AviatDataAeropuerto Nacional Monseñor Salvador Schlaefer BEF / MNBL
Bluefields, Región Autónoma de la Costa Caribe Sur (RACCS) · Nicaragua · Empresa Administradora de Aeropuertos Nacionales e Internacionales (EAAI)
60kpax · 2019
Limited hoursStatus unclear/conflicting in public sources: one aviation directory lists Avgas only; Jet A-1 for La Costeña's ATR-42/Caravan turboprop equipment is not confirmed despite being operationally necessary
ICAO / IATAMNBL / BEF
OperatorEmpresa Administradora de Aeropuertos Nacionales e Internacionales (EAAI)
Coordinates11.9910°N, 83.7741°W
Elevation41 ft · 12 m
Time zoneCST (UTC-6, no DST)
Passengers / yr60,000 (2019)
CustomsYes
Border controlYes
SchengenNo
FuelStatus unclear/conflicting in public sources: one aviation directory lists Avgas only; Jet A-1 for La Costeña's ATR-42/Caravan turboprop equipment is not confirmed despite being operationally necessary
Bonded—
AIP referenceMNBL — AIP Nicaragua / INAC
Operating hoursDaylight/VFR operations only (HJ - sunrise to sunset); no night flying, no 24h ATC. Served during published hours for La Costeña's scheduled rotations (tower freq 118.500); otherwise unattended.
TerminalsSingle small terminal (renovated) with waiting room, baggage claim, migration/customs counter, airline ticket counters and a small cafeteria; apron parking for up to 4 aircraft of ATR-42/Cessna 208 class; no jet bridges.
Runways (1)
- 05/23 · 2,019 m / 6,624 ft · 30 m wide · Asphalt
Principal air gateway to Nicaragua's South Caribbean Coast, linked to Managua and Corn Island by La Costeña's ATR-42s and Cessna 208 Caravans; despite an on-site migration/customs post used for occasional international charters, it functions as a domestic-only field with sunrise-to-sunset VFR hours and unconfirmed/limited fuel support. Passenger totals are not published by EAAI/INAC per airport; the figure above is an unofficial pre-pandemic estimate, not a confirmed statistic.
Services
Available
On request / PPR
Seasonal / ageing
Unconfirmed / not listed
Ground handling
Unconfirmed
La Costeña (Aerotaxis La Costeña S.A.)
La Costeña is the only scheduled carrier documented at Bluefields Airport (BEF/MNBL), operating ATR-42 and Cessna 208 flights to Managua, Corn Island, and Puerto Cabezas and using the field as a secondary hub. As is typical for this carrier at Nicaragua's small Caribbean-coast stations, it self-handles its own ramp and passenger operations here; no third-party FBO or ground handler is listed for this airport in aviation trip-support directories.
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Aircraft fuel
Not listed
De-icing
Not listed
Part-145 line maintenance
Not listed
Part-145 base maintenance
Not listed
Component shops & overhaul
Not listed
Flight catering
Not listed
Aircraft cleaning
Not listed
Ground support equipment
Not listed
Cargo handling
Not listed
Aviation security
Not listed
Passenger & crew transport
Not listed
Flight support
Not listed
Hotel & travel
Not listed