The new airport is under construction at the Palmerola air base, 43 miles north of Tegucigalpa. Those living in the capital will have two more ways to enter Honduras, Zelaya said.

Palmerola is not to replace Toncontin International Airport, serving the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, the Honduran leader assured.

Zelaya decided to build the new airport in 2008, after TACA Flight 390, an Airbus A320 carrying 124 people, overshot the runway in poor weather and ran across a busy street, killing five people, two of whom were on the ground.

Toncontin is considered one of the most dangerous in the world and for years people have called for its replacement. The airport features an inadequately short runway, outdated navigational equipment and is surrounded by hills.

In Valle de Comayagua, there are great conditions to build an excellent airport, and we hope that dream comes true some day, a citizen told local media.

The government has dedicated 12.5 million dollars for the first part of the project, out of the 120 million in Honduras Central Bank, provided by Petrocaribe.

Honduras joined Petrocaribe in Jan. 2008, a project promoted by Venezuela, which ensures a stable oil supply with some payment facilities and very low rates of interest.