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Corporación Quiport has been awarded the It’s in Your Hands award by the Metropolitan Public Company for Potable Water and Sanitation of Quito (EPMAPS) in the Sustainable Infrastructure category. This recognition highlights the responsible management of water and wastewater treatment carried out by Quiport, which contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

The winning project presented by Quiport called Blue Governance includes the protection of two key water management areas for the airport: the Ponce Paluguillo Water Protection Reserve, where Quiport replenishes its water footprint in agreement with the Water Protection Fund (FONAG) and the airport’s rainwater reservoir, a 17-hectare infrastructure that prevents flooding and is home to 150 species of birds.

1. Ponce Paluguillo Water Protection Reserve: Between 2022 and 2023, Quiport conducted a water risk analysis in the Ponce Paluguillo reserve, which supplies drinking water to Quito airport through the Paluguillo plant, located in the Papallacta integrated system. In 2023, Mariscal Sucre became the first airport in the country to offset its water footprint, through an agreement with FONAG. This agreement allows FONAG to invest in the protection of the Cerro Puntas-Itulcachi ecological corridor and in the sustainable development of the Iguiñaro community, where 20 families participate in agroecological initiatives that diversify their income and improve their quality of life.

The agreement also includes constant monitoring of the reserve, allowing the identification of threats and the observation of fauna species. This effort not only favors Quito’s water sustainability, but also contributes to mitigating climate change by capturing carbon in the moorland ecosystems.

2. Airport rainwater reservoir: With an area of ​​17 hectares, the airport rainwater reservoir is a key infrastructure for adaptation to climate change. Capable of managing the volume of rainfall from storms with a return periodicity of 100 years, this work prevents flooding at the airport and facilitates coexistence with fauna. The reservoir is home to some 140 species of birds, both local and migratory, and strengthens the harmony between airport operations and nature, helping to mitigate operational risks.

Quiport reaffirms its commitment to preserving the environment and building a more sustainable airport. Responsible management of natural resources is a fundamental pillar in its strategy, promoting projects that promote the well-being of the community and care for the environment.

Today, at the event held at the Hilton Colón Hotel, Corporación Quiport has once again been recognized as a Socially Responsible Company (ESR) by the Ecuadorian Corporation for Social Responsibility & Sustainability (CERES), the most important network of organizations committed to social responsibility and sustainability in Ecuador.

This distinction, which is awarded annually, is the result of Quiport’s public and voluntary commitment to implement socially responsible management, assuming the management of a continuous improvement process to raise the standards of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the areas of quality of life in the company, ethics and corporate governance, community engagement, as well as the care and preservation of the environment.

The application for the year 2023 began in June 2024, with the presentation of detailed information on Quiport’s actions and sustainability approach. The process included a rigorous qualitative and quantitative analysis in key areas of environment, society and governance (ESG).

Ramón Miró, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport, commented: “Receiving this recognition for the second consecutive year is a true honor and a boost to continue strengthening our business practices. At Quiport, we implement an ESG approach in all areas of the company, ensuring that these principles are integrated into the different activities. The commitment is shared by all of us who are part of the company, and we maintain it with determination. I congratulate my team for this achievement!”

The ESR Distinction awarded by CERES has been awarded in Ecuador since 2021. Corporación Quiport is among a select group of companies distinguished this year, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable development and continuous improvement.

Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport strengthens its network of international destinations by connecting, for the first time, the Ecuadorian capital with Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. This new route, operated by the airlines Avianca and Arajet, offers travelers weekly frequencies that facilitate tourism and business in both destinations, significantly expanding connectivity options for those flying from Quito.

Avianca operates this route with an Airbus A320 aircraft with capacity for 198 passengers, while Arajet does so with a Boeing 737 Max 8 that has a capacity of 174 passengers. Both airlines began flights in October, offering two convenient schedules to travelers, with the following itineraries:

Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport, underlined the importance of this new connection for the airport and its passengers: “We are very pleased to offer a greater variety of travel options and to strengthen Quito’s connectivity with key international destinations. The addition of Punta Cana as a destination from Quito International Airport reaffirms our commitment to providing excellent service and contributing to the development of tourism and business in our region.”

