Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport - CUZ Cusco
Serving one of the most popular tourist attractions in Cusco, Peru, Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport is considered as one of the most important airports in the country. In 2016, it has served 3.21 million passengers. It is one of the first airports to use jetways. It is named after Alejandro Velasco Astete, the first pilot to cross the Andes from Lima to Cusco in 1925. He died in a plane crash later that year.
Best Time to Visit
For a year, American Airlines served Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport in 1998. However, due to the limited facilities of the airport, the flights were discontinued. Another reason is the refusal of the national government to grant transportation rights to passengers from Lima to Cusco. Currently, seven (7) airlines are operating in the airport. These include Amaszonas, Avianca, LATAM Peru, Peruvian Airlines, Sky Airline, Star Peru, and Viva Air Peru. Operated by CORPAC SA, the airport has one, massive runway that is 11,155-foot long. It is this long because of its elevation. In 2017, President Kuczynski ordered the establishment of a new airport nearby, Chinchero International Airport. Expected to be completed by 2021, it is roughly 30 minutes away from CUZ-Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport. This new airport is expected to serve six (6) million passengers annually once it is completed. A nearby city that is popular among tourists is Ollantaytambo.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Nearby airport hotels include the Agostos Cusco and the Fuente De Agua Cusco Hotel, both around just 4 km away. You can also book rooms and suites at the nearby Hotel Ferre Cusco, with just a 5-minute drive to and from the airport.
A nearby airport is the upcoming Chinchero International Airport.