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The average growth rate in passenger traffic in Latin America between January and June 2019 is 5.6% per annum. This was announced by the Airports Council International Latin America – Caribbean (ACI-LAC) during today’s Board meeting in Bogotá.

Andrew O’Brian, President of ACI-LAC, explained that this growth is greater than the global average of 3.6% per annum. “The region is registering higher growth rates than other areas of the world. This is because in Latin America and the Caribbean the air transport sector still has much room to develop. The large distances that must be covered, together with the lack of other efficient means of transport, creates a scenario in which aviation will contribute significantly to linking cities and countries”, he said.

The meeting discussed other important topics for the development of the industry in the region, such as the Airport Excellence Program in Airport Security, and the Program for Improving the Passenger Experience in Airports. Corporación Quiport has been a pioneer in these programs on a regional level and the experience in Quito airport has served as a model to replicate in other airports.

ACI World and ACI-LAC hold high level events

Airports Council International at global level (ACI-World) and its regional chapter in Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) are meeting at several events from yesterday until October 23 in the Colombian capital for discussions on the future of the airport industry.

Yesterday the ACI World CEO Forum took place, when the top representatives of more than 40 global airports debated topics of great interest for the industry. Mr. Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, represented the Latin America and Caribbean region as President of ACI-LAC within this group of leading global airports. The objective was to highlight the vision and the proposals developed in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The meeting discussed highly topical subjects such as defining the position of airports towards climate change and developing a joint strategy which leads the airports to a carbon neutral footprint by 2050.

The meeting also discussed the need to increase air space capacity by optimizing the current capacity, and by new procedures. This is one of the issues that could limit the growth of airports.

The event continues tomorrow with the start of the ACI-LAC General Assembly attended by 350 representatives from the region’s airports.

Cargo exports continued from Mariscal Sucre Airport despite the difficult situation faced in the country, and particularly the flower industry, during the protests and indigenous mobilization which ended recently. The cargo agencies at Tabacarcen and the palletizers at the airport’s export terminal continued to operate and flights which landed at the airport were dispatched.

In total, 23 cargo flights were affected from October 7 – 13, out of a total of 60 flights that were scheduled during this period. Fifteen flights were cancelled, three were rescheduled for a later date and five were delayed.

There was a 40% drop in the volume of flowers processed for export during the protests. Shipments of flowers were transported to the cargo agencies and the cargo terminal in convoys, avoiding road closures.

The four palletizer companies (Pertraly, Servipalet, Novacargo and Aronem) continued to operate by making changes to work shifts wherever possible and supporting their staff when it was necessary to extend shifts to guarantee the continuity of flower exports.

Eduardo Emanuele, General Manager of Pertraly, explains “we received cargo with a certain irregularity and processed and shipped it using the aircraft that were operating during this time. Given the delicate situation, we had to intensify security and controls for the cargo”.

“Stopping operations was never an option and we continue to work to the highest standards of quality and safety, as expected. We were always prepared to handle the cargo which continued to arrive from the flower sector to the cargo agencies and on to our facilities. From this perspective, cargo operations at Quito Airport were not interrupted” he concludes.

Santiago Gómez de la Torre, General Manager of Tabacarcen where 70% of the cargo agencies that handle flowers operate, confirms that “during the strike that lasted from October 9 – 13, Tabacarcen operated 24 hours a day. Regarding operations, we have a contingency plan in place, so we never have to stop offering our services to the clients and users in Quito and the province, particularly importers, flower growers and cargo agencies.

He continues, “we are pleased to have been able to persevere in a time of crisis and this is all thanks to our ongoing training and commitment in these matters. We constantly communicated and coordinated with security and law enforcement agencies, who supported and protected us, to provide reassurance to the community despite the circumstances in the country. Although this was a difficult time for the whole country, cargo continued to arrive, and we never stopped receiving it with our and our clients’ operations. Our employees showed great commitment to the country and, together with well-provisioned emergency logistics including beds, food and games as a distraction, we were able to offer an unrestricted service”.

Corporación Quiport informs that the operations of the Quito International Airport have remained open during the previous days of strike and there have been no cancellations or deviations of flights as of Saturday, October 5 as a result of the protests underway in the city and country.

Corporación Quiport keeps a constant coordination with the Municipality of Quito, the National Government, the Metropolitan Public Company of Airport Services and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation, as well as with all public and private entities that provide service and operate at the airport, in order to define the most appropriate actions to guarantee the continuity of all services at the Quito airport and protect the safety of passengers, users and employees, as well as airport facilities.

