Author: Rafael Orellana

With the aim of optimizing the passenger experience and speed up immigration processes, Corporación Quiport, in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior, has implemented a biometric gate system in the immigration area for international flights. This investment by Quiport will allow Ecuadorian passengers to independently and efficiently register their travel documents, significantly reducing waiting times.

The new biometric gates are available for Ecuadorian citizens of legal age who have a biometric or electronic ID or passport. The process is simple: the passenger only has topress the Start button on the touch screen, scan the QR code on their boarding pass, select their identification document (ID or passport) and scan the document as indicated by the system so that it can identify the MRZ code. Then, the system takes a photo of the face to perform facial recognition, and if everything is correct, the doors open automatically. If any irregularity is detected, the system redirects the passenger to a counter, where immigration personnel will assist them.

In terms of efficiency, this system has managed to reduce processing times: the entire process at the new gates takes between 30 seconds and 1 minute, which represents a notable improvement compared to the 3 minutes that the conventional process took at a counter with an immigration agent.

This system will initially be available for flights with final destinations to countries in South America and Panama. To travel to Venezuela, the system only works with a passport and in the case of French Guiana it is necessary to do the immigration process at a counter.

Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport, highlighted the collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior to implement biometric gates in immigration, a significant advance in improving the experience and reducing times for passengers. “Since 2023, the airport is a pioneer in Ecuador in using biometrics in immigration, with the implementation of biometric gates for arrivals and, recently, for departures.” Miró thanked everyone involved in this project and highlighted Quiport’s ongoing commitment to innovation in 2025.

For her part, Gabriela Pogo, Undersecretary of Migration, said that: “these actions demonstrate the commitment of the Ministry of the Interior to innovation, continuous improvement and promoting security in the migration process.”

The installation of biometric doors is part of a broad technological transformation project for the Quito airport, with the aim of transforming it into a benchmark for efficiency and technology. Several automatic doors with similar characteristics have already been implemented in other areas of the airport in previous years. Find out the details here: https://www.aeropuertoquito.aero/tag/biometrico/

Quiport has been distinguished with two important awards that highlight its commitment to sustainability and responsible development.

The Quito Chamber of Commerce and Oxify by Kruger awarded Quiport the SDG Leader Latam award, a recognition endorsed by prestigious international organizations such as EBC International, Basura Cero Global and iLab. This award highlights companies that implement concrete actions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and actively contribute to sustainable development in Ecuador and the region.

In addition, in this same space, Quiport received the Ecuador Carbono Cero award, awarded by the Ministry of the Environment and the Quito Chamber of Commerce. This distinction is the result of its constant effort to quantify and reduce CO₂ emissions.

In this regard, Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport, highlighted: “These recognitions motivate us to continue working on responsible and sustainable actions. They are a reflection of the efforts of our entire team and commit us to continue with our conviction that development and sustainability are two inseparable concepts, since there cannot be full development without it being sustainable.”

• The season runs from January 18 to February 8.

• Volume growth is projected to be between 3% and 5%.

• 15 cargo airlines operate in the cargo area, taking Ecuadorian flowers to destinations around the world, mainly the United States and Europe.

The peak flower export season for Valentine’s Day 2025 at Quito Airport began this Saturday, January 18, and will run until Saturday, February 8. According to the forecasts that Quiport has made based on information obtained from the palletizers that process the cargo, the volume of flowers exported in the 2025 season will grow in a range of 3% to 5%.

In 2024, the total volume of flowers exported was 26,466 metric tons, setting an absolute record for Valentine’s Day exports from Quito Airport. In terms of flights, 493 flights are expected to be dispatched, operated by 15 cargo airlines. The main destinations for Ecuadorian flowers are the United States and Europe.

“The growth of air cargo has been a constant at the Quito airport, exceeding the volumes of processed cargo year after year. In the case of flower exports, the forecasts for 2025 are encouraging thanks to the excellent positioning of Ecuadorian flowers in international markets. As Quiport, our responsibility as the Quito Airport concessionaire is to guarantee that the entire operation works properly so that the flowers are shipped on time, preserving their quality,” said Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport.

The Mariscal Sucre International Airport has an international cargo terminal with 13 thousand square meters of usable area, in which four cargo palletizing companies operate, and the cargo platform that can accommodate up to six high-capacity cargo aircraft simultaneously (four E code -for example Boeing 777-200- and two F code -for example Boeing 747-800-), making it the main cargo airport in the country.

Infrastructure and operational efficiency have allowed Quito airport to reach 5th place in the ‘TOP 20 air cargo in the region’ ranking, prepared in 2024 by the International Council of Airports of Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC).

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.