Airport Overview
The Retalhuleu Airport is a medium-sized airport in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, also known as Southern Air Base (Base Aérea del Sur). The airport has one runway, the ICAO code for the airport is MGRT and the IATA code is RER. The other closest airports are Coatepeque Airport, Quezaltenango Airport, SANTIAGO, San Marcos Airport and Santo Tomas Airport.
The airport is located in the municipality of Retalhuleu in southern Guatemala. It is operated by the Guatemalan Air Force. It has an asphalt runway (PCN: 054FBWT) that is 1,544 meters long and 30 meters wide in direction 04/22.
The Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civl foresees in its operative plan the Retalhuleu aerodrome as the second airport in the Pacific region, which will operate mainly as a receiving airport for local flights, thus enabling the arrival of tourists to the recreational complexes of IRTRA and to the Pacific beaches. It will also function as a connection between the country's plateau (highlands) with the network of national airports, and in a second stage, international.
As part of the economic reactivation, the government promotes an air bridge to Retalhuleu to facilitate local tourism to the IRTRA https://irtra.org.gt/ theme park, 22 km far from the Retalhuleu airport. IRTRA is an area of recreational parks and hotels. Retalhuleu is located in the south of the country and has a beautiful view of the Pacific shore.
Airport Location and Contact |
|
---|---|
Country |
Guatemala |
Province or District |
Retalhuleu |
Nearest Town or
City
|
Retalhuleu, 1 km. |
Airport’s Complete Name |
Aeropuerto de Retalhuleu |
Latitude |
14.52143 |
Longitude |
-91.697 |
Elevation (ft and m) |
199 m , 653 ft (masl) |
IATA Code |
RER |
ICAO Code |
MGRT |
Managing Company or Airport Authority |
Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Guatemala) |
Management Contact Person |
N/A |
NGO and/or UN Presence at Airport? |
NO |
Runway
Runway #1 |
|
---|---|
Runway Dimensions |
1,544 m x 30 m |
Runway Orientation |
4/22 (049°/229°) |
Runway Surface |
Asphalt (PCN: 054FBWT) |
Runway Condition |
Good, Cat 3C |
Retalhuleu is operated by the Guatemalan Air Force. It has an asphalt runway (PCN: 054FBWT) that is 1,544 meters long and 30 meters wide in direction 04/22. Initially the runway, inaugurated on September 16, 1956, was 1,200 meters long and 30 meters wide, with a grass surface. In 1963 it was enlarged and asphalted, and it had a military detachment to the north of the runway, which became the base of Military Zone No. 16 and later Military Zone No. 1316. It is currently the Southern Air Base.
Airport Infrastructure Details
Infrastructure |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Passenger / Cargo Security Screening |
Yes |
Runway Lighting |
No |
Refueling Capacity |
No |
Ground Handling Services |
No |
Air Traffic Control |
Tower: 118.8 freq. |
Fire Fighting Equipment |
Yes, basic |
Weather Information |
Yes |
Aircraft Parking Space |
Yes |
Navigation Aids |
Yes (*) |
Perimeter Fencing |
Yes |
Windsock |
Yes |
|
|
(*) Nearby VORs <50NM
TAPACHULA VOR-DME |
49.1 NM |
|
TAP |
freq: 115.30 |
W 292° |
(*) Nearby NDBs
RETALHULEU NDB |
0.1 NM |
|
REU |
freq: 340 |
NE 41° |
(*) Airport Radio Frequencies
Tower: |
118.8 |