El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez
San Salvador (San Luis Talpa), El Salvador
El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez
El Salvador's primary international gateway, serving Central America.
- ›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.
El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez, commonly known as SAL or Comalapa Airport, is the primary international gateway of El Salvador, located near San Luis Talpa approximately 44 kilometres south of San Salvador. Opened in 1979 to replace the older Ilopango Airport, it has grown into one of Central America's busiest hubs, handling millions of passengers annually. The airport was officially renamed in honour of the martyred Archbishop Óscar Romero, a symbol of national identity and resilience.
- Main Terminal — The single integrated passenger terminal handles all international and domestic departures and arrivals, featuring check-in halls, immigration, customs, duty-free shops, and departure gates.
- Taxi and remittance shuttle services from the official taxi rank outside arrivals
- Pre-booked private transfer or hotel shuttle services
- Car rental counters from major agencies including Hertz, Budget, and Alamo inside the terminal
- Public buses (limited and not recommended for tourists with luggage) toward San Salvador via Route 138
- App-based ride-hailing services such as Uber available outside the terminal
- Barceló San Salvador (near capital, popular pre-flight option)
- Hotel Expressions (close to the airport in San Luis Talpa)
- Courtyard by Marriott San Salvador
- Hilton Princess San Salvador
- Real InterContinental San Salvador
Inside the terminal, travellers will find a modest selection of cafés, fast-food outlets, and snack bars offering both international and local Salvadoran options such as pupusas and tamales. Duty-free and departure-level restaurants provide sit-down dining for those with extra time before boarding. For a wider variety of authentic Salvadoran cuisine, the nearby town of San Luis Talpa and roadside comedores along the airport highway offer budget-friendly local meals.
- Arrive at least 3 hours before international departure times, as immigration and security queues can be lengthy during peak hours.
- Exchange currency or use ATMs inside the terminal, as El Salvador uses the US dollar, making transactions straightforward for most travellers.
- Confirm your ground transport in advance, as unofficial taxi touts outside the terminal may overcharge; use the official taxi queue or a pre-arranged service.
- The airport is at low coastal elevation and can be hot and humid, so dress accordingly and stay hydrated especially during the dry season from November to April.
AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.
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