Departure
98%
vs 95% ▲ 3
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport (SASA/SLA) serves Salta, capital of Salta Province in northern Argentina, sitting at a lofty elevation of over 4,000 feet amid the foothills of the Andes. It is the principal airport of the Argentine Andes region, offering a long, ILS-equipped main runway suited to airline and general aviation traffic alike, and makes an interesting destination for simulator pilots keen on high-altitude operations.
Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport, also known locally as El Aybal Airport, lies just southwest of the city of Salta in northern Argentina. It is operated by Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 and functions as the main aviation hub for the Argentine Andes, handling both domestic services with Aerolíneas Argentinas and international connections via carriers such as LATAM Perú, Copa Airlines and Paranair. For the simulator pilot, its combination of high field elevation, mountainous surroundings and a full ILS approach make it a rewarding and educational destination.
The airport is located approximately 7 kilometres southwest of the centre of Salta, the capital of Salta Province, in the northwest of Argentina. It sits at a field elevation of 4,042 feet, placing it firmly within the high terrain of the Andean foothills, a factor that affects both approach planning and aircraft performance for visiting pilots.
The airport has two paved, lit runways. The main runway, 02/20, is 9,783 feet long with a hard surface and is equipped with an ILS on runway 02. The secondary runway, 06/24, is 7,824 feet long, also hard-surfaced and lit. Both runways are suitable for a wide range of aircraft types, from general aviation to airline jets.
Radio communications are provided on RDO frequency 126.9 MHz, with TWR (tower, also serving as approach control) on 128.85 MHz. The ILS serving runway 02 supports instrument approaches to the main runway.
The airport covers an area of 208 hectares and is operated by Aeropuertos Argentina 2000. A new passenger terminal was built in 2000, and as of 2024 that terminal was undergoing modernisation to handle more than 1.5 million passengers annually. The airport has long served as the principal gateway to the Argentine Andes region.
Martín Miguel de Güemes International Airport remains the main hub for northern Argentina, served by Aerolíneas Argentinas, Andes Líneas Aéreas, Flybondi, JetSmart Argentina and international carriers including LATAM Perú, Copa Airlines, Gol Linhas Aéreas and Paranair. In 2023 it handled 1,460,349 passengers, making it the most used airport in northern Argentina and the seventh busiest in the country. In late 2023 LATAM Perú resumed its route to Lima, restoring an important international connection alongside existing links to São Paulo-Guarulhos, Madrid-Barajas and Miami.