Many passengers are arriving at the airport up to 24 hours in advance of their flights in fear of the possibility of a new street closure. Corporación Quiport is serving them with snacks and hot and cold beverages and offers sleeping bags to those passengers who have decided to spend the night in the terminal so that their stay is more bearable.

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport, said that “in these difficult times that Quito and Ecuador are going through, Quiport and all the airport operators working tirelessly to ensure that the aerial gateway to the city remains open and fully operational, fulfilling the commitment assumed with the city and the country”.

We ask the citizens to inform themselves through the official channels about the state of the access roads to the airport, as well as with their airlines to know more details about the status of the flights. We request passengers on canceled flights not to commute to Quito airport and to communicate directly with their airline.

• Corporación Quiport joined the Airport Carbon Accreditation program in 2015, and now Mariscal Sucre Airport is the first international airport in Latin America and the Caribbean to reach carbon neutral status.

Thanks to Corporación Quiport’s initiative and management, Quito International Airport has reached carbon neutrality in the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program which was created by Airports Council International (ACI World) and is technically endorsed by the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization, the World Bank and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Our city’s airport has become the first international airport in the entire Latin American and Caribbean region to achieve carbon neutrality.

Regional Pioneers

“Corporación Quiport is one of the pioneers of this program. We joined ACA in 2015 and today we have completed the four levels of the program. Corporación Quiport’s initiatives to achieve this important accomplishment have included concrete actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fuel consumption, increase energy efficiency, improve water management, maintain conservation areas for flora and fauna and more”, says Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport.

In July 2019, emissions for 2018 were measured and Quito Airport’s carbon footprint was calculated at 3,273 tons of CO2emissions, a 41% reduction compared to 2014 as the base year (5,534 tons of CO2).

Maintaining Neutrality

It is important to note that once carbon neutrality has been achieved, a plan must be set in place to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to stay at this level of the ACA program. Each year, we will recalculate the carbon footprint and maintain or reduce the levels of emissions to avoid increasing the carbon footprint, as well as offset emissions for another year.

“We continue to work so that our efforts go beyond Quiport’s operations; to date we have amplified our impact by getting 26 companies at the airport, from airlines to commercial operators, to start their own initiatives to reduce their carbon footprints”, says Mr. O’Brian.

Sandro Ruiz, General Manager of Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Servicios Aeroportuarios y Gestión de Zonas Francas y Regímenes Especiales (EPMSA) – the municipal entity in charge of overseeing the airport concession – comments, “as the representative of the Municipality of Quito at the airport, EPMSA congratulates it on becoming the first international airport in Latin America to achieve carbon neutrality. This would not have been possible without the great dedication and efforts of Corporación Quiport, which has allowed a balanced ecosystem to be maintained at the Airport”.

Offsetting Emissions

Quiport offsets its direct emissions by buying certified carbon credits in sustainable projects. We have chosen the MANOA REDD+ Project which works to preserve 74,000 hectares of forest in Rondônia State, Brazil, which faces threats to its biodiversity from deforestation and illegal logging.

The certificate will be officially awarded at the ACI-LAC Annual Assembly this October in Bogotá.

• Quito International Airport is at the heart of the country’s aviation activity, thanks to the quality of its cargo and passenger operations and now as a professional training center.
• A key aim of the training school is to provide quality training based on the highest standards of the aviation authority.

With the aim to foster innovative teaching methods and train professional pilots, the ESAV Aviation School opened a new base of operations at the general aviation terminal of Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. Corporación Quiport, the concessionaire in charge of managing and operating the airport, provides all the administrative and logistical facilities for the school’s operation.

Operations will be managed according to the availability of the students at the fully equipped facilities of Ecuacentair, which oversees the airport’s private aviation terminal. The aircraft which will be used in training are a CESSNA 172Q, registration no. HC-BMJ and a PA44-180T, registration no. HC-CRG. There is also a flight simulator certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Ecuador.

For Quiport, it is a privilege to provide suitable infrastructure for aviation students so that they can prepare to take on the demands of the domestic aviation market, as a result of the standards reached in the air transport industry.

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport, explains that “our work approach aims to develop diverse activities related directly or indirectly to the air transport sector. It is important that at our facilities we incorporate the greatest number of links in the aviation industry value chain, which is why we have embraced ESAV’s operation with high expectations.”

The Municipality of Quito, through Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Servicios Aeroportuarios, arranged and assisted the process to open the ESAV Aviation School’s new operation in order to expand horizons in aviation education so that future generations can access excellent training.

