By Juan Pedro Sanchez Zamudio
Colombia Approves 15 Airports for the Restart of Operations
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority has approved the biosecurity protocols of 15 airports in the country. However, only two airports are operating within the first pilot flight plan, which began on July 21.
According to Reportur, the airports obtained the endorsement of the Ministry of Health and the approval of routes between the air terminals of the Ministry of Interior. The Director of Civil Aviation, Juan Carlos Salazar Gómez, said that “in addition to verify the progress in the implementation of the biosafety protocols, the work of the technical team has been aimed at providing support to airport operators, in order to that, they are 100% in the application of the measures, a fundamental requirement for the National Government to consider the implementation of more pilot plans, after the analysis carried out by the Ministries of the Interior and Health.”
The airports with the provisions of the biosecurity protocols are: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón from Palmira, who serves Cali, Ernesto Cortissoz from Soledad, who serves Barranquilla, Rafael Núñez from Cartagena, Simón Bolívar from Santa Marta , El Edén from Armenia, Matecaña from Pereira, La Nubia from Manizales, José María Córdova from Rionegro, Olaya Herrera from Medellín, Los Garzones from Montería, El Dorado from Bogotá, Antonio Nariño from Chachagüí, who serves Pasto, Gustavo Rojas Pinilla from San Andrés Island, Palonegro from Lebrija, which serves Bucaramanga, Camilo Daza from Cúcuta.
“Airports have carried out a judicious task of implementing the required protocols, which guarantees that they are prepared to attend to operations, strictly preventing the spread of the virus, working so that life is preserved from the moment of arrival at their facilities and people’s health,” assured the Minister of Transport, Ángela María Orozco.
The Minister of Health, Fernando Ruíz, confirmed this Monday in the Prevention and Action program the reopening of the El Dorado airport in Bogotá from September 1, on a pilot route, connecting with a city with low impact by Covid-19, which it could be Barranquilla or Cartagena.
“It is very important to take into account that the air routes move around airports such as Medellín, Rionegro, Barranquilla, Cali and specifically Bogotá due to these airports links other airports. We already have a first pilot route between Bucaramanga and Cúcuta, but additionally, we defined with Bogotá’s mayor, to open on September 1 the first test route between Bogotá and a city that already has a low level of impact, which could be Cartagena or Barranquilla,” said the minister.
The three things Juan loves most about aviation are aircraft, airports, and traveling thousands of miles in just a few hours. What he enjoys the most about aviation is that it is easier and cheaper to travel around the world and this gives you the opportunity to visit places you thought were too far away. He has traveled to different destinations in North, Central, South America and Asia. Born, raised and still living in Perú, Juan is a lawyer, soccer lover, foodie, passionate traveler, dog lover, millennial and curious by nature.
