After 60 years of serving the country, Jorge Chavez International Airport's old terminal —the former gateway to the Peruvian capital, Lima— officially closed its doors on Sunday at 1:00 a.m., having handled nearly 400 million passengers and recorded around 4 million flight operations since its inauguration in 1965.
The last flights to take off were LPE2478 bound for Los Angeles, United States, and LAN523 heading to Santiago, Chile, while the last flight to land was LPE2233 from Iquitos, Peru.
These flights marked the final closure of a place that witnessed Peru's development, countless farewells and reunions, dreams taking flight, and millions of personal stories.
The day concluded with a symbolic act full of meaning: the gradual dimming of the terminal's lights, thus marking the end of a facility that had accompanied the country for generations.
This closing act paved the way for the commencement of full operations at the new passenger terminal, which from now on becomes the exclusive hub for all national and international operations.
As part of this transition, a 12-hour aeronautical pause was scheduled, from 1:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. today, Sunday, during which takeoff and landing operations were restricted to facilitate the operational and technological migration to the new terminal.
The new Jorge Chavez Airport boasts greater capacity, cutting-edge technology, international service standards, and spaces designed for a modern, safe, and efficient airport experience.
Its operation addresses the growing demand for air connectivity in Peru, the dynamism of tourism, and the country's strategic role in the region.
The old terminal will not be demolished but repurposed as a complementary services center, performing logistical, administrative, and commercial functions, and integrating into the new airport ecosystem. Therefore, it will continue to be useful to the country, in a new role.