Did you know? Uruguay's Carrasco airport saw its first landing in 1944 and a Rafael Viñoly terminal in 2009

The first landing at Uruguay's Carrasco Airport took place on 19 September 1944, when Cesáreo L. Berisso brought his aircraft down there, according to the history the airport has published as it marks 80 years. The Aeropuerto Nacional de Carrasco was officially inaugurated two years later, on 10 October 1946.

The building most passengers use today is far more recent. The current passenger terminal opened in December 2009 and was designed by the Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly. The operator, Puerta del Sur S.A., part of the Corporación América Airports group, describes the inauguration as one of the most important milestones in its history and says the terminal has received international awards for its architecture and level of service.

To tell the story of its eight decades, the airport has released a series of five video episodes presented by Sebastián Beltrame. Carrasco is also part of Aeropuertos Uruguay, a network of eight international airports that, according to the operator, is expanding to Rivera, Durazno, Salto, Carmelo, Paysandú and Melo.

For travellers, the history explains the contrast between an airport with roots in the 1940s and a terminal from the late 2000s. Flight information, terminal services and access details should be checked on the airport's official channels before departure.