Jorge Chávez International Airport began operations in June 1960, with runway 16L-34R being the first to come into service at the then new Lima-Callao airport, later renamed Jorge Chávez in honour of the Peruvian pilot who was the first to cross the Alps by aeroplane.
The runway was originally built with hydraulic concrete slabs and, in its 65 years of operation, has undergone various refurbishments with asphalt concrete overlay to absorb the growing demand of a continuously expanding airport. TYPSA has witnessed the last two renovations firsthand: in 2012 as OSITRAN’s supervisor for the airport’s improvement and, in 2025, as supervisor of the current work.
TYPSA has been collaborating with Lima Airport Partners (LAP), the concessionaire managing the airport since 2000, on the major expansion that has been underway since 2016, known as the newLIM project. This included the construction of a second runway, 16R-34L, and the new large Campo Medio terminal, located between the two runways, with a capacity for 34 million passengers, which was inaugurated in June 2025.
In addition to these major projects, as part of the airport infrastructure maintenance activities, periodic structural assessments have been carried out, which revealed, since 2021, that the old runway pavement was reaching the end of its lifespan. Similarly, the visual lighting system was showing signs of obsolescence and operational problems due to the difficulty of maintaining an outdated installation.
Given the necessary closure of the runway for refurbishment, LAP saw this as an opportunity to undertake not only the structural renovation of the runway but also the comprehensive renovation of the visual lighting system, through a collaboration agreement with CORPAC, the state entity that manages air navigation in Peru.
In this context, TYPSA was invited, along with other leading airport consultants, to participate in the private tender for the supervision of the works in Work Package 5, which is how LAP refers to the set of actions that will be undertaken during the operational closure of the runway.
On 19 December 2024, we were notified that we had been awarded the contract, which was made possible thanks to the competitive, experienced and multidisciplinary team presented and committed to providing technical assistance.
The work itself consists of 14 tasks, including the resurfacing of more than 2,500 m in length and 60 m in width, combined with the thorough repair of certain sections identified as being in worse condition, to restore the pavement’s lifespan. In addition, more than 2,200 new LED lights were installed, nearly 300 km of primary cable was laid, and more than 22 km of duct banks were built, all while keeping the airport in operation.
The work carried out included new horizontal markings; the adaptation and construction of new taxiways; the installation of a utility crossing beneath the runway and a loading bay, both for the fuel supply system; the adaptation and stabilisation of the runway safety strips; and, in general, a series of interventions to improve the safety and operation of the airport’s former runway 1.
On 20 December, in the presence of the Peruvian Minister of Transport and Communications, the ceremony for the reopening of runway 16L-34R was held. The project was a resounding success, recognised by all the participating entities, in which TYPSA played a key role.