Captain Gabriel Guapaz Bone, Operations Manager, emphasizes that “at ESAV Aviation School we train pilots; a pilot is an artist who is passionate about flight. Our mission as a training center is to train aviation professionals, and we are inspired by seeing our students’ dreams come to fruition”.

The ESAV Aviation School is a company dedicated to training pilots which was founded in 2009, and it is certified by the aviation authority. It creates training programs to produce competent, efficient pilots with the highest standards of quality.

• Spain’s principal airline increases the frequency of flights to improve connectivity between the two capital cities.
• The Spanish airline bets on the Ecuadorian market; with this latest increase signifying a 16% increase in seats per year.

Iberia began its direct flights to Madrid from Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport on October 28, 2013, with three flights per week. In 2016 it doubled its flights and from July 1st this year it will offer one flight per day.

Iberia also presented its program “On Business”, which enables passengers to collect points and miles for future journeys, this way helping to strengthen commercial ties between Spain and Ecuador.

For Corporación Quiport, concessionaire of the Mariscal Sucre airport service, one of its strategic goals is to maintain solid relationships with airlines. The sustained increase in the city’s connectivity, which attracts new airlines, new destinations and more flights, is vitally important to provide passengers with a positive experience.

Corporación Quiport has worked continuously for airlines to increase their offer, in addition to bringing new destinations to Quito Airport, and this way improve connections with the city. “The conditions of the airport and Quito’s importance as a destination in the region have been decisive factors in important decisions taken by airlines” says Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport.

The collaboration between airlines and Quiport makes it possible to offer quality services for those who visit Mariscal Sucre Airport. In Iberia’s case, the offer is not only focused on tourists, but also on the business community. The Spanish airline aims to support the growth in commercial ties between both countries, in line with the work of the national government and Quiport.

• For the sixth consecutive year Quito’s airport has been awarded South America’s Leading Airport title in the World Travel Awards.
• Corporación Quiport’s efforts are reflected in the high levels of prestige that the Mariscal Sucre has reached among its users and the air transport and tourism industries.

The awards ceremony of the World Travel Awards was held in one of the seven urban wonders of the world: La Paz – Bolivia; awards established in 1993 to recognize and celebrate those who stand out in the travel and tourism industry worldwide.

For Quiport, concessionaire of the Mariscal Sucre airport, being awarded for the sixth consecutive year the South America’s Leading Airportprize is the result of its management which delivers quality airport services, provides adequate infrastructure, safe procedures, efficient processes in compliance with national and international standards. As well as providing a positive experience for passengers and users.

The World Travel Awards (WTA), known as the tourism Oscars, “have maintained their position as the industry leader for the last 26 years and is the global reference point to reward excellence in travel and tourism,” as commented by Graham Cooke, founder of the WTA.

In South America, three countries lead awards list: Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. But on a global scale, Peru, Ecuador and Chile have been the only South American countries that have obtained distinctions.

For Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport Corporation, “having implemented a culture of continuous improvement has allowed us to achieve increasingly higher standards and this is recognized by our passengers and users, as well as by the main players in the tourism industry in South America, placing the Mariscal Sucre as the leader of the region.”

• Quiport’s strategic work is reflected by its results.
• Strategic goals are a priority in the day-to-day operations at Mariscal Sucre Airport.

Having reached the end of the first half of 2019, Corporación Quiport, as a regional leader in theaviation industry and the company responsible for the construction, operation, maintenance and development of Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, presents an evaluation of its management during this period.

Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, says that “this has been one of the best first semesters for Quiport and Quito Airport. We have added new airlines and more direct destinations, increasing the city’s connectivity and showing that Quito Airport is very competitive in the region. We have also achieved significant rates of growth in cargo with regards to the volume of exports by air”.

Quiport focuses on four strategic principles: the development of connectivity and aviation activities, customer service, investments, and social and environmental responsibility. Below, we breakdown the most relevant points in the company’s management of each of these areas.

Connectivity and Aviation Activities

Thanks to the route development work byCorporación Quiport and the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Municipality of Quito, Civil Aviation Authority of Ecuador and strategic partners of Quito International Airport, between January and June 2019, two new airlines and two destinations have been added to the Airport’s connectivity offering. The offer of flights to existing destinations has also been increased.

• Air France – Paris (new airline and new destination)
• LATAM – Santiago, Chile (new destination)
• Iberia – Madrid (increase from 6 to 7 weekly flights)

During this period, we also announced the upcoming launch of operations by Air Canada Rouge (Toronto), Plus Ultra (Madrid) and Peruvian (Lima).

At this halfway point, there are currently 15 airlines operating at Mariscal Sucre Airport.

