The Minister of Productive Development, Juan Luis Fernandez, confirmed the airport's expansion after the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, which was headed by the governor, Juan Manzur. The Minister of Transport of the Nation, Guillermo Dietrich, announced the works a couple of weeks ago in Tucuman. The expansion is part of Tucuman's production requirements: having an adequate runway for the export of fresh fruit, such as blueberry.
"The work begun, specifically in the north platform and the taxiway," Fernandez stated. Juan Luis Fernandez said that "the idea is that this work is ready in no more than 60 days so that we have time to prepare the new blueberry campaign."
The remodeling of the airport goes beyond freight issues, as it will be extended in its entirety. In that regard, Fernandez stressed, the work will be scheduled for next year and, due to its magnitude, it will affect the normal development of airline traffic. "We might have a non-operating airport for 60 days," said the official.
Regional economies
Fresh fruit, such as Tucuman's blueberry, is one of the most requested products worldwide. Even though this crop isn't considered part of Tucuman's basic economy because it's only been produced for a short period -since 2003-, its cultivation, harvest and export have led to having successful campaigns, year after year.
The extension of the runway of the Benjamin Matienzo Airport will allow air freight and producers to export more than twice of what the current logistics allows, i.e. more than 100 tons.
Source: primerafuente.com.ar