Delegates from Quito have arrived at Routes to advertise a new airport scheduled to open roughly a year-and-a-half from now.
The new airport's is designed to handle 5 million annual passengers, says Carlos Criado commercial director of Quito's current facility Mariscal Sucre International.
Boasting a 4,100m runway that will become the longest in Latin America, the new facility is being constructed 25km from Mariscal Sucre.
The new runway is key to attracting service to Quito's new airport, Criado explains. Once runway construction is complete carriers can serve destinations like New York from Quito nonstop, which is not possible with Mariscal Sucre's 3,121m runway.
Ecuador's market has seen substantial changes during the last couple of years with the debut of LAN's new Ecuadorian affiliate and Ecuadorian carrier Aerogal being acquired by Avianca and Taca after their merger last year.
Originally Quito's new airport was supposed to open in October, but Criado explains political problems slowed the process.
But he remains optimistic about the new airport's potential, and is ready to showcase the facility's capabilities to show attendees.
Source: Flight Daily News