• Quito Airport was the first in the country to obtain the Aerodrome Certificate and the first to receive the renewal of the same for guaranteeing safe and efficient operation, complying with national and international regulations.

Corporación Quiport has received the renewal of the Aerodrome Certificate of the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, granted by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Ecuador (DGAC), which ensures compliance with the operating conditions, whose purpose is to guarantee the safety, regularity and efficiency of air operations, as well as the regulations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the DGAC. This certificate, valid for five years, also ratifies the validity of the Aerodrome Manual, which details all the technical aspects of operation, infrastructure, maintenance and safety.

Since the last renewal of the certification in 2019, the airport has maintained the conditions established in Regulation 139 of the DGAC, which governs the certification of aerodromes in Ecuador. This has allowed its operations to be carried out without interruptions and, for the first time in the country, immediate renewal of the certificate is granted without having to go through all the previous documentation and inspection processes.

The ceremony was held at the Quiport offices, where the director of the DGAC, Juan Pablo Franco Castro, presented the certificate to Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport, mentioning that: “Quiport has complied with the requirements established in the certification process approved by the regulations, specifications and standards of the Civil Aviation Authority of Ecuador and the Technical Regulation RDAC 139.” In addition, he noted that the airport meets the international standards of an airport.

For his part, Ramón Miró stressed the importance of collaboration between the aeronautical authority and his team, stating: “We have not had any incidents at the Quito airport. Our airport is safe and operates efficiently thanks to the efforts of the entire airport community. I thank the DGAC for its trust and for being a key ally in our commitment to safety and service.”

The renewal of the certificate not only reaffirms Quiport’s decision to assume its responsibility with operational safety standards, but also reinforces the commitment of the Mariscal Sucre International Airport to quality and excellence in service.

Quito International Airport and Incheon Airport in South Korea are the only two airports in the world to achieve and maintain this prestigious level, which reaffirms their global leadership in passenger experience.

Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport has renewed Level 5 in the Passenger Experience Accreditation Program, promoted by Airports Council International (ACI). This is the highest level of the program and its granting reflects compliance with strict quality standards in airport service.

The renewal of this accreditation was achieved after an exhaustive audit that evaluated more than 20 key initiatives in 8 fundamental dimensions. Among the aspects evaluated are:

– Deep knowledge of passenger characteristics.

– Customer service strategy.

– Measurement and management of satisfaction levels.

– Operational improvements.

– Innovation and collaboration with the airport community.

Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport, expressed his satisfaction in this regard: “Maintaining the highest level of this accreditation program and being one of only two airports worldwide to achieve it is a great source of pride. In addition, it is a testament to the commitment of the entire airport community to a service culture focused on exceeding the expectations of our passengers.”

The Level 5 accreditation is the result of several years of work since Quiport decided to participate in the program in 2018, drawing up a clear roadmap towards continuous improvement. Since then, the airport has gone through all the stages of the program, obtaining levels 1 and 2 in 2019, level 3 in 2021, level 4 in 2022 and level 5 in 2023, culminating in the renewal of this important recognition.

The Level 5 certification renewal was awarded at the recent ACI Passenger Experience Expo Summit, held in Atlanta from September 23 to 26, 2024. Quiport was invited to this prestigious event as an international benchmark in achieving the highest level of accreditation in passenger experience.

Ramón Miró, President and CEO of Quiport, participated in a panel with representatives from Incheon Airport and other world-renowned airports that are in the process of reaching higher levels in the accreditation program. During his speech, Ramón shared the strategies and knowledge that allowed Quito Airport to obtain Level 5, being one of only two airports to achieve this.

Likewise, Alcira Enríquez, Human Talent Manager at Quiport, participated as a panelist in the Employee Experience and Human Resources Forum, where the latest trends in staff training and development were discussed, focused on improving both the professional growth of employees and the passenger experience.

• Quiport is proud of the improvement of the participants of one of its emblematic shared value projects: Nuestra Huerta.
• Alpachaca Muyuverde was created to manage the Nuestra Huerta brand and is now opening a new brand of its own: the Muyuverde cafeteria.
• Products from Nuestra Huerta will also be sold in the cafeteria.

