Airport Ernesto Cortissoz

The international airport of Barranquilla is located about 7 kilometer south of the city. The airport is named after Ernesto Cortissoz one of the pioneers of the Colombian aviation. The IATA code for the airport is BAQ.

In August 1919, the first American William Knox Martin with a sack of mail heading to the "airport" of Barranquilla. In December of that same year, the airline company "Sociedad Colombo Alemana de Transportes Aéreos" was created. The name under which it operates is now Avianca. Ernesto Cortissoz was the president of the company. To him the name of the airport is due. On June 24, 1924 Ernesto dies in a plane crash in Barranquilla.

In 1968 the runway was rebuilt to a length of 3 kilometer. And in 1981 was the opening of the new terminal building.