In terms of cargo, 126,918 metric tons of cargo was moved through the airport, with exports accounting for 106,338 metric tons. We highlight the historic record achieved during the Valentine’s Day season, in which 18,548 metric tons of flowers were exported over the 20-day period, surpassing exports in 2018 by 6.9%.

In March, DHL, a global leader in courier transport, began regular operations at Quito Airport.

Regarding cargo, Quiport’s management was recognized by major stakeholders in the sector who awarded Quito Airport the Best Specialty Cargo Terminal in the world, Best Cargo Terminal in Latin America and the global winner of Best Cargo Terminal – in the 399,999 ton category.

As for operations, in March Quiport renewed its Aerodrome Certification for Mariscal Sucre Airport which was issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Ecuador.

Customer Service

We are constantly on the look-out for opportunities to enhance the experience of our passengers and users, and we have made significant improvements and begun new projects to make Mariscal Sucre Airport a more welcoming and friendly space.

In January, we opened the redesigned Domestic VIP Lounge with modern decoration and a design focused on passenger comfort. The project to refurbish the Domestic VIP Lounge was led by Adriana Hoyos Design Studio and implemented by Octofast, resulting in an elegant aesthetic with 12% more capacity and offering the best experience to passengers at the Airport.

In fact, in March the ambiance and the service offered at the International VIP Lounge was awarded the Priority Pass Lounge of the Year – Global Winner. For the Lounge of the Year awards, votes across several categories are analyzed including business facilities, comfort, services offered by staff in the lounge and beverages. This year, the International VIP Lounge at Quito Airport achieved the top ranking in all these categories.

At the start of the year, Quri opened its doors in the international departures lounge. Operated by Travel Stores S.A., Quri (Quechua for gold) offers high quality artisanal goods such as jewelry, clothes made with native Ecuadorian designs and materials, food and premium products such as fine chocolates and a great variety of coffee.

Investments

During the first half of 2019, Quiport continued its planning and permit phase for the projects to expand the passenger terminal and commercial apron, and for improvements to the public halls in the Departures and Arrivals areas.

With an investment of US$ 70 million, these projects will increase the airport’s passenger capacity and provide an enhanced experience for users and passengers by providing state-of-the-start interior design using materials and design features to create a greater sense of belonging with the city and the country.

Environment

Environmental protection is one of Quiport’s main concerns, particularly with regards to reducing its carbon footprint.

The first half of the year has seen four high-impact projects:

Expansion of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)

To increase the capacity of industrial wastewater treatment, new facilities have been built with equipment to complement the existing stages of treatment. As a result, the process is now more efficient, and the quality of the water discharged by the plant exceeds international treatment standards.

Solar Energy Projects

An LED lighting system was installed along 505 m of pedestrian paths in public parking areas and accesses to the employee parking area. This system is supplied by solar energy from solar panels.

A solar energy system was installed with solar panels to power the water heating system in the Rescue and Fire Fighting Service building. The result makes it possible to increase the consumption of clean energy while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

LED lighting for public accesses and areas

One hundred standard lights were removed from the access road to Quito Airport and internal roads and were replaced by LED lights. These lights were installed in the existing metal posts. These lights have a longer useful life and are more energy efficient.

Reducing the Carbon Footprint

As part of the Airport’s plan to achieve carbon Neutrality, it is necessary to meet all the requirements of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) Program to reach the highest level of certification, 3+ Neutrality. Below, we list the actions taken:

• New training programs and outreach to commercial operators to resume the calculation of emissions and establish efficiency indicators for the reduction measures proposed in 2018.
• Re-calculate direct GHG emissions and demonstrate a reduction in the carbon footprint compared with the historic average in recent years.
• Define an effective offset process for direct emissions and emissions generated by air travel by Quiport executives. We aim to offset Quiport’s direct emissions by buying certified carbon credits.
• Develop new energy eco-efficiency projects to raise awareness about renewable energy and reduce energy consumption to continue our sustained efforts to reduce the carbon footprint.

Community Management

Based on a detailed analysis of the requirements and needs of the inhabitants of six parishes in the vicinity of the airport, Quiport carries out plans and programs to address the current social dynamic. This is part of its strategic goal to carry out responsible activities with the community.

The Public Consultation and Participation Plan helps to identify the interests and needs of the community. In the first half of the year, 201 meetings were held with the participation of 1,909 participants.

To support education, 64 scholarships were awarded to children and young people from low income or vulnerable homes. Also, 40 environmental education talks were given to 1,822 children. These talks addressed issues like biodiversity, environmental awareness, global warming and reforestation.

