Author: abermeo

• At the 2019 Skytrax Awards, Quito Airport won Best Regional Airport in South America and 4-Star Airport for a fourth year in a row, and Best Airport Staff in South America for a third year in a row.

Quito Airport has once again been recognized at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, a benchmark of excellence for the world airport industry. At the 2019 event held in England, it picked up three awards highlighting its quality of service, efficiency, friendliness and security; key elements that have led to it being recognized as a first-rate airport in the region and comparable on a global scale.

The World Airport Awards is a non-profit section of Skytrax, created to ensure an ethical and independent awards process.According toEdward Plaisted of Skytrax: “we stated at the launch of our awarding procedures many years ago that we were providing a global awards programme for the airline industry that was not commercially influenced, and this remains a core guarantee”.

The Skytrax evaluation parameters unify the standards of airlines and airports across the globe.More than 13 million passengers and 100 nationalities rated their experience at 550 airports, evaluating traveler experiences across different airport service and product key performance indicators.

This is the only international airport quality rating applied using a direct and professional analysis of product and service quality standards, including two classifications: Airports rated from 1 to 5 stars and Regional Airports.

Mariscal Sucre International Airport has won Best Regional Airport in South America and 4-Star Airport for a fourth year in a row, and Best Airport Staff in South America for a third year in a row.

To select Quito Airport as a 4-Star Airport, the Skytrax team carried out an audit to evaluate the general performance and quality of services on offer. A team of professionals visited the airport to measure parameters such as transportation, ease of access, safety, immigration service and signage; quality of service and comfort were also taken into account.

The Best Regional Airportcategory rewards the quality offered by airports whose operations are focused on regional and/or domestic routes. Mariscal Sucre Airport is part of this recognition as it offers the highest standards of comfort and service to its customers.

Mariscal Sucre Airport also won Best Airport Staff in South America, an achievement which is thanks to the service provided by all the staff and entities who serve passengers as they travel through the airport, including security, airline, store and food & beverage staff, suppliers and authorities such as Immigration and Customs.

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, said: “the challenge to remain among the top airports in the region and the world for infrastructure and quality of service is huge, and we embrace this by making every effort to find opportunities for continuous improvement. It gives us great pride to know that our customers and passengers have rated the staff who work at the airport’s companies and organizations as the best in the continent, which is essential to be selected as Best Regional Airport in South America and retain our 4-Star rating”.

Corporación Quiport’s commitment as the concessionaire of the city airport, and its joint work with municipal and government entities and private companies who operate at the airport, is reflected by its repeated success at these awards.

More information about the awards

• The survey was conducted from August 2017 to February 2018.
• Over 100 customer nationalities participated in the survey.
• The costs of operating the survey are paid entirely by Skytrax.
• Customer surveys were provided in English, Spanish, and Chinese.
• 550 airports are included in the survey results.
• No payment or reward of any type is made to survey respondents, with all submissions on a voluntary basis.
• No membership subscription, registration or any charge for an airport to be included in the survey.
• The customer survey is not restricted to member airports. Any airport in the world can be nominated in the survey.
• The awards event has no charge for airports to attend.

The online survey was hosted at

• Lounges in Ecuador, UAE, Latvia, Thailand and Mexico are among those recognized in annual poll based on 52,000 ratings

The original and market-leading airport experiences program, Priority Pass™, has revealed the winners of its Global Airport Lounge of the Year Awards. Whisky walls, private double-bed suites, spa treatments, and celebrity chef-endorsed menus are just some of the innovative offerings featured in the top-rated lounges, located in countries including Ecuador, United Arab Emirates, Latvia, Thailand and Mexico.

Now in its 14thyear, the awards are based on the ratings of 52,000 Priority Pass Members and recognize airport lounges offering the best service, experience, refreshments and business facilities. Priority Pass’ lounge portfolio has grown by 10% in the last year and now incorporates over 1,200 lounges in more than 500 cities globally, across 143 countries.

Global winner

This year’s global winner is the Sala VIP Internacional lounge operated by Corporación Quiport at Quito International Airport in Ecuador, the main gateway into the country and leading South American destination. The lounge menu, designed by local chef Andrés Miño, includes international and Ecuadorian cuisine, and guests can enjoy a variety of wines from the lounge’s private cellar, while watching Quito’s beautiful sunsets. This modern and elegant lounge is open around the clock and features private working spaces, dedicated sleeping areas, a massage room, and showers for guests to refresh themselves before a long flight or during a layover.

