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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.

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.

The Quito airport celebrated the opening of the renovated Quri store in its international commercial corridor. Quri, whose name means ‘treasure’ in Quechua, has reinvented its store concept to offer travelers a tangible and unforgettable experience.

With a renewed design conceived by the company that owns the brand, Travel Stores, Quri provides a welcoming atmosphere and invites visitors to explore and delight in the cultural richness, reflected in a wide range of products ranging from crafts to clothing with native designs. In addition, it offers a selection of foods that includes chocolates and coffees.

The opening ceremony was attended by collaborators from Corporación Quiport, Travel Stores, Metropolitan Public Airport Services Company and of course the passengers.

During the event, Francisco Dalmau, CEO of Travel Stores, highlighted the importance of the project, mentioning that it has been a significant challenge. Dalmau pointed out that the store represents a lot for the entire team and that they offer valuable artisanal treasures made by Ecuadorian hands, after having traveled the country in search of the most emblematic products. He also expressed his pride in having materialized the store with such love.

For his part, Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport, expressed his enthusiasm for the opening of the renovated Quri location, highlighting his role as an icon of the Mariscal Sucre. “Quri is the perfect place to promote a sense of belonging and to invite our passengers to rediscover the cultural wealth of Ecuador and its most emblematic products,” he said.

With this renovation, Quri is positioned as an attractive stop for travelers who want to purchase emblematic products from Ecuador before their trip. The store not only adds a touch of local authenticity to the terminal, but also offers an unforgettable experience for all its visitors.

Quiport and Grupo SIXSTAR Hotels are pleased to announce the construction of the new Courtyard hotel by Marriott Quito at the Mariscal Sucre airport. This innovative project responds to an initiative by Quiport to improve airport services and meet the current demand of users and passengers at the capital’s airport, a vision to which the SIXSTAR Hotels Group joined in alliance with Marriott International to execute the construction and administration of the new hotel.

Located on three floors of a mixed-use building in front of the passenger terminal of Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport, this project will offer a first-class hotel experience to users and passengers arriving or departing from the air terminal. Additionally, its location will provide convenient pedestrian access to Ecuador’s busiest airport, significantly improving guests travel experience.

The hotel will have 84 rooms equipped within the brand’s standards. In addition, it will offer additional services such as a gym, business center, meeting room and a grab and go market, meeting the brand’s quality standards.

The total investment by SIXSTAR Hotels for the construction of the Courtyard by Marriott Quito will be 5 million dollars and will generate 60 new jobs in the country. Construction will begin as soon as the respective permits are obtained, with a tentative start date for operations at the end of the first half of 2025.

The project received support from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries, as well as the Municipality of Quito, entities that recognize its importance in strengthening the tourist infrastructure and economic development of the city and the country.

“We are very pleased with the announcement that the renowned Courtyard by Marriott brand will have a hotel at the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito. This partnership marks a significant moment in our continued commitment to providing world-class services and enhancing our travelers’ experience,” said Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport. «The Courtyard by Marriott hotel will not only add comfort and convenience for travelers passing through our airport, but will also contribute to the economic and tourism development of our region. We are delighted to welcome this prestigious brand to our airport community. “We are confident that this alliance will further strengthen our position as one of the leading airports in the region.”

“This new hotel development is a great event in the growth strategy of Grupo SIXSTAR Hotels, it’s not only our second hotel developed together with a great partner such as Corporación Quiport at the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito, but it is also our first hotel under a Marriott brand about which we are eager to learn more and offer unique experiences to our future guests,” commented Andrés Pachano, executive director of Grupo SIXSTAR Hotels. “We are confident that this partnership with Marriott is perfect for a new development like this.”

This new development promises to raise the standard of hospitality at Mariscal Sucre Airport. Quiport and SIXSTAR Hotels look forward to welcoming visitors to this exciting new addition to the airport landscape.

Corporación Quiport reports the list of rescheduled flights for Saturday, 18th, date on which the closure of air operations will take place to carry out preventive maintenance work on the airport runway. Air operations will be closed from 02:00 to 12:00. The passenger terminal will remain open permanently.

