Matecaña Airport in Colombia resumes operations after earthquake
Matecaña Airport in the Colombian city of Pereira resumed accepting commercial flights on August 26 after a 16-day interruption caused by the August 10 earthquake. As The Rio Times reports, the terminal building was inspected and cleared for passenger service, although part of the auxiliary infrastructure is still being repaired.
Damage and repairs
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred near the Quindío—Pereira border. It damaged terminal structures and caused cracks in the apron and taxiway surfaces. The airport was closed to commercial traffic while specialists from Colombia’s aviation authorities assessed the consequences.
The main runway was cleared within a week, but terminal repairs and renewed safety certification took longer. The baggage-handling system and part of the fire-protection infrastructure, in particular, required restoration.
Reduced schedule
LATAM is resuming flights on a reduced schedule: two flights a day from Bogotá and one from Medellín, for a total of 21 flights a week. Before the earthquake, the airline operated five flights daily, or about 35 a week. Thus, the number of flights has decreased by about 40%.
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Some boarding gates in the terminal are not yet operating. LATAM said it would add flights depending on operational conditions but did not specify a timeline for fully restoring the schedule. Avianca and low-cost carrier Ultra Air have not announced dates for resuming flights to Pereira.
Conditions for passengers
Some terminal areas remain closed for repairs. Passengers should expect temporary wayfinding, construction noise, and possible delays. Oversized baggage delivery may take longer because part of the baggage system has not yet been restored.
Transport links between the airport and central Pereira, located about seven kilometers away, are operating as usual. Alternative options are El Edén Airport in Armenia and La Nubia Airport in Manizales, although both have a limited number of flights.
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