With the reopening of Teniente Amín Ayub International Airport in Encarnación on this August 7, 2025, the facility in south-east Paraguay will become a permanent international terminal. Argentine low-cost airline Flybondi will begin direct flights between Encarnación and Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires on Sunday, August 24.
Whilst Encarnación does not possess an aviation history as significant as that of Asunción, the airport still has a tale to tell. From Primero Teniente Alarcón, to Teniente Ayub González: The Asunción Times explores the history of air transport in Encarnación.
First Lieutenant Alarcón
Encarnación is the third-largest city of Paraguay. The first official airport in the city was named after First Lieutenant (Primero Teniente) Alarcón, a Paraguayan war veteran about whom little is known. The airport was built in the 1940s–1950s, though no precise date is recorded in the archives. One notable incident occurred at the airport. In 1965, a C-47 T-25 aircraft caught fire on the tarmac during a refuelling operation. Fortunately, no one was killed or seriously injured.
Later, the airport was deemed unsuitable for Paraguay’s growing aviation needs for several reasons. A key issue was its location within the city, surrounded by residential areas. To reduce noise, prevent potential air disasters, and accommodate the space requirements of the Yacyretá Binational Entity (Entidad Binacional Yacyretá – EBY), the government decided to relocate the airport Some time after the late 1980s. The original site is now flooded.
Keeping the tradition of honouring war veterans
On April 15, 1980, through ordinance #85, the airport was renamed Teniente Ayub González Airport. Though the name might suggest little connection to Paraguay, Lieutenant (Teniente) Ramon Amín Ayub González was a Paraguayan hero of the Chaco War. He was killed in action during the conflict. The Ayub family lived in and around Encarnación and were active community members at the time. Their family business, “Sedería La Negra,” specialised in selling fabrics and managing the import and export of items for curtains and tailoring. The Delvalle Ayub family still resides in the area.
In Paraguay, as in other Latin American countries, it is customary to name significant locations after war heroes. Although Lieutenant Ayub González was not an aviator like Silvio Pettirossi – after whom Paraguay’s main airport in Asunción is named – he remains a national hero to many.
Construction of the current airport
The current airport was built between 2010 and 2013 to meet a growing need. Teniente Amín Ayub González International Airport is located in Capitán Miranda, a city 16 kilometres from central Encarnación. In 2016, the airport was authorised for night flights, as it is not situated directly in an urban area.
Teniente Ayub González has previously operated international flights. In its early phase, the airport serviced routes from Resistencia, Argentina, and Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, among others. After flights were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, international services have resumed.
Now that Encarnación’s airport reopens, the facility will become a permanent international terminal. In addition to flights to Asunción, the airport will offer flights to Buenos Aires with Flybondi. The increase in flights is driven by a surge in regional events, including the World Rally Championship (WRC), certain events of the 2025 ASU Junior Pan American Games, and, as customary, the Carnaval in early 2026.
