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Total 1 airports of GUA

GUA La Aurora International Airport
La Aurora International Airport (IATA: GUA, ICAO:MGGT) is located in the the city of Guatemala City, Guatemala. It is the primary international airport serving Guatemala City and its surrounding metropolitan area. Phone Number :+50223215000

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IATA Code

GUA

ICAO Code

MGGT

Name

La Aurora International Airport

Type

Main Airport

Country / Region

Guatemala (GT)

City

Guatemala City

Latitude

14.5832996

Longitude

-90.5274963

Time Zone

UTC−06:00

Phone Number

+50223215000

Est. Unit Price

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Airport Overview

La Aurora International Airport (GUA)

La Aurora International Airport is the principal international gateway for Guatemala City and Guatemala’s main air logistics market. It is located approximately 6.4 km south of the city centre and about 25 km from Antigua, Guatemala. The airport is a mixed public, general aviation and military facility operated by the Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil. Its urban location provides efficient access to the capital, industrial districts and national distribution networks, while the surrounding terrain, metropolitan traffic and shared aviation activity require careful planning for truck appointments and cargo release. Our service team treats this airport primarily as an import and export gateway for Central American, North American and selected European connections. Final acceptance, routing, aircraft type and handling arrangements must be confirmed with the operating carrier and ground handler before cargo dispatch.

Airport name	La Aurora International Airport
IATA / ICAO	GUA / MGGT
Location	Guatemala City, Guatemala
Coordinates	14.5832996, -90.5274963
Time zone	UTC−06:00
Airport role	International passenger, cargo-supporting, general aviation and military-use airport

Key Highlights

Logistics Decision Points

National gateway

The airport is the primary international air gateway for Guatemala City and the country’s principal airfreight planning point.

Urban access

Its proximity to the capital supports local delivery, customs coordination and connection with major commercial areas, but road congestion can affect truck timing.

Network-dependent capacity

Available uplift is generally linked to passenger belly capacity, freighter availability and carrier-specific handling arrangements; routings should be checked case by case.

Mixed-use operating environment

General aviation and military activity make confirmed cargo acceptance, delivery windows and handling instructions especially important.

Time-sensitive exports

Perishables, apparel, electronics and urgent commercial shipments benefit from pre-booked handling and complete documentation before tender.

Cargo Facilities & Services

Handling Scope to Confirm Before Tender

Export and import cargo handling: Our service team coordinates carrier booking, warehouse tendering, manifest data and release instructions with the appointed ground handler. Acceptance cut-offs vary by airline, flight and shipment type.
Customs-controlled processing: Import and export cargo normally requires coordination among the airline, handling agent, customs broker and Guatemalan customs authorities. The applicable customs facility and release route should be confirmed for each shipment.
Temperature-sensitive cargo: Cold-chain acceptance, cool-room availability, maximum dwell time and active/passive packaging procedures must be confirmed in writing before booking. Do not assume that airport handling equals uninterrupted temperature control.
Dangerous goods: Acceptance depends on the airline’s approval, commodity classification, packing instruction, marks, labels, shipper’s declaration and available handling capability. Pre-approval is recommended for lithium batteries, chemicals and restricted articles.
Special cargo: Oversized pieces, valuable cargo, live animals, human remains and other sensitive shipments require advance routing and handling approval; dimensions, gross weight and packaging photographs may be requested.

Routes & Transit Times

Routing Considerations

North America: Shipments may be planned through direct or connecting services to major United States and regional gateways, subject to carrier schedules, belly capacity and customs requirements at any transit point.
Central America and the Caribbean: Regional connections can be useful for smaller consignments and distribution cargo, but connection protection and transfer handling must be verified before issuing the booking.
Europe and long-haul markets: Cargo may require an intermediate hub and a coordinated interline or trucking segment. The selected route should reflect commodity sensitivity, connection risk and documentation readiness.
Transit planning: We quote transit expectations only after confirming the actual carrier itinerary. Airport congestion, weather, aircraft changes, customs inspection, late tender and limited uplift can extend the planned cycle.

