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Airport Transportation

El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez

También conocido como: El Salvador International Airport, San Salvador Airport, Comalapa Airport, Monseñor Romero International Airport, SAL Airport. Antes Cuscatlán International Airport.

SAL · MSLP · San Salvador

Datos del aeropuerto

Nombre
El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez
Código IATA
SAL
Código OACI
MSLP
Ciudad
San Salvador
País
El Salvador
Coordenadas
13.4445, -89.0558
Zona horaria
America/El_Salvador
Terminales
One passenger terminal complex with a new arrivals area opened in 2026

Sobre El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez

El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL) serves San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, and is the country's main international airport.

It is the hub of Avianca El Salvador, which flies to cities across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and South America, and of Volaris El Salvador. United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Frontier Airlines connect it with US cities such as Houston, Miami, Atlanta and Newark. Copa Airlines flies to Panama City, Aeroméxico to Mexico City, Air Transat to Montreal, and Iberia and Iberojet to Spain.

Passengers use one terminal complex, which gained a new arrivals area in June 2026 with expanded immigration, baggage claim and a dedicated surfboard carousel.

The airport sits in San Luis Talpa, in La Paz department, near the Pacific coast. San Salvador is about 42 km (26 miles) north via a four-lane motorway, usually 40 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic. The beaches of La Libertad, promoted as Surf City, are about 40 to 60 minutes away.

From the airport, most travelers head to San Salvador or to the Surf City beaches, including El Tunco, El Sunzal, El Zonte and Mizata.

Operador, pistas y tráfico del aeropuerto

Operator

Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA)

Passengers per year

More than 5.2 million in 2025

Runway

07/25, 3,200 m (10,499 ft)

Main airline

Avianca El Salvador, which has its hub here

Opened

1980, in San Luis Talpa, La Paz department

Consejos de llegada a El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez

At immigration, most visa-exempt visitors, including travelers from the US, Canada and the EU, must buy a tourist card on arrival, so have cash ready; nationalities that need a visa apply in advance through El Salvador's eVisa system.

Customs is paperless. Officers scan your passport, and only travelers carrying more than US$10,000, weapons or goods not for personal use need to make a declaration. Bags arrive in the new arrivals area, which has a separate carousel for surfboards.

Outside, the authorized taxi cooperative has desks in the arrivals hall, with its stand just beyond the exit. Pre-booked drivers wait outside with name signs, and Uber gives a meeting point near the parking area. Decline offers from anyone who approaches you without being asked, and check the plate of any car before getting in.

The airport is on the hot, humid Pacific lowlands. El Salvador uses Central Standard Time (UTC−6) with no daylight saving, and the US dollar is the everyday currency.

Transporte terrestre

Most travelers take an authorized taxi or a pre-arranged transfer, since the airport is far from both San Salvador and the beaches.

  • Taxi from El Salvador airport

    The authorized taxi cooperative has desks in the arrivals hall where you can check zone fares before heading to the stand outside. The ride to San Salvador takes about 40 to 50 minutes depending on traffic.

  • Rideshare

    Uber operates at the airport; request a ride after collecting your bags and walk to the meeting point the app shows near the parking area. Check that the plate and car model match the app before getting in.

  • Private transfer

    Pre-booked drivers meet passengers outside arrivals with a name sign and drive straight to hotels in San Salvador or the Surf City beaches. The drive to El Tunco and nearby beaches takes about 40 to 60 minutes.

  • Bus to San Salvador

    Route 138 stops on the highway outside the airport and runs to the Terminal de Buses del Sur in San Salvador in about 60 to 90 minutes. It is slow and crowded, with little space for luggage.

  • Car rental

    Rental counters are in the arrivals hall, and a four-lane motorway links the airport with San Salvador. You collect the car before leaving the building, away from the taxi and pickup lanes outside.

Compara proveedores para tu dirección exacta

Escribe tu hotel para ver el precio y todos los proveedores que llegan hasta allí.

Reserva un traslado desde SAL

Terminales

Main Terminal

Handles all passenger flights, with check-in, departure gates, immigration, baggage claim and customs. Its new arrivals area, opened in June 2026, added immigration capacity and a separate surfboard carousel.