The Global Airport Lounge of the Year Awards analyses the results of votes across several categories including business facilities, comfort, service from lounge staff and food and drink. This year, Quito’s Sala VIP Internacional took the top spot in all of these categories.

Andrew O’Brian, Quiport president and CEO said:“It’s an honour to be named as the global winner of this year’s Global Airport Lounge of the Year Awards. We’re proud to offer a universal space where passengers can relax and unwind whilst still capturing the special Quito spirit – warmth, colour and great food!

“Taking in our famous sunsets while viewing the spectacular Andes landscape is a perfect way to relax before a flight and we’re thrilled that this unique experience, coupled with our excellent customer service, has left a lasting impression on our guests.”

Global Airport Lounge of the Year winners

• Global: Sala VIP Internacionalat Quito International Airport, Ecuador
• Europe:PrimeClass Riga Business Lounge, Riga International Airport, Latvia
• Africa and the Middle East:Ahlan Lounge at B Terminal 3,Concourse B, Dubai International Airport, United Arab Emirates
• Asia Pacific: Miracle First Class Lounge, International Concourse D, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand
• North America and the Caribbean:Lounge 19,Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport, Mexico

Andy Besant, Director of Travel Experiences at Collinson, operator of Priority Pass, said:“Some less explored destinations have performed particularly well in this year’s rankings. As intrepid travel continues to rise, we’re noticing increased traffic in lounges at airports that are off the traditional tourist trail and veer from expected flight paths, highlighting the outstanding experiences that are offered in lounges the world over.

“Priority Pass is committed to offering its Members access to the best airport lounges across the world, and our global network of lounge partners ensures travellers can relax before their flight, improving their journey before it’s even started.”

Methodology

Priority Pass received over 52,000 ratings from its Members in this year’s awards via the lounge rating function on the Priority Pass website and app. Members provide ratings on a wide range of criteria covering overall lounge quality, refreshments, staff, business facilities and ambience.

About Priority Pass

Priority Passis the original and market-leading airport experiences program. It provides discerning frequent travelers access to over 1200 lounges and airport experiences in more than 500 cities across 143 countries, including lounges and access to a growing number of airport dining and spa offerings worldwide that can be accessed in the same way as lounges. Using the Priority Pass app for iOS and Android, Members can quickly and easily discover locations welcoming Priority Pass, instantly check their visit entitlement and use their Digital Membership Card to access airport lounges and experiences.

• Quito Airport is in seventh place for cargo volume among the airports of Latin America and the Caribbean

Express Ecuador announced the start of operations at Quito International Airport from March 11 with six weekly flights (from Monday to Saturday). The global logistics and transport giant backs this new operation in Quito in the airport’s infrastructure and the highly efficient logistics enabling a growing development of cargo transport. DHL will operate with a Boeing 737-400.

Quito Airport, operated and managed by Corporación Quiport, has an area of 45,000 m2dedicated exclusively to air cargo operations. It includes the domestic and international cargo terminals, a cargo apron which can receive six large aircraft simultaneously and the respective taxiways,offering the best air cargo infrastructure in the country.

“This new connection will create a great impact in the export sector, since it will give companies and individuals a new and swift opportunity to dispatch goods directly from the capital of the country to international markets”, said Edith Villavicencio, general manager of DHL Express Ecuador. The DHL Express representative added that the company seeks to support Ecuadorian business people based in Quito and the surrounding areas to make their logistics chains more efficient and to make them more competitive on a global level.

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport, said: “for Corporación Quiport it is very important to strengthen the transport of cargo, since we are the principal air cargo airport in Ecuador. This is making Quito Airport an increasingly prominent hub for development, strengthening not only tourism but also productive export activities, especially flowers but also fruit, other perishable goods and dry cargo such as handicrafts.”

This is confirmed by the Deputy Minister for Industrial and Territorial Competitiveness, Juan Sebastian Salcedo, who says that what has been achieved with Quiport is a successful example of the public-private partnerships that can be achieved in the country.

In the context of this new air cargo offer Álvaro Maldonado, Secretary for Competitiveness and Productive Development of the Municipality of Quito, commented: “Quito Airport continues to consolidate as one of the most important cargo airports in the region. Transporting our products to the world by DHL means more jobs, more opportunities, more business, trade and commerce for our city and our country. Its presence makes us more competitive. Welcome DHL!”

