Quito International Airport
New Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport
In 1920, with the name of The Telegraph, the first aircraft landed in Quito in what is now La Carolina Park. For many years, the distant airport out of Ecuador’s capital ran north of the city but due to the expansion of the neighborhoods, in the 70’s, ideas started to flourish about the need to move it to the outskirts of the city.
From February 2013 the new Antonio José de Sucre International Airport of Quito stated to work in the vicinity of Tababela, 15 km (9mi) from the old terminal. Until the end of that year the airport handled around 5’400,000 passengers.
The new Quito Airport complies with IATA B Level Service.
CHARACTERISTICS AND FACILITIES
The 4,100 meters (13451 feet) in length track allows the operation of large aircraft as an Airbus 340, 380, or a Boeing 747-800. The extension of the track determined the size of the control tower, which is 41 meters high (134.51ft), the highest in Latin America. In comparison with the old airport, the cargo area tripled to 15 thousand square meters to 46 thousand square meters.
The facilities and the structure of the new airport increase and strengthen the connectivity of direct frequencies between Quito and other destinations. At present, 16 direct international routes depart from Quito to destinations such as Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Lima, Cali, Bogota, Medellin, Panama, San Salvador, Havana, Miami, Caracas, Atlanta and Houston.
The estimated travel time is one hour and a half; the inter-parochial buses system operate during the day to the Rio Coca Terminal; the fare is USD $2. Direct service airport-city is USD $8 and it runs 24 hours. The average taxi fare is USD $25.