San Salvador Airport (SAL): Complete Guide to El Salvador’s Main International Airport

If you’ve searched “aeropuerto de XNA San Salvador,” you’ve likely mixed up two unrelated airports. XNA is the airport code for Northwest Arkansas National Airport in the United States. It has no connection to San Salvador. The airport that actually serves El Salvador’s capital uses the code SAL, and it’s officially named Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (also known as El Salvador International Airport, or by its older name, Comalapa International Airport).

This guide covers everything you need to know about SAL: where it is, how to get there, what to expect inside, and how it compares to other airports travelers sometimes confuse it with.

Where Is San Salvador’s Airport Located?

SAL sits in San Luis Talpa, in the La Paz Department, roughly 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) southeast of downtown San Salvador. It occupies a stretch of land bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Jiboa River to the east, with the coastal highway running along its northwest edge. Because the airport sits close to sea level, aircraft can operate efficiently year-round without the performance penalties that come with higher-altitude airports.

Its IATA code is SAL, and its ICAO code is MSLP. The airport opened in January 1980 and has operated under CEPA (the Autonomous Port Executive Commission) ever since, serving both civilian and limited military use.

Airport Codes: Why the XNA Mix-Up Happens

Confusion between SAL and XNA usually comes from a simple search mistake, not an actual naming overlap. XNA belongs to Northwest Arkansas National Airport, which serves Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Springdale in the United States. If your flight itinerary, booking confirmation, or research pulled up “XNA,” double-check it: you may be looking at the wrong airport entirely, especially if your travel plans involve El Salvador and not Arkansas.

For anyone booking flights to or from San Salvador, the code to search is SAL, not XNA.

Getting to and from San Salvador Airport

Since SAL sits about 50 kilometers from the city, most travelers plan for 45 minutes to over an hour of ground travel, depending on traffic. Common options include

• Private transfers and airport shuttles, which can be booked in advance and typically take passengers directly to hotels in San Salvador.
• Taxis, available at official stands just outside arrivals.
• Rental cars, offered by major international agencies with counters inside the terminal.
• Public buses, a budget option but slower and less convenient with luggage.

There are no hotels immediately adjacent to the airport, but several options sit a few kilometers away, including properties that offer free airport shuttle service for guests arriving on late or early flights.

Terminal Layout and Facilities

SAL operates as a single-terminal airport, which keeps the layout relatively simple compared to sprawling multi-terminal hubs. The terminal has gone through renovations over the years, including updated check-in areas, security screening, and lounge space, so the walk from curbside to gate is generally straightforward even during peak hours.

Inside, travelers will find:

• Check-in counters for the airport’s major carriers
• Duty-free shops and local retail
• Restaurants and cafés on both the pre- and post-security sides
• Currency exchange and ATMs
• Airline lounges for premium passengers

Airlines and Routes

SAL serves as a hub for Avianca El Salvador and Volaris El Salvador, and it hosts a mix of regional and long-haul carriers. Popular routes connect San Salvador to destinations including

• Guatemala City and San José (Costa Rica)
• Managua (Nicaragua)
• Mexico City
• Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, Washington, D.C., and New York
• Madrid, for travelers heading to Europe

The airport handles a substantial number of flights each month across dozens of destinations, making it the primary gateway for both regional Central American travel and international connections to North America and Europe.

Airport Traffic and Growth

SAL has grown steadily as a regional hub. In 2024, the airport handled approximately 5.3 million passengers and just under 50,000 aircraft operations, reflecting its role as El Salvador’s busiest and most important airport by a wide margin. That volume puts it firmly among the larger airports in Central America, comparable to other capital-city hubs in the region.

Tips for Flying Through SAL

A few practical points worth keeping in mind:

• Arrive early. Most airlines recommend two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international departures, and that buffer matters more here given the drive time from the city.
• Confirm your airport code before booking. If a search engine or travel site shows “XNA” alongside El Salvador, that’s a data error worth double-checking before you pay for anything.
• Plan ground transport in advance. Because the airport is a considerable distance from San Salvador, pre-booking a transfer avoids surprises with taxi pricing or availability late at night.
• Check terminal signage carefully. Some listings reference multiple terminal labels (T1, T2, T4, M) for different airline groupings, even though passengers experience it as one connected terminal building.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the airport code for San Salvador, El Salvador? The code is SAL. The airport’s full name is Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, and its ICAO code is MSLP.

Is XNA the same as SAL? No. XNA is Northwest Arkansas National Airport in the United States. It’s unrelated to San Salvador or El Salvador.

How far is the airport from downtown San Salvador? About 50 kilometers (31 miles), which usually translates to 45 minutes to over an hour by car depending on traffic.

Which airlines fly out of San Salvador’s airport? Avianca El Salvador and Volaris El Salvador use it as a hub, alongside other regional and international carriers serving Central America, North America, and Madrid.

Are there hotels near the airport? Not directly adjacent, but several hotels a few kilometers away offer free shuttle service for arriving and departing passengers.

When did the airport open? SAL opened on January 31, 1980, and has operated under the same operator, CEPA, since then.