• As of December 2019, this Canadian airline becomes the first non-stop carrier connecting Ecuador and Canada. Quito is thus consolidated as an important tourist destination for the Canadian market.

According to a press release issued this morning, Air Canada Rouge, an affiliate of Air Canada – the major Canadian airline – announced non-stop flights between Toronto and Quito beginning in December of this year. The airline will use a Boeing 767-300 wide cabin aircraft to cover the route with three weekly frequencies initially.

The arrival of a new leisure airline such as Air Canada Rouge in Quito is the result of substantial joint efforts by the central Government, the Municipality of Quito and Corporación Quiport who began negotiations with the airline three years ago.

Ecuadorian Tourism Minister, Rosi Prado de Holguin, said that the Tourism Ministry believes that connectivity is an essential axis for promoting the arrival of visitors to our country. “Connectivity is essential for tourists to fall in love with the country ‘of the four worlds’. Besides, our objective is to have tourism as the third source of non-petroleum income in our country and, as such, each day we work to promote Ecuador all over the world”, she said.

As Air Canada’s airline specialized in tourist destinations, Air Canada Rouge offers value and options to people who love to travel. With flights to more than 70 destinations throughout the world, Air Canada Rouge’s equipment includes 53 aircraft and 2,000 employees and has served more than 25 million customers since it was launched five years ago. Air Canada Rouge’s on board offer includes entertainment, premium cabin, specialized customer service, high velocity satellite Internet (on select flights), and connectivity with Air Canada network and the Star Alliance group.

“Air Canada is expanding its presence in South America as part of its international growth strategy from our global hub in Toronto. Quito, as Ecuador’s capital city, is a major market for tourism and cargo, and Ecuador has an important number of Canadian citizens residing in the country who will benefit from this convenient non-stop flight. Furthermore, our expansion in South America gives us the opportunity to efficiently use our aircraft during the winter months when destinations to the South are more popular”, said Mark Galardo, Air Canada Routes Planning Vice President.

Such increased connectivity opens doors not only to more tourist travel but also serves as a bridge joining peoples and cultures and also brings the Ecuadorian community residing in Canada closer to its country of origin.

“The announcement of Air Canada Rouge’s direct light between Quito and Toronto is significant. This new flight will be a catalyst that will strengthen the ties between Ecuador and Canada and, besides, will provide better travel options to tourists and students, thereby improving commercial exchange. We congratulate Air Canada and the Quito International Airport for this important success!” said Sylvie Bédard, Canadian Ambassador to Ecuador.

In the meantime, Alvaro Maldonado, Secretary for Productive Development and Competiveness of the Municipality of Quito, recalled that “in the past years Quito has substantially increased its connectivity with new routes and more frecuencies to important international destinations. Having the direct Quito-Toronto route will bring new opportunities and ease to reach Canada, one of the world’s most important and high-potential markets. More tourism, increased business, greater connectivity and more competitivity. This reflects great teamwork between the public and private sectors.”

According to Andrew O’Brian, President and Director General of Corporación Quiport and responsible for the overall management of the Quito International Airport, “Air Canada Rouge’s decision to begin operations between Toronto and Quito is very important because not only are we opening a new route but also a new market with much potential. The Ecuadorian community in Toronto is very important, and with this new flight we are opening a door so that it will be better connected its home country. On the other hand, I am sure that Quito is a tourist destination with great potential for Canadian travelers who are eager to visit different places and different customs. In this sense, Ecuador has much to offer in cultural and historic tourism, in adventure and in nature, not forgetting of course its marvelous beaches.

The route to Toronto will also allow Ecuadorian tourists to get closer to Canada, a very friendly country and with unique attractions for Ecuadorians thanks to the geographical and cultural contrast of both countries which, nonetheless, share a common characteristic: kind treatment and friendliness to visitors.”

• 6 years connecting with quality from the Center of the World

Mariscal Sucre Airport began operating on February 20, 2013, becoming a driver of development for the Ecuadorian capital and transforming the city’s air transport. This year it reaches its sixth anniversary with a positive balance for connectivity, infrastructure, operations and its contribution to the economic development of Quito and the country. For both passenger and cargo activities, the airport, managed by Corporación Quiport, has undergone a process of consolidation that will allow it to face new challenges in the best conditions with an investment that has reached more than US$130,000,000 since 2013.

