Maiquetía airport begins operations from temporary terminals through 2027

Maiquetía’s main airport has begun a temporary phase of operations, with passengers now using provisional facilities while work continues on the airport’s principal infrastructure.

The temporary terminals at Simón Bolívar International Airport in La Guaira state separate domestic and international passenger flows. Travelers can enter through the short-stay parking area and use a designated ramp, or go directly to the terminals set up in the complex’s main parking area. The international and national sections operate independently for departures and arrivals.

Transport Minister Francisco Garcés said the arrangement aims to keep air services running while authorities carry out adaptation and modernization work. Airport staff reported a steady and orderly flow of passengers from the early morning, without disruptions.

The international temporary structure covers 10,000 square meters and can serve 760 passengers at peak demand. The national terminal has capacity for about 500 travelers per day. Officials said the initial reopening is expected to recover 25% of the operations maintained before the earthquakes. They project 40% within several months, followed by 60% by the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027.

The reconstruction team also sought to preserve the airport’s visual identity. In the international boarding area, it placed a print reproducing Carlos Cruz-Diez’s iconic kinetic mural. Garcés acknowledged that it was not the original, but said the image would help passengers feel they were in the same place that had always welcomed them.

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Although it is not the original mural, we have here a print of our Cruz-Diez mural right behind you so that you feel you are in the same place that has always welcomed you.