Aerolíneas y destinos

The main airlines at El Salvador International Airport.

Aeroméxico Main Terminal

Mexico City

Guía de la aerolínea

Air Transat Main Terminal

Montreal (seasonal)

Guía de la aerolínea

American Airlines Main Terminal

Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami

Guía de la aerolínea

Avianca Main Terminal

Bogotá, Boston, Cancún, Guatemala City, Houston, Lima, Los Angeles, Madrid, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Panama City, San José, Toronto, Washington

Guía de la aerolínea

Copa Airlines Main Terminal

Panama City

Guía de la aerolínea

Delta Air Lines Main Terminal

Atlanta

Guía de la aerolínea

Frontier Airlines Main Terminal

Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Washington

Guía de la aerolínea

Iberia Main Terminal

Madrid, Guatemala City

Guía de la aerolínea

Iberojet Main Terminal

Madrid, Barcelona

Guía de la aerolínea

TAG Airlines Main Terminal

Guatemala City, Roatán

Guía de la aerolínea

United Airlines Main Terminal

Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, Washington (seasonal)

Guía de la aerolínea

Volaris Main Terminal

Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Newark, Oakland, Washington, San Pedro Sula

Guía de la aerolínea

Preguntas frecuentes

How far is El Salvador airport from San Salvador?

El Salvador International Airport is about 42 km (26 miles) south of San Salvador, linked to the capital by a four-lane motorway. The drive usually takes 40 to 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Public bus route 138 is slower, taking about 60 to 90 minutes to reach the southern bus terminal.

Is El Salvador International Airport in San Salvador?

No. The airport is in San Luis Talpa, in La Paz department, near the Pacific coast and the Comalapa area, which is why many people call it Comalapa Airport. It serves San Salvador but sits about 42 km south of the capital, closer to the coast than to the city center.

How many terminals does El Salvador airport have?

El Salvador International Airport operates one passenger terminal complex for all flights. A new arrivals area opened in June 2026, adding immigration capacity, a larger baggage system and a separate carousel for surfboards. Because all airlines share the same complex, there is no transfer between terminals for arriving travelers.

Which airlines fly to El Salvador International Airport?

Avianca El Salvador has its hub at SAL and flies to many cities in the Americas and to Madrid. Volaris El Salvador, United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Copa Airlines, Aeroméxico, Air Transat, Iberia, Iberojet and TAG Airlines also serve the airport, all from the same terminal complex.

Are there taxis at San Salvador airport?

Yes. An authorized taxi cooperative has desks in the arrivals hall where you can check zone fares and book a ride before walking to the taxi stand outside. The trip to San Salvador takes about 40 to 50 minutes. Use the authorized stand rather than drivers who approach you outside the terminal.

Is there a bus from El Salvador airport to San Salvador?

Yes. Public bus route 138 stops on the highway outside the airport and runs to the Terminal de Buses del Sur in San Salvador, taking about 60 to 90 minutes. It is the slowest option and has little room for luggage, so most arriving travelers prefer a taxi, Uber or a pre-arranged transfer.

Does Uber work at El Salvador International Airport?

Yes, Uber operates at El Salvador International Airport. Request the ride after you have collected your luggage, then follow the app to the meeting point near the parking area. Check that the plate and car model match the app before getting in, as several vehicles may be waiting at once.

What do I need to enter El Salvador at the airport?

Most visa-exempt visitors, including citizens of the US, Canada and EU countries, buy a tourist card on arrival at immigration, so bring cash. Travelers who need a visa apply online through El Salvador's eVisa system before flying. Customs is paperless, and only those carrying over US$10,000, weapons or commercial goods must declare.

How do I get from El Salvador airport to El Tunco?

El Tunco and the other Surf City beaches in La Libertad, such as El Sunzal, El Zonte and Mizata, are about 40 to 60 minutes from the airport by road. Most travelers use a taxi, Uber or a pre-arranged beach transfer, since there is no direct public bus from the terminal to the beaches.

What currency and time zone does El Salvador use?

El Salvador uses the US dollar as its everyday currency, so travelers carrying dollars do not need to exchange money on arrival. The country follows Central Standard Time (UTC−6) throughout the year and does not observe daylight saving time, which puts it one hour behind US Eastern time in winter.

