The management of the new Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Ecuador is confident that the modern facilities and especially its 4,100 metre runway will act as a platform to boost international flight connectivity into the city and country and enable it to establish new direct flights to markets in Europe. The introduction of a three times weekly Airbus A340-600 service to Madrid by Spanish flag carrier Iberia could be the first of a number of new routes to Europe as operator, Corporación Quiport, targets the continent as part of its ambitions to grow traffic at the facility.

Already in its first seven months of operation passenger numbers are up more than ten per cent, Andrew O’Brian, president and chief executive officer, Quito International Airport, confirmed to The HUB during this year’s World Routes in Las Vegas, where he was a speaker on a panel highlighting airport developments in Latina America and the Caribbean.

“This is purely organic growth” he said. “We are attending World Routes to stimulate even more city pairs in the future,” he explained, adding “Europe is interesting for us,” and that the extended runway offering over the city’s former international gateway “opens a world of opportunities for Quito and Ecuador.”

The former Quito International Airport was restricted from growing due to its location in a residential area of the city's northern sector, while operations were severely limited due to the hot and high conditions which impacted aircraft performance from its shorter runway, hitting operators with major payload restrictions.

You can see our full interview with Andrew O’Brian, president and chief executive officer, Quito International Airport, below.