Toncontin Airport closed until further notice after deadly clash in Tegucigalpa

July 6, 2:45 PMSeattle North American Travel ExaminerStephanie Jolly

Previous

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Seattle North American Travel Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Supporters of ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya face off against a line of
Honduran army soldiers outside the Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa. 
The airport remains closed and flights into Tegucigalpa have been canceled.
AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo

The Toncontin Tegucigalpa Interrnational Airport (TGU) in the capitol of Honduras has been closed until further notice after a clash between the estimated 20,000 pro-Zelaya demonstrators surrounding the airport in anticipation of the ousted leaders return the Honduran military see turned violent, leaving three dead.  Although the borders offically remain open, the main Honduran airport runway was blocked by military vehicles Sunday, preventing the plane carrying the exiled president from landing.

Airlines affected by the closure include American Airlines, Delta and Continental, as well as Latin American based Taca and Copa Airlines.  American Airlines and Delta had already cancelled flights schelduled to land in Tegucigalpa yesterday in anticipation of security concerns. 

Ticketed passengers with pending travel to Honduras should contact their airlines to make any and all necessary changes to their itinerary.  Among the airlines affected are:

American Airlines - Flights #AA973 and #AA953 between Miami (MIA) and Tegucigalpa Toncontin (TGU) have been cancelled.  Passengers should call 1-800-433-7300 from within the United States or (504) 216-4800 from within Honduras to discuss changing destinations or travel dates.

Delta Airlines - Flight #DL0551 between Atlanta (ATL) and Tegucigalpa Toncontin (TGU) has been canceled.  Passengers should call 1-800-791-9000 from within the United States or (504) 550-1616 from within Honduras for refunds or to alter destination or travel dates.  Ticketed passengers who are unable to rebook their travel on or before July 15 can cancel their reservation and use the value of the ticket towards a new ticket within a one year time frame from the original issuance date.

Continental Airlines - Flights #CO756 and #CO747 between Houston International Airport (IAH) and Tegucigalpa Toncontin (TGU) have been canceled.  Passengers may reroute to the San Salvador Airport (SAL) in El Salvador or San Pedro Sula (SAP) in Honduras.  Continental passengers should call 1-800-231-0856 within the United States or (504) 220-0999 from within Tegucigalpa.  Passengers have until July 29, 2009 to reschedule or re-route their travel within incurring change fees.

The U.S Embassy has recommended that American citizens defer all non-essential travel the region and Embassy staffers have also been advised to restrict travel to necessary trips only.  A government mandated curfew is imposed between 6:30pm July 5 until 5:00am July 7. 

Related Articles on Honduran Travel

• Protests in Honduras causes cancellations at Tegucigalpa Toncontin Airport
• Travel alert issued for Honduras requests U.S citizens defer travel until further notice
• Airlines waive re-booking fees on flights schelduled to Honduras
• U.S Embassy requests citizens postpone travel to Honduras during political coup