The operation of Quito Airport not only concerns the movement of aircraft, which is very important for tourism and business, but it also means providing efficient, safe and high quality airport services which give the best experience to the users of the airport. For 2020, the terminal will grow by a total of 18%, with a 21% increase in the processing area as part of Quiport’s US$ 90 million investment plan.

As regards connectivity, currently there are five more passenger airlines than at the start of the airport’s operations and an annual average of 14 cargo airlines use the facilities. These activities resulted in the transport of 5.2 million passengers and the handling of 231,945 metric tons of cargo by the end of 2018. Quiport’s strategy for developing routes is based on positioning Quito as a destination to establish new routes and increase flights and seat offering, thereby making the most of the airport’s operational advantages. This will achieve the vision of traditional airlines as well as low cost airlines continuing to arrive at Mariscal Sucre and offering more destinations and connection options to the people of Quito.

For Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, “Quito airport has been a key player in the development and growth of air transport in Ecuador through coordinated work with the national government, the Municipality of Quito and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. So we begin this sixth year of operation renewing our commitment to the city and the country”.

Creating Employment

An important part of the impact of Quito International Airport is shown by the thousands of direct, indirect and induced jobs that it has created. The average salary of airport workers is 97% higher than the national average, thus contributing to the improvement in the quality of life. For the people of the six parishes in Quito International Airport’s area of influence (Puembo, Pifo, Tababela, Yaruquí, El Quinche, Checa) the opening of the airport has meant the creation of new transport options and improvement of the existing ones; better access to goods and services that enable the people to carry out their activities more easily; and the creation of new businesses.

Social Development

Plans and programs have been established to respond to the current social dynamics, based on a detailed analysis of the requests and needs of the people who live in the six parishes neighboring the airport. In 6 years, Quiport’s social responsibility programs have benefitted more than 100,000 people who live in the communities close to the airport.

Environment

Since 2006 Quiport has developed its operations on the principles of responsibility and respect for the environment. This motivates Quiport to lead initiatives focused on people and processes in order to help fight against climate change, to strengthen public knowledge about the environment, to protect biodiversity and to mitigate the potential environmental impact that airport operations might have. Through Quiport initiatives, more than 4,500 native trees have been planted on the Caraburo plateau, where Quito airport is located.

Recognition

• South America’s Leading Airport with an operating time of 99.7% with efficient, safe and high quality operations.
• Aerodrome Certificate, Mariscal Sucre International Airport Quito (MSIA) issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which confirms that the Mariscal Sucre Airport, its installations, services, equipment, systems and procedures guarantee the safety, regularity and efficiency of its operations.
• World Travel Awards – South America’s Leading Airport 2014-2015-2016-2017-2018
• Skytrax: Best airport staff 2017-2018
  4-star airport 2016-2017-2018
  Best regional airport in South America 2016-2017-2018

Every year we reaffirm our commitment to continue working for the development of air transport in Ecuador together with national and local authorities, airlines and productive sectors.

• On the eve of the anniversary of operations at Quito International Airport, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation renews Quiport’s Aerodrome Certification, which is valid for 5 years.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) is the aviation authority than plans, manages and controls air operations in Ecuadorian air space. This entity has issued the renewed Aerodrome Certification of Mariscal Sucre International Airport to Corporación Quiport, the concessionaire of Quito’s airport service.

The certification guarantees that the airport and Corporación Quiport, as the entity in charge of its management and operation, meet the specifications issued by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and DGAC relating to facilities and operating procedures.

The Aerodrome Certification is valid for five years and approves the Aerodrome Manual, a document that contains the technical specifications for operating procedures; construction and maintenance; infrastructure; Safety Management Systems; Rescue and Fire Fighting Service; Emergency Plan and the Wildlife Management and Control Plan of Quito Airport.

Compliance with the Aerodrome Manual, endorsed by the aviation authority through its Aerodrome Certification, guarantees the safety, regularity and efficiency of airport operations and aims to raise the standards of safety and competitiveness at Quito Airport.

Upon delivering the Aerodrome Certification, Patricio Zavala, director of DGAC, said: “the renewal of the Aerodrome Certification translates into a commitment to greater aviation technology and air safety in Ecuador. The aim of our work is for all airports to improve their safety standards and to achieve worldwide recognition of the country.”

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport said: “we must emphasize that thanks to the coordinated work between the aviation authority and Quiport, we have not had any type of incident at Quito Airport. Our airport is safe and well-run thanks to the efforts of the more than 8,300 people who work here; including the staff at Customs, Immigration, DGAG, airlines and many more.”

