{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Airport",
  "address": {
    "@type": "PostalAddress",
    "addressCountry": "Ecuador",
    "addressLocality": "Macar\u00e1"
  },
  "airlines": [
    "Mission Aviation Fellowship",
    "Charter operators"
  ],
  "amenityFeature": [
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Domestic to Domestic Connection Time",
      "value": "30 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Domestic to International Connection Time",
      "value": "45 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "International to Domestic Connection Time",
      "value": "60 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "International to International Connection Time",
      "value": "75 minutes"
    },
    {
      "@type": "LocationFeatureSpecification",
      "name": "Interline Connection Time",
      "value": "60 minutes"
    }
  ],
  "city": "Macar\u00e1",
  "code": "MRR",
  "comparison_tool_link": "https://book.beatthatflight.com.au/?currency=USD",
  "connection_tips": "Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Velasco Ibarra Airport (MRR) is located approximately 3 kilometers from Macar\u00e1 city center, with ground transportation reflecting the town's small size and border location. The airport sits along the main road connecting Macar\u00e1 to larger cities like Loja (4 hours) and Piura, Peru (2 hours). No formal car rental services operate in Macar\u00e1, though some local drivers offer vehicle hire for journeys to Loja or Piura. For air connections, most travelers now drive 4 hours to Loja's Camilo Ponce Enr\u00edquez Airport or continue to Peru's Jorge Ch\u00e1vez International Airport in Lima (approximately 6 hours by road via Piura).\n\nWith irregular or suspended commercial flights following TAME's 2020 closure, most visitors arrive by road via the Peru-Ecuador border crossing at La Tina, just 5 kilometers south. Bus services operate from Macar\u00e1's central terminal to destinations throughout Ecuador and Peru, with companies like Cooperativa Loja and Civa providing daily connections. The road to Loja climbs dramatically into the Andes, requiring experienced driving and appropriate vehicles during rainy season. The uncertain status of scheduled flights means confirming any aviation services well in advance.\n\nTaxis and mototaxis provide the primary local transport, with fares to town center typically under $2-3. Many travelers use Macar\u00e1 as a border crossing point rather than an aviation destination, taking advantage of the simplified border procedures at La Tina. Motorcycle taxis are common for short distances within Macar\u00e1 but not suitable for airport transfers with luggage. Cross-border formalities at La Tina are typically straightforward for tourist visits but require proper documentation and can involve delays during peak crossing times.",
  "country": "Ecuador",
  "flag_url": "https://flagcdn.com/w320/ec.png",
  "flight_search_affiliate_link": "https://book.beatthatflight.com.au/?currency=USD",
  "frequent_traveler_tip": [
    "Commercial flights irregular/suspended since TAME closure in 2020.",
    "Peru border crossing 5km south at La Tina at this airport.",
    "Road to Loja airport 4 hours - main aviation alternative.",
    "Ground transport: Buses to Peru and Ecuador cities from central terminal.",
    "Limited fuel and services - fill up in larger cities.",
    "Border documentation required for Peru crossing at this airport."
  ],
  "global_map_link": "https://www.google.com/maps?q=-4.3782,-79.9410",
  "google_maps_reviews": {
    "rating": 0.0,
    "recent_reviews": [],
    "total_reviews": 0
  },
  "hotel_affiliate_link": "https://book.beatthatflight.com.au/?currency=USD",
  "iataCode": "MRR",
  "icao": "SEMA",
  "international": false,
  "last_modified": "May 2026",
  "last_updated": "2026-03-29",
  "latitude": -4.3782,
  "layover_planner_info": "Basic terminal building with minimal amenities. Macar\u00e1 town center 3km away offers local restaurants and shops. Limited services due to irregular flight schedules. Not suitable for planned layovers.",
  "longitude": -79.941,
  "mct_domestic_to_domestic": 30,
  "mct_domestic_to_international": 45,
  "mct_interline": 60,
  "mct_international_to_domestic": 60,
  "mct_international_to_international": 75,
  "missed_connection_help": "No scheduled airline service currently operating. Contact charter operators in Loja for alternative flights. Ground transport to Loja airport recommended for scheduled connections.",
  "name": "Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra Airport",
  "region": "SA",
  "related_airports": [
    {
      "code": "ETR",
      "name": "Santa Rosa International Airport"
    },
    {
      "code": "LOH",
      "name": "Ciudad de Catamayo Airport"
    }
  ],
  "terminal_info": "Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Velasco Ibarra Airport (MRR) serves the border city of Macar\u00e1 in Ecuador's Loja Province, located at 1,508 feet elevation in the arid southern Andean foothills. Named after Ecuador's five-time former president, the airport features a single runway (01/19) serving as a strategic aviation link for this Peru border community. The facility experienced significant disruption following TAME Airlines' cessation of operations in 2020, leaving uncertain the future of scheduled commercial service to this remote location.\n\nThe modest terminal building reflects Macar\u00e1's small-town character, with basic passenger facilities designed for regional turboprop aircraft. Check-in procedures are straightforward when flights operate, though the building often sits largely vacant due to irregular service patterns. The terminal serves dual purposes, accommodating both aviation and local community functions during periods without scheduled flights. Essential amenities include basic waiting areas, restrooms, and minimal commercial services.\n\nMacar\u00e1's proximity to the Peru-Ecuador border at La Tina makes the airport strategically important for cross-border travel and trade, though most traffic currently flows by road. The airport's elevation and mountain-valley location create challenging flying conditions during certain weather patterns, particularly during the rainy season when visibility can be severely reduced. Despite infrastructure limitations, the facility remains vital for emergency medical evacuations and potential charter operations serving the isolated southern Loja region, home to approximately 20,000 residents in the wider Macar\u00e1 canton.",
  "terminal_map_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Maria_Velasco_Ibarra_Airport"
}