Airports / Peru / RIJ
Juan Simons Vela Airport.
Rioja, Peru · 2,707 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.0/5
Google rating
64 ratings
0
Operators based
2,707
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
42 nm
To the nearest alternate
Chachapoyas Airport (CHH).
Overview
Juan Simons Vela Airport (SPJA / RIJ) is a mid-sized airport serving Rioja, Peru. Field elevation is 2,707 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list RIJ as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Chachapoyas Airport (CHH, 42 nm), Cadete FAP Guillermo Del Castillo Paredes Airport (TPP, 54 nm), and Moises Benzaquen Rengifo Airport (YMS, 63 nm). The field has a single 6,168-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from RIJ are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from RIJ to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
SPJA
IATA
RIJ
FAA / Local
SPJA
Elevation
2,707 ft
Coordinates
6.0679° S · 77.1600° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs Peru fields
state range 39–12,552 ft
At 2,707 ft, RIJ sits higher than 68% of the 31 Peru fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 6,168 ft
- 16/346,168 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,168 ft
RIJ's 6,168 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 42nmCHHChachapoyas AirportChachapoyas
- 54nmTPPCadete FAP Guillermo Del Castillo Paredes AirportTarapoto
- 63nmYMSMoises Benzaquen Rengifo AirportYurimaguas
- 71nmJJIJuanjui AirportJuanjuí
- 101nmJAEShumba AirportJaén
- 102nmCJAMayor General FAP Armando Revoredo Iglesias AirportCajamarca
Location
Open the full mapSPJA · Juan Simons Vela Airport · Rioja, Peru
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from RIJ on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | 1,922 nm | 4h 52m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 1,974 nm | 4h 59m |
| Houston (HOU) | 2,385 nm | 5h 57m |
| Austin (AUS) | 2,477 nm | 6h 10m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 2,589 nm | 6h 25m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 2,592 nm | 6h 26m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 2,703 nm | 6h 41m |
| New York (TEB) | 2,822 nm | 6h 58m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use RIJ?
- Juan Simons Vela Airport's longest paved runway is 6,168 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at RIJ?
- Juan Simons Vela Airport has one runway; the longest measures 6,168 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to RIJ?
- The closest alternate is Chachapoyas Airport (CHH), about 42 nm away, followed by Cadete FAP Guillermo Del Castillo Paredes Airport (TPP) at 54 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from RIJ to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Miami about 4h 52m (1,922 nm), Palm Beach about 4h 59m (1,974 nm), Houston about 5h 57m (2,385 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.