Silvio Pettirossi International Airport

Silvio Pettirossi International Airport is Paraguay's main national and international gateway, located at Luque, serving the capital city, Asunción. It is named after the Paraguayan aviator Silvio Pettirossi and was formerly known as President Stroessner International Airport, after Paraguay's former head of state General Alfredo Stroessner.HistoryThe airport serves as hub for LATAM Paraguay, formerly known as TAM Paraguay, TAM Mercosur and LAP (Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas).The terminal building splits into two international concourses, the north concourse with 2 gates (5 and 6) and the south concourse with 4 gates (1 to 4).On 17 December 2015, the first Air Europa flight arrived from Madrid, Spain to the Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque and provided the first direct connection between Paraguay and Europe in 21 years. The airplane arrived with the presence of the Minister of Tourism, Marcela Bacigalupo and more than 200 invited guests. The flight had 98% of its seats occupied and before the airplane departed Madrid, there was an inauguration ceremony of the new route which was attended by the president of the airline, Juan José Hidalgo, the ambassador of Paraguay in Spain, Antonio Rivas, and the vice-minister of Paraguayan Industry, Oscar Stark. Mr. Hidalgo highlighted "the high seat occupancy of the inaugural flight," which, in his opinion, shows "success" is expected for this route.Accessibility and locationThe airport, located within Luque, may be reached from the city of Asuncion via the Airport Main Road (Avenida Aviadores del Chaco), which runs adjacent to nearby Ñu Guasú Park. Asuncion's local bus line 30-A links the city center with the airport's terminal. The airport is also near the headquarters of CONMEBOL, the continental governing body of association football in South America.