On Tuesday, Cusco transportation authorities announced they were considering Anta, as an alternative location, for the construction of Cusco’s new airport.

According to Diario el Sol de Cusco, regional transportation authorities met with Anta mayor Eulogio Uscamyata, and agreed to present Anta as a candidate for the construction of the new Cusco international airport.

“This proposal is important, Anta is located at 3,337 meters above sea level and is about 25 kilometers away from Cusco,” said Lucio Quisiyupanqui, a lawyer working with Cusco’s regional transport investment agency (Ositran).

“It’s a good alternative for the construction of Cusco’s new airport, which is urgently needed.”

Quisiyupanqui said Ositran had spoken with Anta mayor Eulogio Uscamyata, and had discussed the possibility of handing over the land at no cost, in exchange for giving local residents preference for construction and service jobs associated with the airport.

Anta is a good alternative, Quisiyupanqui said, to the proposed Chincheros site, which is being weighed down by the demands of local communities.

“Anta wants to have the airport because it knows how important it is for development. Having this great site for development would convert it in a place with vast job creation,” Quisiyupanqui said to Diario el Sol.