⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic → International
90
minutes
International → Domestic
90
minutes
International → International
120
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) serves as the primary aviation gateway to Paraguay and its capital city, Asunción. Located in the suburb of Luque, the airport features a single, integrated passenger terminal that manages both domestic and international flights. The facility has undergone significant modernizations to enhance the passenger experience, offering a blend of traditional hospitality and contemporary aviation services.
Inside the multi-level terminal, travelers will find a range of amenities including several cafes and restaurants that serve both local Paraguayan specialties and international cuisine. Duty-free shops are available in both the arrivals and departures zones, offering everything from high-end fragrances to traditional artisanal souvenirs. For premium travelers, the VIP Gold Lounge provides a quiet space with complimentary refreshments and high-speed Wi-Fi, while free Wi-Fi is also accessible throughout the public areas of the building.
The airport is well-equipped with essential travel services such as currency exchange bureaus, ATMs, and luggage wrapping stations. An information desk is located in the international arrivals hall to assist visitors with local travel advice. Despite its international status, the terminal remains compact and easy to navigate, with clear signage in both Spanish and English. The facility operates 24 hours a day, although the secure airside area may close briefly overnight during periods with no scheduled departures.
🔄 Connection Tips
Silvio Pettirossi International Airport is Paraguay's main aviation gateway, and the connection process is straightforward because the airport uses a single compact terminal in Luque near Asunción. Domestic-to-domestic or international-to-domestic transfers are handled within the same building, but immigration and customs still need to be cleared for arriving international passengers before the next leg can begin.
The ground transfer into central Asunción is short enough that taxis, ride-hailing, buses, and rental cars all make sense, depending on your budget and schedule. Bus 30-A gives the cheapest airport-to-city option, while taxis and pre-booked cars are better if you are traveling with luggage or arriving late. Having guaraní cash for small expenses is still useful even when credit cards are accepted at larger services.
The airport is open around the clock and works well as a hub because it is easy to navigate, has lounges, Wi-Fi, ATMs, and the usual airport support services, and is close enough to the city that a bad connection is usually a road-transfer problem rather than a terminal problem. The practical rule at ASU is to allow enough time for passport control on international arrivals and then move quickly into the next ground segment. On busy days, the airport is still easiest when the city leg is already arranged.
⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic → International
60
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
Capitán Carmelo Peralta Airport (CIO), also known by its ICAO code SGCO, is a significant regional aviation facility located in the city of Concepción, the capital of the Concepción Department in central Paraguay. Situated near the banks of the Paraguay River, the airport acts as a critical transportation node for the region's prominent cattle ranching, meat processing, and agricultural sectors. The facility is a unique mixed-use airfield, operated by the Paraguayan Air Force, and serves as an essential link between the northern part of the country and the national capital.
The airport features a functional regional passenger terminal building that manages domestic arrivals and departures. The infrastructure is designed to support both civilian general aviation and military logistics, with shared facilities for check-in and waiting areas. While it lacks the extensive commercial amenities of Silvio Pettirossi International, the terminal provides essential services including basic passenger lounges, administrative offices, and secure parking. The airfield consists of a well-maintained 2,000-meter asphalt runway that is optimized for regional turboprops and military transport aircraft, ensuring that Concepción remains accessible even during the seasonal rains that can impact regional road travel.
Currently, the primary scheduled services at CIO are provided by SETAM (Servicio de Transporte Aéreo Militar), which offers regular weekly flights to Asunción (ASU) and several remote communities in the Paraguayan Chaco, such as Bahía Negra and Fuerte Olimpo. These flights are a lifeline for the region, facilitating the movement of personnel, medical supplies, and essential goods. The airport also serves as a busy hub for private charters and air taxi operations supporting the local agribusiness community. Ground transportation into central Concepción is readily available via local taxis and motorcycle taxis, providing a rapid alternative to the long overland journeys to other parts of the country.
🔄 Connection Tips
Capitán Carmelo Peralta Airport (CIO) should be treated as a limited regional airfield whose practical connection logic revolves around Asunción and the sparse domestic options available through SETAM or similar state-linked operations. The key point for passengers is that this is not a normal online-booking, high-frequency domestic airport. The service pattern is limited enough that the main itinerary must be protected in Asunción, not at Concepción.
That matters because even when the route is available, there may be very few alternatives if one sector moves or sells out. If your international flight depends on the domestic leg lining up perfectly, the safer choice is to leave substantial room in Asunción or treat the overland alternative as part of the plan from the beginning.
At the local end, the airport is useful because it shortens access to the Concepción region and the wider northern Paraguay corridor. But that local value should not be mistaken for resilience. Road transfer, pickup, and ticketing logistics should already be settled before departure. CIO works best when you think of it as a constrained regional endpoint rather than as a flexible feeder airport. Protect the commercial itinerary at Asunción, keep the domestic leg conservative, and make sure the local ground plan is in place before you leave the hub.
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