The Nuestra Huerta shared value project, promoted by Corporación Quiport, became the platform for the community company Alpachaca Muyuverde, made up of residents of the communities near the Quito International Airport to manage the project, to present its first independent enterprise, the Muyuverde cafeteria, which opened its doors on September 18, 2024.

Located in Cumbayá, the Muyuverde cafeteria offers fresh, high-quality products from nearby communities. This space reinforces the commitment to sustainable development, demonstrating how the support of private companies and community initiatives can generate economic and social impact. We invite the community and visitors to the Quito International Airport to enjoy this new experience.

From Nuestra Huerta to Alpachaca Muyuverde

The Nuestra Huerta project was born in 2013 as part of Quiport’s Social Management Plan, with the aim of supporting small agricultural producers in parishes such as Tababela, Pifo, Checa, Puembo, El Quinche and Yaruquí. In 2015, Quiport created the Nuestra Huerta brand to formalize the project, and with its support, the producers formed the community company Alpachaca Muyuverde, in charge of managing the brand since then.

Thanks to this initiative, Nuestra Huerta has had notable success, including the opening of a commercial space at the airport, where fruits, vegetables and products made by local producers are sold to passengers, collaborators and airport users. This has allowed participants to become partners in their own company, benefiting more than 240 people through job creation. Nuestra Huerta’s focus on sustainability has been recognized with the Punto Verde incentive from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition (MAATE).

The opening of Muyuverde: an independent venture

Now, with the opening of the Muyuverde cafeteria, Alpachaca Muyuverde is taking a further step in its business development. Unlike Nuestra Huerta, which was created by Quiport and is managed by the community company, Muyuverde is Alpachaca Muyuverde’s own brand. In this new space, a varied selection of products made by the local producers themselves will be offered, highlighting the quality and effort of the communities.

Ramón Miró, president and general director of Quiport, highlighted: “We are proud to see how the partners of Alpachaca Muyuverde have evolved into successful entrepreneurs. The opening of the Muyuverde café is a testament to the effort and dedication of these communities, and to the positive impact that our shared value program Nuestra Huerta has had on their growth.

The U.S. airline celebrated the second edition of the “Girls in Aviation Day” program at Quito, Ecuador, where more than 14 girls between 14 and 16 years old had a unique experience exploring various areas of the airport and had the opportunity to meet women leaders in different fields who shared insights about their roles, careers, challenges, and rewarding experiences in the aviation industry.

On September 10^th, United Airlines provided an unforgettable experience to 14 girls between 14 and 16 years old at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador, to celebrate Girls in Aviation Day.

This is the second year Quito has hosted a Girls in Aviation Day event, and attendees had the unique experience of exploring various areas of the airport, including airline departure lounges, gate and boarding areas, immigration, security, VIP lounges, the control tower, catering services, food vendors, aviation firefighters, and more.

During the visit, they met women leaders from the different fields who shared insights about their roles, careers, challenges, and rewarding experiences in the aviation industry. The girls also enjoyed an engaging talk hosted by Grupo Lila.

The “Girls in Aviation Day” program is a United Airlines action in collaboration with Women in Aviation International (WAI), a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging and promoting the participation of women in all aviation fields and professional interests.

“It is essential for girls to have other women as role models, this provides them with a tangible vision of what is possible to achieve. By seeing women in various roles in aviation, girls can understand that there are no limits to their ambitions; and they are motivated to pursue their dreams and broaden their horizons,” said Margarita Robles, uIMPACT Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for United Airlines.

United hosted a series of events to recognize Girls in Aviation Day at its airports across Latin America including Quito (Ecuador), Monterrey (México), Bogota (Colombia), Panama City (Panama), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

“At United Airlines, we are excited to once again celebrate Girls in Aviation Day in Quito. Our goal is to inspire the next generation, showing them that aviation is a world full of opportunities, with such diverse careers, where only the sky is the limit. We thank Quiport and everyone at Quito Airport for making this meeting possible, for sharing our vision of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and for dreaming of a future without barriers,” said Bettina Carvajal, Country Manager of United Airlines in Ecuador.

