Caracas airport reopens at 25% capacity via temporary terminal

Venezuela’s Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía has partially resumed operations nearly ten weeks after the June earthquakes, using a 10,000-square-meter temporary passenger complex built in the parking area to process about 2,168 travelers per day. The modular facility enables both domestic and international flights to gradually restart, with initial service focusing on a subset of routes while permanent terminals are rebuilt. Passengers are transported by bus between the temporary terminal and aircraft, and the complex offers basic amenities such as check-in desks, waiting areas, Wi‑Fi, and medical services. Officials say the restart will begin at roughly 25% of pre-earthquake capacity, with plans to reach around 60% by year’s end as reconstruction progresses. This phased reopening comes after international air corridors were diverted to other regional airports during the shutdown, underscoring the airport’s key role in linking Caracas with global markets and facilitating cargo. The development is framed as a transitional step toward full restoration of Maiquetía’s facilities, with continued recovery and expansion of capacity expected in the coming months.