The airport that was once the third-largest in the world

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1949, Argentina unveiled a gateway to the world so massive it ranked third globally. Today, Ezeiza International Airport remains the nation's primary international hub, handling 85% of its overseas air traffic while serving as a critical node for the Buenos Aires metropolitan area.

Construction of the airport was a centerpiece of Juan Perón's first presidency, specifically part of a major five-year plan. The project was designed and built by Argentine technicians, with the cornerstone laid on December 22, 1945, by Juan Pistarini, the Minister of Public Works. It officially opened on April 30, 1949, and was immediately recognized for its scale, featuring a unique layout of three runways crossing at 60-degree angles. The facility was a major project of the first presidency of Juan Perón. Its initial design included a 9,353-foot runway alongside two shorter ones. These specific dimensions were established during the four-year construction period.

The airport has undergone significant expansion to maintain its status. In 2011, Terminal C opened to serve carriers like Air France and Alitalia, followed by the inauguration of Terminal B in March 2013 for Aerolíneas Argentinas and KLM. Most recently, in April 2023, a new Departures Terminal was opened. This facility features 50,000 square meters of open surface across four floors and is designed to accommodate a projected capacity of 30 million passengers annually. The old Terminal A was repurposed as the International Arrivals Terminal. Meanwhile, Terminal C was converted into the new Domestic Arrivals Terminal. These changes were part of the April 2023 expansion.

While it remains a vital hub, the airport's route network has faced volatility in recent years. Between 2012 and 2020, several major international carriers—including Qantas, Emirates, and Air New Zealand—discontinued direct services to Ezeiza. Despite these shifts, the airport continues to manage the vast majority of Argentina's international connectivity, operating across a massive 3,475-hectare site. The airport is situated 22 kilometres south-southwest of Buenos Aires. It provides bus connections to the Retiro station in Puerto Madero. However, there are currently no train links to the site.

theme-perspective mood-reflective difficulty-2 topics-[ In October 2012, the airport saw a 10.9% year-on-year growth in passenger volume. This period marked the highest traffic increase for any airport managed by Aeropuertos Argentina 2000.

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