On the other hand, Ramón Miró, Quiport’s President and CEO said: “At Quiport, we are committed to promoting equity and empowerment of future generations. We are proud to collaborate with United Airlines on the Girls in Aviation Day program, which gives young talent the opportunity to explore and get closer to one of the most dynamic and exciting industries in the world. These types of initiatives are crucial to inspire girls to consider careers in aviation, helping them find the employment opportunities that exist in our industry. We believe we can contribute to building a more inclusive and diverse future for aviation by promoting their interest.” Since 2015, WAI has promoted Girls in Aviation Day globally. As an active community partner of WAI, uIMPACT, United’s women’s business resource group, has over time organized different events to inspire girls around the world to pursue careers in the aviation industry.

• Mariscal Sucre is ranked 5th among major airports in the region.

• The airport that showed the greatest percentage increase was Quito International Airport, with a growth of 14.12%.

• 92% of cargo at Quito airport corresponds to flowers, one of the most emblematic export products of the country.

Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport has reached a new milestone by ranking 5th in the ‘TOP 20 for air cargo in the region’, prepared by the International Council of Airports of Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC). This position underlines the airport’s outstanding performance in cargo transportation, consolidating itself as a benchmark in the sector at a regional level and standing out as the airport with the highest percentage growth in cargo in the region.

In 2023, Quito Airport recorded an impressive volume of 335,407 tons of cargo transported, surpassing the 293,904 tons reached in 2022. This 14.2% growth makes it the airport with the highest percentage increase in the region, according to ACI-LAC analysis. With this achievement, Mariscal Sucre has surpassed important airports in the region, such as Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro International Airport, among others. At the national level, Quito Airport is the main air cargo hub in Ecuador, processing up to 90% of all air cargo in the country.

One of the key factors behind this success has been the airport’s great performance in terms of cargo and the facilities provided by its facilities. Quito Airport is the only one in the country and one of the few in the region to have a cargo logistics center within the airport grounds. The logistics centre, operated by Tababela Cargo Center, carries out important processes such as centralised consolidation of export cargo, on the one hand, and customs clearance and temporary warehouse services for imports.

The other components of the logistics chain are an international cargo terminal with 13,000 square meters of usable area, where four cargo palletizing companies operate, and the cargo platform that can accommodate up to six high-capacity cargo aircraft simultaneously (four E-code and two F-code).

In 2023, the expansion of the export cargo terminal was completed, adding 2,880 m2 to the cargo entry and processing areas, as well as to the truck maneuvering area. These improvements have boosted operational efficiency, optimizing processes and facilitating the sustained growth of the airport.

An increase in the volumes of cargo transported is expected for 2024. A notable example was the 2024 Valentine’s Day peak season, which saw a historic record of 26,466 tons of cargo transported, a 17.3% increase over the same season in 2023. Currently, the airport has the operation of 15 cargo airlines, which benefit from its modern facilities.

Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport, commented: “The great performance of air cargo is a reflection of the commitment and continuous effort of all the actors involved in the airport’s cargo logistics chain, who have achieved high levels of efficiency in the operation. Quiport has been making a permanent effort to improve our facilities and services, as well as to bring more cargo airlines to our airport.

“We are proud to see how Mariscal Sucre Airport is consolidating itself as a key player in air cargo transportation in the region, contributing to the country’s economic development and Ecuador’s connection to the world,” he concluded.

For more information on the analysis carried out by ACI-LAC, interested parties can visit the following link: https://aci-lac.aero/horus/news/el-trafico-de-pasajeros-en-aeropuertos-de-america-latina-y-el-caribe-represento-el-84-del-total-global-en-2023

• The total investment of the project amounts to 74.2 million dollars. Of this amount, 55.1 million are to be executed between 2024 and 2025.

• The total investment corresponds to Corporación Quiport as the concessionaire of the capital airport.

• The expansion includes work on the passenger terminal and the platform.

Corporación Quiport is pleased to announce the resumption of the expansion work on the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, a comprehensive investment made with Quiport’s own resources, aimed at improving the passenger experience and increasing the airport’s operational capacity.

The expansion of the passenger terminal, started in November 2019, was interrupted in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the recovery of passenger flow, work has been resumed in July 2024 and is expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2025.

The total investment in the project amounts to 74.2 million dollars, financed by Quiport.

Of this amount, 19.1 million have already been executed and 55.1 million are yet to be executed.