It should be noted that the list is prepared based on the information provided by the airlines. For more information, we ask passengers to contact their airline directly.

According to the information published on March 18th, 2024, air operations at Mariscal Sucre airport will be suspended on the following dates and times:

May 11th and 18th, June 1st, July 6th, 13th and 20th, September 7th, 14th and 21stfrom 2:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

June 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Preventive maintenance work is necessary to guarantee efficiency and safety in air operations at Quito airport and avoid unforeseen closures due to emergency corrective work.

The aerodrome closures have been coordinated and authorized by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation. The airlines that operate at the Quito airport were duly informed by Quiport and the DGAC through the respective NOTAM.

On Friday, April 26, at the Wyndham Hotel, Quiport organized a pioneering event in occupational health and safety aimed at its suppliers and the business community at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. The fundamental purpose was to strengthen and promote the importance of safety and health, as well as recognize the outstanding performance of the participants.

Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a keynote lecture by Ismael Echeverría Fernández, leader in Successful Management of the national consulting firm SSO Ecuador.

In addition to attending the event, the OSH company installed several stands to, through a series of games and participatory activities, raise awareness and guide attendees about the importance of safety and health at work.

The event concluded with the presentation of recognition to companies or individuals that stood out in the implementation of occupational health and safety protocols during the years 2022 and 2023. Among the winners were Allied, ENAE, Mera Mex Air, Avianca and Renato Valverde, recognized for their outstanding comprehensive management in occupational health and safety. On the other hand, Talma, EMSA, Urbapark and SFM were distinguished for their performance in categories such as industrial safety, occupational health, labor compliance or continuous improvement.

Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Quiport, highlighted the importance of the event and congratulated all the winners, underlining the Quiport’s continued commitment to the safety and well-being of the collaborators of our commercial operators, contractors and suppliers.

Given the positive response and interest from attendees, Quiport committed to organizing the event annually to continue promoting this crucial topic and foster a collective culture committed to safety and health at work.

Replenishing water consumption through economic investment in actions that recover and maintain Quito’s water source ecosystems is a commitment celebrated today between Corporación Quiport and the Fund for the Protection of Water, FONAG.

This is the signing of an agreement that allows the execution of the Water Footprint Replacement project, in which Quiport allocates economic resources (USD 42 thousand) that complement the FONAG investment for the execution of conservation actions for water sources in the short and medium term in the wastelands water sources that supply the Quito airport.

What is the water footprint and why do we replace it?

The water footprint is a metric that indicates our direct or indirect consumption of fresh water. In the case of companies, it is used to measure the total volume of water they use in the production of goods or services.

In a first phase, companies must quantify and reduce their water consumption and in a second phase, replenish the remaining water footprint, through activities and projects according to the state of the water source ecosystems from which companies source their supplies.

How will we do it?

The agreement stipulates several actions that will result in the replacement of Quiport’sannual water footprint. In this sense, we highlight the following:

• Reduction of pressures on water source ecosystems: animal load, fires, waste pollution, among others.

• Environmental awareness.

• Involvement and articulation of different actors in conservation and maintenance activities of water source ecosystems.

• Execution of collective activities by Quiport staff such as cleaning and planting for the production of native plants.

• Provision of equipment for control and surveillance personnel.

Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport, stated: “We are aware of the responsibility that private companies have to protect the ecosystems that are a source of water, in our particular case, the Andean moors located northeast of the city of Quito. The work carried out by FONAG in this area is key to ensuring the provision of water for large areas of the north of the Metropolitan District of Quito and we are pleased to fulfill our commitment by replacing the water footprint of Quiport and the Mariscal Sucre International Airport ”.

For his part, the technical secretary of FONAG, Bert de Bièvre, considers that strategic alliances with companies that supply Quito´s water source ecosystems are vital for their conservation. “All water users have co-responsibility in caring for the sources. Today Quiport joins this effort in a pioneering way, and thus – once again – we put into practice FONAG’s slogan: Together we take care of water sources!