Ever wondered about the stories within Argentina’s largest airport? Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza is more than just a place to catch a flight. It holds a rich history and some surprising facts.
Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza began its journey in 1945. Juan Pistarini placed the cornerstone. He was the Minister of Public Works under Juan Perón. The airport’s design and construction were entirely Argentine. It took four years to complete this ambitious project.
Inaugurated on April 30, 1949 Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza was a marvel. Back then it was the third largest airport worldwide. Its original design featured three runways intersecting at 60-degree angles. This was a standard layout due to the reliance on wind direction for takeoffs.
Originally named Ministro Pistarini International Airport it honored Juan Pistarini. Today many people call it Aeropuerto Internacional de Ezeiza. In 1949 the airport was huge relative to the needs of the time. It even held the title of the world’s largest airport until 1952. Initially Aeroparque handled much of the traffic. For a while Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza seemed like a ghost airport, large but quiet.
By 1960 Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza saw about fifty daily commercial flights. That is roughly two planes per hour. Despite being 35 kilometers from Buenos Aires it became Argentina’s primary international air terminal.
Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza stands out as the sole airport in the region. It offers air connections to all five continents. This began with Ethiopian Airlines operations.
Over the years Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza has seen many changes. Terminal C opened in July 2011. Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France and Alitalia used it. Terminal B followed in March 2013. Aerolíneas Argentinas and KLM then used Terminal B. April 14, 2023 marked the inauguration of the new Departures Terminal. It spans 50000 square meters across four floors. It aims to handle 30 million passengers annually. The old Terminal A became the International Arrivals Terminal. The old Terminal C became the new Domestic Arrivals Terminal.
Qantas stopped its service to Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza in favor of Santiago in 2012. Malaysia Airlines also ended its Kuala Lumpur route due to costs. Aerolíneas Argentinas cut its Auckland stopover. South African Airways ceased its Johannesburg service.
However new routes emerged. Qatar Airways launched flights to Doha in 2010. KLM returned after a ten-year break in 2011. Emirates began services in 2012. Turkish Airlines extended its Istanbul route to Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza in 2012. Air New Zealand started non-stop flights to Auckland in 2015.
In 2012 Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza experienced the highest annual traffic growth. Passenger numbers rose significantly that October.
From its grand opening to its modern expansions Aeropuerto Internacional Ezeiza remains a vital gateway. It connects Argentina to the world. Next time you are here remember its history. Consider the countless journeys that have begun and ended within these walls.