The committed work by the staff at Quiport’s Operations and Maintenance Department, especially its Aviation Safety and Certification Management, and by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ensures that operations at Quito Airport not only meet the country’s legal requirements and the parameters of the Civil Aviation Organization, but exceed them.

Corporación Quiport signed an agreement with the Antigua and Barbuda Airport to exchange information, knowledge and experience on airport management allowing to strengthen professional ties, share best practices, and create opportunities for commercial development.

The areas of cooperation include issues such as security, operations, maintenance, commercial development, route development, infrastructure, information systems, customer service management, the environment, and energy efficiency.

“I am confident that this agreement will allow us to be better prepared to face the future of our airports for the benefit of our countries”, said Andrew O’Brian, Quiport President and Director General.

• With avant-garde decoration and a design focused on our passengers’ comfort, the remodeled Domestic VIP Lounge of the Quito International Airport was inaugurated on Tuesday, January 22.

The Domestic VIP Lounge remodeling project commissioned by Corporacion Quiport was directed by Adriana Hoys Design Studio and implemented by Octofast, resulting in aesthetic elegance, 12% increased capacity, and doubtless, better experiences for the Mariscal Sucre International Airport passengers.

More than 11,400 passengers attend the Domestic VIP Lounge every month and enjoy the services offered by its renewed image with a new atmosphere, a varied gastronomic menu, free WiFi, cable television and reading material.

Andrew O’Brian, President and Director General of Corporacion Quiport, concessionaire of Quito airport services, said that “the new Domestic VIP Lounge in the Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport is added to the airport’s offer of quality services. One of our most longed for goals in 2019 was to expand and to remodel the Domestic VIP Lounge of the Quito Airport.”

The renewed Domestic VIP Lounge together with the International VIP Lounge offer distinguished and unequaled services to domestic and international passengers of the Quito International Airport.

• Quito Airport’s latest commercial store, Quri, was opened in an intimate ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Quito International Airport has opened Quri, an experience store —a new concept in retailing that invites customers to explore and touch products with their own hands and submerge themselves in the experience—at international departures in the passenger terminal building.

Quri, which means gold in Quechua, provides a local feel with its decoration and aesthetic, offering a sense of belonging that enhances the sense of warmth and familiarity at the terminal for all those who have traversed the streets of Quito and Ecuador’s landscapes.

Quri offers a varied selection of artisanal products with high-quality finishes including jewelry, clothes made with native Ecuadorian designs and materials, foods and premium products such as fine chocolates and a wide variety of coffees.

This new store increases the commercial offering by Travel Stores S.A., which also operates the Ecuador Travel Stores and The Legendary Hat Company at Quito Airport, presenting products with an artisanal and artistic sensibility.

The inauguration of the store was celebrated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by officials of Corporación Quiport and passengers. Afterwards, Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, said “I invite all of the international passengers here at Quito Airport to explore Quri, to enjoy its products and discover the Ecuadorian stories behind each detail.”

• This project aims to offer passengers a gratifying experience, but also seeks to support local talent in all its forms of artistic expression.

The AerogaleríasUIO Project has had a great start with two exhibitions at the passenger terminal of Mariscal Sucre International Airport. This is an initiative by Corporación Quiport to bring together an assortment of artistic expression for the passengers and users who pass through the airport.

An exhibition called My place, your place: Ecuador is on display in departure lounge B1, showcasing photography by members and students of the Centro de la Imagen Arte y Fotografía in Quito. The photographs feature a collection of landscapes, details and portraits of Ecuador using a variety of techniques, creating an enriching experience for viewers.

In the domestic arrivals area, we present the work of Bakker, an Ecuadorian artist whose work has been exhibited in galleries in the USA, Europe and Ecuador.

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, explains that this type of project is becoming more common in airports around the world. “Passengers expect the airport to offer quick services, comfort, an attractive commercial offering and a good food & beverage service. Since Mariscal Sucre Airport opened in 2013, at Corporación Quiport we have worked to ensure that the airport runs smoothly, and today our service standards are among the highest in the region and the world”.

Which is when, O’Brian continues, the challenge begins to find an extra factor that turns a positive experience into an unforgettable one thanks to unique, extraordinary or simply novel details.

This is precisely the aim of AerogaleríasUIO, a project conceived not just to improve the passenger experience but to support all forms of local artistic talent.