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One year of the new Jorge Chávez of Lima, between controversies over the transfer fee ANCESTORS and new airline announcements.
One year after the inauguration of the new terminal of the Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, The operating balance shows figures that underline its validity as one of the most important connection centers in the region. According to data provided by Lima Airport Partners (LAP), The terminal mobilized more than 25.79 million passengers during its first 12 months of operation, connecting with 68 total destinations via 23 airlines.
A year between controversy and growth
I was able to interview Jorge Villaseca, LAP aviation business manager, who highlighted that the airport's attractiveness for the international industry remains solid, supported by the recent inauguration of the route Lima-Barcelona with Level and the increase in airline frequencies such as United, Air France, Air Transat and air canada.
"We reaffirm the high connectivity that the airport has and of course as a main gateway in the region", Villaseca pointed out, emphasizing that negotiations with long-haul airlines such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Emirates remain a strategic priority to strengthen this position.
Despite the operational achievements, The airport has faced criticism for its implementation of the Single Airport Use Rate (ANCESTORS) by international transfer. Given the comparison that users make with airports such as Bogota O Panama, where this concept is not applied in the same way, Villaseca explained that the cost and service structure is different in each terminal.
The TUAA controversy and competitiveness
Despite operational achievements and a recognition from Cirium in April that positioned the Jorge Chavez as the most punctual airport in the region and the second worldwide, The implementation of the TUAA collection for international transfers continues to generate debate.
The executive clarified that the fee is not a tax, but a consideration for more than 20 services including security, maintenance and baggage handling, ensuring smooth operation. What's more, highlighted a fundamental point that differentiates the structure of Jorge Chávez: «More than 46% of the airport's total income goes to the government in part of the remuneration; "This is part of the contract and these funds are directed towards the modernization and development of regional airports.".
Faced with the voices that suggest that the collection of ANCESTORS has caused a reduction in the connectivity of the Lima hub, Villaseca was emphatic in ruling out that this is the determining factor in the redistribution of frequencies carried out by airlines.. The manager maintained that the airlines' network decisions respond to a multivariate analysis - including fuel costs and profitability - and not to a single rate., arguing that the airport maintains its full capacity, operational efficiency and commercial attractiveness.
Beyond tariff challenges, Villaseca analyzed the current state of connectivity in Lima, pointing out that the airline industry is going through a process of redistribution of frequencies and routes. Given the concern about the reduction of flights in certain destinations, The manager explained that airlines are reorienting their networks towards more profitable markets under the current global cost structure.
This phenomenon, clarified, It is not exclusive to Lima, but is also observed in other regional hubs such as Santiago, Ezeiza and Guarulhos. in addition, Villaseca stressed the importance of analyzing the network comprehensively instead of focusing on isolated routes.
"What we have seen with the airlines is that there has been a redistribution of route frequencies where this cost structure where perhaps on some routes fuel may have a greater weight can be redistributed and redirected to other destinations where it may be more profitable in its dynamics.".
When asked about frequency adjustments, like the Lima-Quito route, The executive pointed out that the maturation of direct routes in the region—such as the upcoming opening of Quito-Santiago—generates natural substitutes.. These new alternatives allow demand to be redistributed efficiently, which does not imply a loss of attractiveness for the hub of Lima, but a natural evolution of the air supply on the continent.
Regarding the possibility of reviewing the collection of this fee in the future, The executive was open to dialogue:
«We always remain open to what we can finally see with the government, because finally in the concession contract the grantor is the government and the contract would allow us, if it got to that point, to be able to talk about it".
This first year marks a stage of maturation for the new terminal, where the challenge for LAP and the Peruvian State will be to balance the modernization of infrastructure with the expectations of efficiency and competitiveness demanded by both airlines and international travelers..
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