Ezeiza International Airport will undertake an ambitious renovation, resurfacing, and maintenance project on its secondary runway, which will directly affect the schedule of international flights.

The airport will not close completely, but it will significantly reduce its operations between October 25 and November 11 due to rehabilitation work on secondary runway 17-35 and its intersection with the main runway.

For 18 days, flight operations will be limited to a single runway whose available length will be temporarily reduced from 3,300 to 1,850 meters. This will primarily affect long-haul flights and wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787, and Airbus A350, which will be unable to take off at maximum weight on such a short runway. 

Airlines may adjust flight schedules, switch to smaller aircraft on certain routes, adjust payloads, or add intermediate stops that allow them to operate with smaller aircraft. Each decision will depend on the aircraft type, flight distance, and the operational planning of each airline.

What airlines will be changing their flights?

Due to the reduced operational capacity, 14 airlines announced that they will no longer sell airline tickets for that period: Aeroméxico, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and China Eastern.

No airlines have announced the formal cancellation of their  flights. This means that, for the time being, they are avoiding the addition of new passengers to services that will likely need to be rescheduled.

Another 16  other airlines will continue operating with their regular services: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air Europa, Andes, Arajet, Avianca, Boliviana de Aviación, Copa Airlines, Flybondi, GOL Linhas Aéreas, Iberia, ITA Airways, JetSMART, LATAM, Level, Sky Airline, and Plus Ultra.

Aerolíneas Argentinas, for example, will make technical stops in Rio de Janeiro on its flights to Rome and Madrid for refueling, while Iberia and Level will add a stop in Montevideo on return flights to Madrid.

If any purchased tickets for flights are suspended, there’s something important to keep in mind: when the airline issues the formal cancellation, it will enable all changes free of charge. Once the cancellation is confirmed, you can also request a full refund of your ticket.

Additional projects at Ezeiza

The runway works are part of an infrastructure project that represents an investment of US$100 million. Developed in coordination with Argentina’s National Airport System Regulatory Agency (ORSNA), it aims to raise the airport’s standards through improvements across multiple areas.

Plans include the construction of the new Golf Platform, capable of accommodating seven narrow-body aircraft, as well as upgrades to the airfield lighting system and the resurfacing of taxiways.

The project includes a 1,200-square-meter expansion of the domestic arrivals terminal, the addition of five new boarding gates, and the creation of new VIP lounges and children’s areas.

From a technological standpoint, biometric systems will be introduced at check-in counters, self-service check-in kiosks, and automated control points to streamline passenger processing.

On the logistics front, the plan calls for the completion of the 12,000-square-meter Unified Courier Terminal (TUC) and the expansion of the export facilities for perishable goods.

Ezeiza International Airport is the main point of entry and exit for tourism to Argentina, handling 12 million passengers in 2025. Thirty-one airlines operate at the airport, connecting to destinations worldwide. It offers direct flights to 55 international and 35 domestic destinations. 

Located 23 km from the city of Buenos Aires, the airport boasts infrastructure suitable for large aircraft.