AirlinesAirports.com
Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
Travel planning byTravelerPulse.pro
El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez International Hub illustrationInternational Hub
Airports
SALlarge airport

El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez

Explore San Salvador (San Luis Talpa) city guide Navigate to this airport
53
Routes out
32
Destinations
MSLP
ICAO
101 ft
Elevation
AirlinesAirports profile

El Salvador's primary international gateway, serving Central America.

Opened
1979
Location
San Luis Talpa, El Salvador
El Salvador International Airport, officially named Aeropuerto Internacional El Salvador Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, is the main international airport serving El Salvador and the greater San Salvador metropolitan area. It is located in San Luis Talpa, Distrito La Paz, approximately 44 kilometers south of the capital city. The airport serves as the primary hub for Avianca El Salvador and handles the majority of the country's international passenger and cargo traffic. It connects El Salvador to destinations across North America, Central America, South America, and Europe. The facility is operated by CEPA (Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma) and has undergone various modernization efforts over the years to accommodate growing passenger demand and improve infrastructure.
Terminals
The airport operates a single passenger terminal with international and domestic processing facilities.
Getting to & from
Ground transport options between the airport and San Salvador include taxis, private shuttles, and bus services, with the journey taking approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
Airlines here
Major airlines operating here include Avianca El Salvador (primary hub carrier), American Airlines, United Airlines, Copa Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Aeromexico.
Notable facts
  • ›Named after Archbishop Óscar Romero, who was assassinated in 1980 and canonized as a saint in 2018.
  • ›Located approximately 44 km south of San Salvador near the Pacific coast.
  • ›Serves as the main hub for Avianca El Salvador.
  • ›CEPA, a Salvadoran government autonomous entity, manages airport operations.
  • ›Elevation is approximately 101 feet (31 meters) above sea level.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (32 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

SAL → MIAAA · 738
SAL → DFWAA · 738
SAL → BOGAV · E90 320 319
SAL → BZEAV · E90
SAL → CUNAV · 321 320 E90
SAL → GYEAV · E90
SAL → LIMAV · 321 E90 319 320
SAL → MCOAV · E90
SAL → SJOAV · 320 E90 321 319
SAL → YYZAV · 320
SAL → MEXAM · EMJ
SAL → DFWAV · E90
SAL → LAXAV · 320 319 321
SAL → MDEAV · E90
SAL → ORDAV · 319
SAL → RTBAV · ATR
SAL → SAPAV · 320 ATR E90 319
SAL → CLOAV · E90
SAL → IADAV · 321 319 320
SAL → JFKAV · 320 321
SAL → LIRAV · ATR
SAL → MEXAV · 319 320
SAL → MIAAV · 320 319 E90
SAL → PTYAV · E90
SAL → EWRAV · 320 738
SAL → GUAAV · E90 319 320 321
SAL → IAHAV · 738 E90
SAL → SFOAV · 319 320
SAL → TGUAV · E90 ATR
SAL → UIOAV · 320 319
SAL → MADBA · 342
SAL → PTYCM · E90
SAL → ATLDL · 319 320
SAL → MADIB · 342
SAL → MGALR · ATR
SAL → FLLNK · 320 319
SAL → HAVTA · 319 320
SAL → MGATA · E90 320 319
SAL → IAHUA · 738
SAL → MIAUA · 320 E90
SAL → SFOUA · 319 320
SAL → EWRUA · 738
SAL → JFKUA · 320
SAL → LAXUA · 320 321
SAL → DFWUA · E90
SAL → MIAUS · 320 738 E90
SAL → LAXUS · 320 321
SAL → DFWUS · E90
SAL → IADUS · 321 319 320
SAL → IAHUS · E90
SAL → SFOUS · 319 320
SAL → JFKUS · 320
SAL → MCOUS · E90
Hotels near SAL

Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.

Compare stays for your dates

AirlinesAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.

City & Place Guide

Gateway village near El Salvador's main international airport

San Luis Talpa is a small municipality in the La Paz department, best known as the community surrounding Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, El Salvador's primary air hub. The town itself is quiet and largely residential, offering travelers a calm base before or after flights without the bustle of San Salvador city.

The surrounding coastal lowlands feature flat farmland, salt flats, and easy access to the Pacific coast. Nearby beaches and mangrove estuaries attract day-trippers and birdwatchers, making the area more than just a transit stop for curious explorers.

  • •Monseñor Romero International Airport — striking modern terminal worth exploring even for non-flyers
  • •Costa del Sol beaches — Pacific shoreline about 20 minutes south with calm swimming conditions
  • •Parque Walter Thilo Deininger — national park with dry forest trails and wildlife near the coast
  • •San Luis Talpa town square — modest central plaza reflecting everyday Salvadoran small-town life
  • •Local salt flats — traditional sea-salt harvesting operations visible from roadside
  • •Mangrove estuaries — birdwatching for herons, kingfishers, and migratory species near the coast

Getting around: The area is best navigated by taxi or rideshare apps such as Uber and InDriver, which operate reliably between the airport and nearby towns. Local chicken buses (camionetas) connect San Luis Talpa to Zacatecoluca and San Salvador cheaply but slowly. Car rental counters inside the airport provide the most flexibility for reaching beaches and parks independently. There is no rail service in El Salvador.

Best time: Visit November through April during the dry season for sunny skies, accessible roads, and the best beach conditions along the Pacific coast.

Local food: Try pupusas with curtido at roadside comedores, fresh grilled fish at Costa del Sol beach shacks, and cold horchata or ensalada de frutas from local vendors.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via SAL? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for El Salvador from official government sources.

Latest news

Entity data from open aviation datasets (OurAirports, OpenFlights) with AI-assisted editorial clearly marked. Always confirm time-sensitive details with the official airport website. Sources & verification