depth.
  These ships can reach about 50 meters from the airport building. The preliminary plans for the terminal building were under study and approval by the Aerocivil and once approved the LANZA Company began its construction to complete it in the shortest possible time. it was also equipped with a modern control tower with all the devices for meteorological observations. At present, the ground movement works at Simón Bolívar Airport was progressing satisfactorily, under the direction of LANZA's engineering chief, Enrique Pérez Ayala. Santa Marta has, in its airport, a key to its development and progress.
caption: Old and outdated Simon Bolivar Airport in 2014
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