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A former Civil Aviation official says Honduras must repair runways, lighting, drainage, and other infrastructure at Toncontín International Airport to meet safety standards and maintain domestic and regional service.

Civil aviation authorities and the Public-Private Partnerships Superintendency are seeking an explanation from the Palmerola airport concessionaire about damage to Toncontín runway and the company's handling of assigned funds.

Palmerola, which operates Tegucigalpa's Toncontín airport, denied that recent aircraft incidents stem from runway damage, attributing a June 26 Cessna mishap to tire failure, amid reports that a $3.6 million repair budget approved in 2021 has an unclear destination.

Tegucigalpa Mayor Juan Diego Zelaya says the capital's distance from its international airport hurts its competitiveness and plans to request a review of Toncontín's concession contract to allow regional flights to resume there.

Pavel Espinal, former subdirector of Honduras's aviation authority, accuses the Toncontín Airport concessionaire Palmerola International Airport of neglecting runway repairs and questions the use of $3.6 million approved for the work, citing pilot complaints about deteriorating conditions.

Citizens, business leaders, and professionals have launched a campaign to restore international flight operations to Tegucigalpa's Toncontín Airport, which was shuttered four years ago when service moved to Palmerola; backers say the closure has hurt the capital's competitiveness and economy.