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Palmerola International Airport

Palmerola, Honduras
Explore Palmerola city guide Navigate to this airport
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Routes out
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Destinations
MHPR
ICAO
2061 ft
Elevation
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Honduras's modern gateway replacing Tegucigalpa's challenging airport.

Opened
2021
Location
Comayagua, Honduras
Palmerola International Airport (IATA: XPL, ICAO: MHPR) is an international airport located near Comayagua, Honduras, approximately 80 kilometers north of the capital Tegucigalpa. It was developed to replace Toncontín International Airport, which was notorious for its extremely difficult and dangerous approach due to surrounding mountains and a short runway. The airport was built on the site of a former U.S. and Honduran military airbase known as Soto Cano Air Base (Palmerola Air Base), which has hosted American military personnel for decades. The civilian terminal was constructed as a public-private partnership to handle growing passenger demand and improve aviation safety in Honduras. Palmerola began commercial operations in 2021, offering flights to destinations in the United States, Central America, and other international routes. It is intended to serve as the primary air gateway for central Honduras, reducing reliance on the operationally constrained Toncontín airport.
Terminals
The airport features a single modern passenger terminal designed to handle both domestic and international flights.
Getting to & from
Ground transport between Palmerola and Tegucigalpa is available via shuttle buses and private taxis, with the journey taking approximately 90 minutes.
Airlines here
Airlines operating at Palmerola include American Airlines, United Airlines, Copa Airlines, and Avianca, among others serving regional and U.S. routes.
Notable facts
  • ›Built on the site of Soto Cano Air Base, a longstanding U.S.-Honduran military installation.
  • ›Opened for commercial operations in October 2021.
  • ›Designed to relieve Toncontín International Airport, one of the world's most dangerous airports due to terrain.
  • ›Located near the city of Comayagua, not Tegucigalpa, despite serving the capital region.
  • ›Developed through a public-private partnership between the Honduran government and private investors.
Official website Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Airlines serving this airport

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Routes

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City & Place Guide

Gateway hub near Tegucigalpa with military and aviation heritage.

Palmerola is a small community in the Comayagua Department of Honduras, best known as the site of Soto Cano Air Base, a joint U.S.-Honduran military installation that has operated since the 1980s. The area sits at a comfortable mid-elevation altitude, offering a cooler climate than the lowlands and easy access to the broader Comayagua Valley.

The nearby Palmerola International Airport (XPL), inaugurated in 2021, has transformed the region into a growing transit hub, offering an alternative gateway to Tegucigalpa. Travelers passing through will find the surrounding valley lush and scenic, with colonial Comayagua city just a short drive away serving as the primary cultural and historical draw for the region.

  • •Comayagua Cathedral — one of the oldest cathedrals in Central America with a historic Moorish clock.
  • •Comayagua Archaeological Museum — pre-Columbian artifacts from the Lenca culture and colonial-era exhibits.
  • •Palmerola International Airport — modern aviation hub worth noting for architecture and regional connectivity.
  • •Comayagua Colonial Center — well-preserved Spanish colonial streets and plazas ideal for walking.
  • •Lake Yojoa — scenic highland lake about an hour north, popular for birdwatching and fishing.
  • •Valle de Comayagua — fertile agricultural valley with scenic mountain backdrops and rural charm.

Getting around: There is no rail service in the area. Intercity buses and minibuses (rapiditos) connect Palmerola and Comayagua to Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula regularly. Taxis are available locally and can be hired for day trips. Rideshare apps like InDriver operate in the region with limited but growing coverage.

Best time: The dry season from November through April offers the most pleasant weather with minimal rainfall and comfortable temperatures for exploring.

Local food: Try baleadas, tamales de elote, fried yuca with chicharrón, and hearty regional soups like sopa de res at local comedores near Comayagua's market.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via XPL? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Honduras from official government sources.

Honduras visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →
Palmerola International Airport
Encyclopaedia

Palmerola International Airport — occasionally known as Comayagua International Airport — is an international airport serving Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Located in Comayagua, it is approximately 60 kilometres northwest of Tegucigalpa city centre. The airport was inaugurated in October 2021 as the country's new international airport for civil and commercial use, replacing the old Toncontín International Airport while it still remains active for domestic and regional flights. It was built at the facilities of the Soto Cano Air Base.

Read full article on Wikipedia

Entity data from open aviation datasets (OurAirports, OpenFlights) with AI-assisted editorial clearly marked. Always confirm time-sensitive details with the official airport website. Sources & verification