New airport opens in Nicaragua

New airport opens in Nicaragua.
New airport opens in Nicaragua.
Corporacion del Sur, S.A., a member of Pellas Development Group, in association with the Nicaragua Tourism Board, on Tuesday announced the opening of Nicaragua's Costa Esmeralda Airport.

Starting Nov. 2015, the new airport will begin service for international private jets and commercial flights from both Managua’s Augusto C. Sandino International Airport and Costa Rica’s Liberia International Airport.

“The arrival of Costa Esmeralda Airport will introduce the country to a global audience seeking new adventures and serve as a direct route to our majestic coast,” Don Carlos Pellas, owner of Pellas Development Group, said. “It will reduce transfer time from Managua and Costa Rica, supporting Nicaragua’s flourishing tourism, which is essential to the country’s development.”

The airport was developed in conjunction with the Nicaraguan government and Nicaraguan entrepreneur and philanthropist Don Carlos Pellas.

The single terminal airport was built on a new site five miles north of Guacalito de la Isla in the department of Rivas. The 5,000-foot runway, designed by Thomas Chastain of T.H. Chastain Engineering PLLC of New York, will accommodate ATR-42, ATR-72, Gulfstream V jets and most turboprop planes.

The airport was built by a joint venture of local Nicaraguan contractors D’Guerrero Ings, Lansa S.A. y Pavinicsa S.A.

Costa Esmeralda Airport will house a Customs Department and a duty-free shop.