José María Córdova International Airport (MDE) is the main airport for Medellín and the Antioquia region, in Rionegro in the hills east of the city. Avianca is its largest airline.
All flights use one two-storey terminal with domestic and international gates. International passengers clear immigration, collect their bags and pass through customs into the same arrivals hall as domestic passengers.
The airport is at about 2,100 m (6,900 ft), higher and cooler than Medellín and often misty, while the city in the valley is warm all year. Colombia is on Colombia Time (UTC−5) all year, with no daylight saving.
Requisitos de entrada y notas locales
Check-MIG form. Foreign visitors complete Migración Colombia's Check-MIG form online before the flight. Depending on your passport, you may also need a visa.
MDE, not Olaya Herrera. Medellín also has Olaya Herrera Airport (EOH) inside the city, used for small regional flights. Check which airport is on your ticket and book the matching transfer.
Unsolicited drivers. Decline offers from drivers who approach you inside the terminal; your pre-booked driver waits in the arrivals hall.
Cooler at the airport. Rionegro is cooler and often misty compared with Medellín, so keep a light layer handy for arrival.