Arequipa Airport

IATA: AQP

ICAO: SPQU

Passengers: ~ 900,000

Arequipa Airport, officially known as Rodríguez Ballón International Airport is the main airport of Arequipa city. Arequipa is the second-largest city in Peru and the capital of the Arequipa region in southwest Peru.
Rodriguez Ballon Airport is the third busiest airport in Peru, after Lima and Cusco airports.
In 2021, the airport served almost a million passengers, after recovering from a 70% traffic decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Getting from Arequipa Airport to Arequipa

Rodríguez Ballón International Airport airport is located 9 km (5.5 miles) northwest of downtown Arequipa. Getting from the airport to the Plaza de Armas, the main Arequipa square, takes approximately 30 minutes by car.

Below you will find all the important information about the transportation options from Rodríguez Ballón International Airport to the centre of Arequipa.

Bus

There is no information about public buses serving the Rodríguez Ballón International Airport. Because of this, be prepared to use other transportation options to reach your destination from the airport.

Combis

There is no organized shuttle bus service from and to the  Rodríguez Ballón Airport. However, most locals use privately owned minibuses, called “combis”. Combis stop near the exit from the airport’s terminal and have predetermined routes, so be careful not to sit in the wrong combi.  They don’t have a fixed schedule, but they run quite frequently.
Combi bus fare is around 1 PEN, which makes them an affordable transportation option in Arequipa.

Be aware of potential pick-pockets and take care of your belongings!

Taxi

Taxis are the most common and convenient way of transportation for getting around the cities of Peru. Arequipa is no exception.

To get from AQP to Plaza de Armas, the main square of Arequipa, you can expect to pay from 4 to 6 US dollars.

Authorized airport taxis are available in the arrivals hall. Unauthorized taxis can be found in front of the airport, however, we do not advise using them.

Transfer

Another option for travelling from the Rodríguez Ballón International Airport is a private, door-to-door transfer directly to your destination. You can pre-book a transfer for a hassle-free experience. If you do, a professional driver will wait for you at the airport and take you to your destination.

Car hire

For those who prefer to explore Arequipa and Peru on their own, the best option would be a car hire at the airport. At AQP Airport, you will find several major car rental agencies. However, you can rent a car online to avoid the potentially long queues at the airport. 

Rent a bus

Larger groups of passengers should consider renting a bus at the Rodríguez Ballón airport. However, it is recommended to book it online, so the bus rental companies have enough time to advise you on the meeting point and all other important information.

Arequipa Airport Airlines

From AQP you can fly to 5 destinations with 3 different airlines.
The most frequent route is from Lima to Arequipa and vice versa. Another frequent domestic route is the one connecting Arequipa to Cusco. The only international flight from the airport is Arequipa to Santiago in Chile. 

As in most Peruvian airports, LATAM Airlines is the biggest carrier. The second-largest airline by the number of departures is Sky Airlines. Jet Smart is the company providing flights from Lima to Arequipa.

Below is the list of the airlines offering departures and arrivals from APQ:

• LATAM Airlines
• Sky Airlines
• Jet Smart

Arequipa Airport Facilities

The airports’ passenger terminal was inaugurated in 1979. Originally, the airport was designed to handle the maximum capacity of 500,000 passengers a year. However, the airport was operating above its capacity for years which caused deterioration in its infrastructure and facilities.
In 2011, Aeropuertos Andinos del Perú was given a concession of an airport for 25 years. This started a new chapter in the airports’ history as a part of the concession agreement was to expand and renovate airport facilities.

From 2013 onwards, a lot of money was invested in modernizing and improving the services offered at the airport. Airports capacity was increased to 1.5 million passengers per year, which it reached quickly.

Long term plans for the airport include increasing the maximum number of passengers per year to 8 million, as well as modernizing the facilities and amenities.

At the moment, Arequipa airport offers several amenities to the passengers who are on layover or simply waiting for the flight.

Here is a list of services offered at Rodríguez BallónAirport:

• Free WiFi
• ATMs
• Currency exchange
• Pharmacy
• Restaurants & cafes
• Lounges
• Shops
• Observation deck

Arequipa Airport Accommodation

Unfortunately, there are no airport hotels nearby AQP, so it is advisable to look for accommodation in Arequipa.

Arequipa Airport FAQs