Carrasco General Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport — Ciudad de la Costa, Uruguay

A striking wave-roofed terminal designed by Uruguayan-born architect Rafael Viñoly greets arriving passengers at Carrasco International Airport, coded MVD, a building opened in 2009 that transformed what had been a fairly modest facility into one of South America's more architecturally notable airports. Located in the Carrasco district near Ciudad de la Costa, a short distance from central Montevideo, it functions as Uruguay's principal international gateway, connecting the country to Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and other regional capitals as well as a smaller set of longer-haul routes. Montevideo's reputation for political stability and quality of life within South America has helped sustain steady business and leisure traffic through MVD even though Uruguay's population remains small by regional standards. The airport also plays a supporting role for visitors heading to nearby beach resorts such as Punta del Este during the Southern Hemisphere summer, when leisure traffic through the terminal noticeably increases alongside the steadier flow of regional business travelers.