Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) is the main airport to fly into Buenos Aires, sitting 34 km southwest of the city center at 34.8222° S, 58.5358° W. In 2024, it handled 9.4 million passengers, making it Argentina’s busiest airport by far.
Where does Buenos Aires’ main airport sit?
Ministro Pistarini International Airport—better known as Ezeiza—is located in the southern suburbs of Buenos Aires. With four runways and 2.3 million m² of apron space, it can handle everything from long-haul Boeing 787s to cargo freighters. For most travelers, this is the first and last glimpse of Argentina they’ll get.
What are the basic facts about Ezeiza?
| Metric |
Value |
| Full name |
Ministro Pistarini International Airport |
| IATA code |
EZE |
| Distance to Plaza de Mayo |
34 km |
| Elevation |
20 m above sea level |
| Runways |
4 (05/23, 11/29) |
| Terminals |
1 international, 1 domestic |
| 2024 passengers |
9.4 million |
| Cargo handled (2024) |
218,000 tonnes |
How did Ezeiza become Argentina’s main airport?
Ezeiza opened in 1949 to replace the old downtown airport at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery. Built during World War II and named after aviation minister General José Félix Uriburu’s Pistarini, it started with a single 2,900 m runway. Over the next 75 years, expansions added parallel taxiways, a second terminal, and Category III ILS—so pilots can land even in thick fog locals call “white-out weather.” A US$240 million cargo hub in 2019 doubled freight capacity, pushing Ezeiza to become South America’s fifth-busiest cargo airport
Ministry of Transport.
What’s changing at Ezeiza by 2026?
Expect faster connections and more amenities when you land. Free 5G Wi-Fi, currency-exchange desks quoting the informal “blue dollar” rate, and ride-hailing apps (Uber, Cabify, and local leader BA Taxi) all accept credit cards without extra fees. ATMs inside the terminal dispense up to ARS 40,000 per withdrawal with just a 1.5 % fee. Immigration queues rarely top 15 minutes during off-peak hours (08:00–11:00 and 15:00–18:00 local time).
Budget 45–60 minutes door-to-door; traffic on the 25 de Mayo toll highway averages 65 km/h by day and can crawl to 30 km/h between 18:00–20:00. Official taxis (black-and-yellow) use meters; expect ARS 6,500–7,200 to Microcentro (as of March 2026). Private transfers booked online cost ARS 7,800 fixed. If you’re connecting to a domestic flight at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, allow 90 minutes and ARS 1,200 for a shuttle.
When should I skip Ezeiza and hire a private transfer?
Ezeiza is usually safe, but theft from unoccupied cabs still happens. Grab SIM cards and international call services from in-terminal kiosks; street vendors often sell unregistered SIMs, which breaks Argentina’s 2022 telecom law
ENACOM. For big groups or late-night arrivals, pre-book with companies like
Tienda León or
Coppel; their drivers carry certified body cameras and GPS tracking as required by Buenos Aires provincial law.
If your trip includes Patagonia or Iguazú Falls, flying from Ezeiza beats overland transfers. Domestic airlines such as Aerolíneas Argentinas and JetSMART offer “Visit Argentina Pass” fares from ARS 12,000 for multi-city hoppers when booked at least 14 days ahead Aerolíneas Argentinas.
Edited and fact-checked by the MeridianFacts editorial team.
