Rodríguez Ballón International Airport (SPQU)

Large airport · Arequipa, Arequipa Region, Peru

Airport data

NameRodríguez Ballón International Airport
ICAOSPQU
IATAAQP
Elevation8,405 ft (2562 m) above mean sea level
CoordinatesS 16°20'27" W 71°34'10"
-16.34079, -71.56949
LocationArequipa, Arequipa Region, Peru
Scheduled serviceYes

About Rodríguez Ballón International Airport on Wikipedia

Runways

RunwayLengthWidthSurfaceLighted
10/289,777 ft (2980 m)148 ftASPYes

Rodríguez Ballón International Airport at a glance

Rodríguez Ballón International Airport is a large airport in Arequipa, Arequipa Region, Peru, known to airline systems as AQP. The field elevation of 8,405 ft (2562 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at SPQU are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.

The single runway, 10/28, offers 9,777 ft (2980 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 10 points roughly 100° magnetic.

For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for SPQU shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.

Nearest airports to Rodríguez Ballón International Airport

Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.

AirportCodeDistance
General Jorge Fernandez Maldon AirportSPLO152 km (82 NM)
Inca Manco Capac International AirportSPJL180 km (97 NM)
Coronel FAP Carlos Ciriani Santa Rosa International AirportSPTN235 km (127 NM)
Chacalluta International AirportSCAR259 km (140 NM)
Alejandro Velasco Astete International AirportSPZO314 km (170 NM)

Flight-planning notes for Rodríguez Ballón International Airport

Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 8,405 ft field elevation of Rodríguez Ballón International Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.

This entry is one of 31 airports and airfields we list for Peru — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.

Where this data comes from

The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.

Frequently asked questions about Rodríguez Ballón International Airport

What is the ICAO code of Rodríguez Ballón International Airport?

The ICAO identifier of Rodríguez Ballón International Airport is SPQU, and its IATA code is AQP. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.

How high is Rodríguez Ballón International Airport above sea level?

Rodríguez Ballón International Airport sits at an elevation of 8,405 feet (2562 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.

Where exactly is Rodríguez Ballón International Airport located?

The airport lies at -16.3408, -71.5695 — in Arequipa, Arequipa Region, Peru, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is General Jorge Fernandez Maldon Airport, about 152 km away.

Does SPQU publish METAR weather reports?

Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for SPQU appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.

How long is the runway at Rodríguez Ballón International Airport?

Rodríguez Ballón International Airport has one runway. The longest, 10/28, measures 9,777 ft (2980 m) with a ASP surface.

Current METAR & TAF for SPQU