The expansion works for 2024 and 2025 include:

Expansion of the terminal by 17,647 square meters, an additional 25%.

• Level 0: expansion of technical rooms and warehouses.

• Level 1: expansion of the public arrivals hall, baggage claim area, increase in the capacity of the international baggage carousels, reconfiguration of the Customs area, expansion of the duty-free shop and the baggage handling system.

• Level 2: Expansion of the public departure hall, passenger check-in area with 20 new counters and 12 self-check-in machines, pre-boarding lounge for 350 passengers, expansion of the international departure duty-free shop and new food and beverage spaces.

• Level 3: Expansion of the international VIP lounge.

Expansion of the passenger apron by 35,000 square meters: includes a parking stand for code E aircraft, two remote code C stands, a new boarding bridge and the expansion of a taxiway.

The expansion works will generate 400 direct jobs and approximately 800 indirect jobs over a period of 17 months. This ambitious project is being carried out by the construction company Ekron, which previously built the southern extension of the terminal in 2014 and 2015, and local contractors and labor.

“These works are part of Quiport’s master plan, which aims to constantly improve the passenger experience. Our commitment to the growth of Quito’s air connectivity and continuous improvement is unwavering,” said Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport. “We are proud to invest in the future of our airport and in the comfort of our passengers. This project not only strengthens our infrastructure, but also drives the economic and social development of the region.”

In addition to these works, Quiport invested 9.5 million between 2022 and 2024 in several projects, such as:

• Changing floors and remodeling bathrooms.

• Remodeling the security filter area.

• New children’s area at the national exit.

• Expansion of the national VIP lounge.

• Repaving of the runway and taxiway.

• Biometrics technology project in arrival and boarding migration.

With this expansion, Mariscal Sucre International Airport reaffirms its commitment to be a benchmark in the region, not only for its modern and efficient infrastructure, but also for its capacity for adaptation and continuous improvement.

• The Ponce Paluguillo Water Protection Area is one of the sources that supplies water to the northeast of Quito.

• In 2023, Quiport signed an agreement with FONAG and allocated US$ 42,000 for the execution of conservation actions for water sources in the moors that supply Quito.

• The cleaning day is part of Quiport’s commitments to replenish the water footprint of the Quito airport.

• Quito airport is the first airport in the country to replenish its water footprint.

As part of the commitments derived from the agreement to replace the water footprint of the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, on Friday, June 21, 2024, 25 volunteers from Quiport, the concessionaire of the Quito airport, together with representatives of six companies from the airport community, participated in a volunteer day. This activity, organized jointly by the Water Protection Fund (FONAG) and Quiport, focused on cleaning the wasteland of the Ponce Paluguillo Water Protection Area, one of the main sources that supplies water to the northeast of Quito and, therefore, Of course, to the Quito airport.

In a joint effort to protect and preserve this vital ecosystem, the volunteers enthusiastically dedicated themselves to the cleaning task, managing to intervene and clean approximately the edges of 10 km of the Pifo – Papallacta road in the moor area, removing a total of 268 garbage bags. This action not only reinforces the environmental commitment of Quiport and the companies that operate at Quito airport, but also contributes significantly to the well-being and sustainability of an essential water resource for the city.

In 2023, Quiport demonstrated its firm commitment to the conservation of the paramo by grantingUS$42,000 to FONAG. These funds are intended for the care and maintenance of the moor located in the Ponce Paluguillo Water Protection Area, thus ensuring its good condition and functionality as a water source for the northeastern parishes of Quito. It should be noted that Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport is the first in the country to replenish its water footprint, marking an important milestone in the sustainable management of natural resources.

Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport, said: “We are very proud to be the first airport in Ecuador to take concrete measures to replenish our water footprint. This volunteer day in the Ponce Paluguillo Water Protection Area is an example of the commitment we have to sustainability and the conservation of natural resources that are vital for our community and for the proper functioning of the airport. The voluntary participation of our collaborators and business partners in these initiatives is essential to achieve our environmental objectives.”

The volunteers expressed their satisfaction and pride in participating in this activity, highlighting the importance of actively contributing to the protection of the environment and the sustainability of Quito’s natural resources.