El Salvador Begins Construction on Its First Urban Aerocable, Transforming Mobility Across Greater San Salvador
El Salvador has officially begun construction on one of the country’s most ambitious public transportation projects to date: the Aerocable, an electric urban cable car system designed to improve mobility for hundreds of thousands of commuters throughout the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador.
Announced by the government as a cornerstone of its long-term transportation strategy, the Aerocable will be developed in phases, creating an integrated aerial transit network that connects densely populated communities with major employment, education, and healthcare centers while reducing travel times and easing road congestion.
Phase One: Five New Cable Car Lines
The first phase of the project includes five Aerocable lines, beginning with a route connecting Mejicanos to Hospital Nacional Rosales in downtown San Salvador.
Currently, a commute between these areas can take close to an hour during peak traffic. Once operational, the Aerocable will reduce that journey to approximately 14 minutes, offering commuters a faster and more predictable alternative to road transportation.
Construction is already underway, with five of the planned 23 support towers installed on the first line. When completed, the route will feature:
- Four stations
- 23 towers
- 153 cable cars (cabins)
- A 3.55-kilometer alignment
- Capacity for 30,000 to 40,000 passengers daily
- Up to 7,000 passengers per hour
- Service operating 18 hours each day
The line will connect Zacamil in Mejicanos with the Universidad de El Salvador, Centro de Gobierno, and the Historic Center of San Salvador.
“El proyecto de Aerocable es parte de un plan maestro de un sistema de transporte masivo, compuesto por cinco líneas. Hemos iniciado con la primera, de Mejicanos hacia el Parque Cuscatlán, con la capacidad de transportar 7 mil pasajeros por hora”, @RomeoHerrera1. pic.twitter.com/QuaW7OU0BT
— Ministerio de Obras Públicas (@ObrasPublicasSV) July 29, 2026
Expanding the Metropolitan Network
Beyond the inaugural line, Phase One also includes:
- Two additional Aerocable routes serving Soyapango
- One line connecting to El Boquerón
- Another linking Planes de Renderos with Panchimalco
Future phases will continue expanding the aerial network, creating new connections across the metropolitan region and integrating the system with buses and other forms of mass transit.
Government officials describe the project as an essential component of a broader, multimodal transportation strategy designed to make moving throughout San Salvador faster, safer, and more efficient.
Designed for Safety, Accessibility, and Sustainability
The Aerocable incorporates engineering standards commonly used in urban cable transit systems across Latin America.
According to project engineers, the infrastructure has been designed to withstand earthquakes, heavy rainfall, and winds exceeding 150 km/h, conditions particularly relevant for El Salvador’s geography.
Passenger safety features include:
Continuous video surveillance
Emergency communication buttons connected to operators
Accessible cabins for passengers with reduced mobility
Elevators providing universal access at every station
Each station will also feature a unique architectural design adapted to its surrounding neighborhood.
A Fully Electric Transportation System
Unlike traditional bus transportation, the Aerocable will operate entirely on electricity, producing no direct carbon emissions during operation.
The project represents part of El Salvador’s broader effort to modernize public infrastructure while improving environmental sustainability and reducing dependence on road-based transportation.
Joining a Growing Regional Trend
With the Aerocable, El Salvador joins several Latin American cities—including Medellín, La Paz, Mexico City, and Guayaquil—that have successfully integrated aerial cable transportation into their public transit networks.
These systems have proven particularly effective in cities where steep terrain, dense urban development, and chronic traffic congestion limit the efficiency of traditional road transport.
By providing uninterrupted travel above street traffic, cable transit offers reliable commute times while expanding access to employment, education, healthcare, and public services.
A New Chapter for Urban Mobility
The Aerocable represents more than a new transportation option—it marks a significant shift in how the San Salvador metropolitan area plans for future growth.
As construction progresses, the project aims to create a modern, inclusive, and sustainable mobility network capable of moving tens of thousands of passengers every day while reshaping the daily commute for residents across the capital.
For many Salvadorans, the first cabins crossing above the city will symbolize more than a new way to travel—they will signal the beginning of a new era in urban transportation.
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