Hinterland & Key Cargo

Primary Catchment and Commodity Profile

Guatemala City metropolitan area

The airport primarily serves the capital’s commercial, manufacturing, distribution and government-related demand, with local trucking links to warehouses and importers.

National distribution

Shipments can be delivered onward to other Guatemalan markets through domestic road networks; inland transport timing should be assessed separately from the airport transit.

Apparel and manufactured goods

Time-sensitive garments, samples, accessories, light industrial parts and finished consumer products are suitable candidates for scheduled airfreight planning.

Fresh and agricultural products

Perishable and agricultural cargo requires validated packaging, phytosanitary or veterinary documentation where applicable, and confirmed temperature handling at both ends.

High-value and urgent cargo

Electronics, medical supplies, aircraft or industrial spares and replacement parts require secure packaging, accurate valuation and a clearly defined delivery chain.

Operations & Compliance

Controls That Reduce Airport Delays

Cut-off control: Airline cargo cut-off times are shipment- and flight-specific. Our team schedules delivery with a buffer for metropolitan traffic, screening, warehouse acceptance and document correction.
Accurate shipment data: The air waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, pieces, dimensions, gross weight, cargo description, value and consignee details must be consistent. Vague descriptions can trigger clarification or inspection.
Customs and inspection: Importers should appoint the responsible broker before arrival and prepare permits, certificates and tax information where required. Physical inspection or document review can change release timing.
Special-regulation cargo: Dangerous goods, batteries, pharmaceuticals, food, plants, animals and other regulated commodities require commodity-specific documents and carrier acceptance before dispatch.

Shipping Tips

Recommended Booking Workflow

Send our service team the commodity description, HS information where available, pieces, dimensions, gross weight, value, origin, destination and requested delivery date before requesting uplift.
For temperature-sensitive, dangerous, oversized or high-value cargo, provide the relevant declaration, packaging specification and handling requirement at quotation stage rather than after booking.
Use robust export packaging with piece-level labels, consignee contact details and clear orientation marks. Confirm whether the carrier accepts the proposed pallet, crate or battery packaging.
Keep a contingency option through an alternative hub or nearby gateway when the shipment is highly time-critical. The substitute route must be checked for customs, trucking, security and transfer restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Practical Questions for Forwarders

Can La Aurora International Airport handle commercial export cargo?

Yes, commercial export cargo is normally arranged through an airline and its appointed cargo handling channel. Acceptance depends on the carrier, commodity, booking, documentation and available capacity on the selected flight.

How early should cargo be delivered for an international departure?

There is no single airport-wide cut-off applicable to every shipment. Our team confirms the airline’s cargo cut-off and recommends additional time for screening, customs formalities, traffic and warehouse acceptance.

Can temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals or perishables be shipped through the airport?

They may be accepted when the carrier and handling agent approve the shipment and the packaging, documents and temperature process are suitable. Cold-room access, handover timing and allowable storage conditions must be confirmed before booking.

What commonly causes import cargo release delays?

Typical causes include inconsistent invoice and air waybill data, missing permits, incomplete consignee information, customs inspection, late broker instructions and outstanding duties or taxes. Pre-arrival document review reduces avoidable delays.

Is a direct flight always the fastest option?

Not necessarily. A connecting service with confirmed uplift and reliable transfer handling may be more practical than waiting for limited direct capacity. We compare routing, connection risk and cargo sensitivity before recommending an option.

Data Sources & Provenance

Reference and Verification Scope

The airport identity, codes, location, coordinates, address and time-zone details in this module are based on the supplied airport record. Regulatory and operational confirmation should be obtained from the responsible aviation authority, customs authority, airline and appointed ground handler before cargo tender.

Relevant authoritative reference domains include dgac.gob.gt, the official domain of Guatemala’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil; iata.org, for airline and airport industry reference information; and icao.int, for international aviation standards and reference material.

Schedules, cargo cut-offs, facilities, customs procedures, carrier acceptance, capacity and transit times can change. Our service team verifies shipment-specific details before confirming a booking.