What is the weather like at El Salvador airport?

The airport lies in the Pacific coastal lowlands, so arriving travelers can expect hot, humid conditions for most of the year. San Salvador, at a higher elevation inland, is usually a little milder. Light clothing works on arrival, and the rainy season brings afternoon storms roughly from May to October.

Who operates El Salvador International Airport and how busy is it?

The airport is operated by the Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA), the state body that also runs El Salvador's ports. It handled more than 5.2 million passengers in 2025, slightly fewer than about 5.29 million in 2024, and has one main runway of 3,200 meters.

¿Por qué reservar con Airport Transportation?

Ofrecemos transporte privado desde cualquier aeropuerto hasta cualquier hotel al mejor precio, y contamos con licencia y cobertura de responsabilidad total.

¿El transporte es privado o compartido?

Airport Transportation ofrece únicamente transporte privado: en vans, SUV de lujo o minibuses.

¿Los precios son por persona o por vehículo?

Los precios de nuestro sitio web son por vehículo, no por persona, según un rango de pasajeros.

¿Cuántas personas caben en una van?

Las vans normales llevan hasta 9 pasajeros, los minibuses hasta 16 y los SUV de lujo hasta 6 pasajeros.

¿Cómo los encuentro en el aeropuerto?

Sal por completo del aeropuerto. Verás a representantes con carteles: busca el logotipo de Airport Transportation o tu nombre.

¿Qué tipo de vehículos utilizan?

Habitualmente Toyota Hiace, Volkswagen Transporter, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Chevrolet Tahoe y Chevrolet Suburban.

¿Cuentan con seguro?

Sí: contamos con un seguro de responsabilidad total para todos los pasajeros mientras usan nuestros servicios.

¿Ofrecen sillas para bebé?

Las sillas para bebé se proporcionan con aviso previo, sujetas a disponibilidad, con un máximo de una silla por vehículo.

¿Con cuánta antelación debo reservar?

Puedes reservar con cualquier antelación; sugerimos entre una semana y un día antes. También hay reservas para el mismo día.

¿Qué métodos de pago se aceptan?

PayPal es nuestro método de pago principal; también hay una opción de pago en efectivo al reservar por nuestro sitio web. Las tarjetas de crédito se aceptan a través de PayPal.

¿Los vehículos tienen aire acondicionado?

Sí: para tu comodidad, todas nuestras unidades cuentan con aire acondicionado.

¿Qué pasa si mi vuelo se retrasa?

Durante la reserva te pedimos tu aerolínea y número de vuelo para poder rastrear los retrasos y esperarte.

¿Puedo hacer paradas durante el trayecto?

Sí, puedes añadir una parada adicional a tu servicio durante el proceso de reserva.

¿Los niños pagan distinto que los adultos?

No: los precios se fijan por rango de pasajeros o por vehículo, no por edad.

¿Mi reserva es reembolsable?

Sí. Cancela sin coste hasta 24 horas antes de tu recogida y se te reembolsa el importe completo. Las cancelaciones con menos de 24 horas de antelación no son reembolsables.

¿Los conductores hablan inglés?

Sí: aunque su inglés puede no ser de nivel nativo, los conductores tienen la capacidad de comunicarse con los pasajeros.

¿Las propinas son obligatorias?

Las propinas no son obligatorias, pero sí muy recomendables; los conductores las ganan gracias a la calidad de su servicio.

¿Qué monedas se aceptan?

Todos los precios están en USD. A través de PayPal puedes pagar en casi cualquier moneda; los pagos en efectivo se aceptan solo en USD.

¿Se permiten mascotas?

Podemos transportar mascotas domésticas dentro de transportines que quepan en un vehículo normal.

¿Hay espacio para el equipaje?

Sí: hay espacio de sobra para una maleta y un equipaje de mano por persona.

¿Qué incluye el precio?

Todo traslado privado incluye un conductor profesional con licencia; un vehículo asegurado y en buen estado; seguimiento del vuelo en tiempo real; servicio de recepción a la llegada; y servicio puerta a puerta sin cargos ocultos añadidos después de reservar. Tu precio fijo cubre la ruta completa hasta tu destino.

Reserva un traslado desde SAL