Another core part of social management based on community needs is employment training. Between January and June, 552 people received training in Basic Conversational English to open up job opportunities for them at the airport or in other areas.

To optimize and enhance the training program, at the end of June, Quiport opened the Training Center located within the airport’s facilities in order to centralize the training courses offered to each parish. The Training Center has four classrooms equipped with the technology required for the various courses: computers, audiovisual aids and internet access. These academic resources aim to reinforce the abilities of people living near the airport in areas such as customer service, conceptual cuisine, industrial safety, Basic Conversational English and Information Technologies.

As part of the “Compartamos” (Let’s Share) program, which encourages the reuse of used goods in good condition donated by companies that operate at Quito Airport, 15,434 persons benefitted from 32 deliveries of uniforms, work clothes and office furniture.

“With these management results, Corporación Quiport demonstrates its firm commitment to developing the connectivity of the city and the country, the expansion of airport infrastructure, as well as environmental protection and community development”, Andrew O’Brian concludes.

• Plus Ultra launched its operations this Friday, July 12. It is the latest Spanish airline that will encourage tourism and trade between Ecuador and Spain.
• Corporación Quiport’s management of Mariscal Sucre Airport has resulted in an airport service which has achieved prestige in the eyes of its users and the air transport industry.

As a result of the sustained implementation of the route development strategy for Mariscal Sucre Airport led by Corporación Quiport, this Friday, July 12 Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas launched its inaugural flight on the Madrid-Quito route. The company will offer three weekly flights.

This morning, with its first group of passengers- including Cristóbal Roldán, Ambassador of Ecuador to Spain as the “first passenger of honor” – Plus Ultra launched the new route which aims to create connections and unite people.

The ceremony for the inaugural flight of Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas was held at departure lounge A11 at Mariscal Sucre Airport in Tababela and was attended by authorities from tourism, air transport, Quito city council and representatives from Corporación Quiport and Plus Ultra.

“Since the start of our operation we have implemented a culture of improvement to reach ever higher standards. Plus Ultra will be an option to connect to a very important community for Ecuador and to strengthen relations with Spain, increasing tourism for the city and country”, says Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport.

The anticipation for the start of operations has been reflected by the more than 10,000 reservations made before the launch, with a further 30,000 bookings expected by December, confirms Julio Martínez Solá, Executive Vice President of Plus Ultra in Spain, who also mentions that the aim of the Spanish airline is to “contribute to the tourism exchange between Spain and Ecuador”.

Rosi Prado de Holguín, Minister of Tourism, referred positively to the arrival of Plus Ultra in the country, “Ecuador warmly welcomes the Spanish airline Plus Ultra, which from today will shorten distances with its direct flight and will facilitate tourism and business opportunities between Spain and Ecuador”.

Plus Ultra will operate with an Airbus 340-300 with capacity for 303 passengers in economy and business class. The airline will seek to innovate in the way of travelling to Europe, allowing three bags per passenger.

“With our new route, from today we hope to encourage a virtuous exchange between our countries, to bring the best of Ecuador to Spain and the best of Spain to Ecuador”states Martínez Solá regarding the philosophy of Plus Ultra. “To create connections and unite people is our raison d’etre, and today is a great day as part of this great purpose. Our desired route between Ecuador and Spain launches today, with the aim to contribute to exchange between both countries.”

Before 8:00 a.m., the aircraft received a send-off with a water cannon salute, an aviation tradition. The aircraft was also blessed by father Abel Carvajal, the priest of the neighboring Yaruquí parish. The maiden flight took-off for Madrid with a layover in Guayaquil.

Quito International Airport is the main gateway to Ecuador. Thanks to its technical characteristics and teamwork between the state-owned company and Quiport, there has been a significant increase in connectivity for Quito and the country, fulfilling the common goal to encourage tourism, cultural exchange and the creation of new business opportunities for Ecuador.

On June 25, 2019, the Provincial Chamber of Tourism of Pichincha (CAPTUR) unanimously appointed Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport S.A, as the new Principal Member of the Board of Directors.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr. Andrew O’Brian on account of his personal merits and those of the organization he represents, and we are confident that his commitment to the city and the tourism sector will strengthen our activities and be a strategic pillar for reaching the goals we have set ourselves as a Chamber and a representative of the tourism sector”, said Raúl García, president of the organization.

Mr. O’Brian commented that he is honored to join the Board of CAPTUR as a Principal Member and will give his best efforts to help tourism in the city and country. He explained “Quito International Airport is the main gateway for foreign tourists coming to the city and the province, which its why it is crucial for us to work together with the tourism sector and establish strategies to increase the number of visitors”.

The Provincial Chamber of Tourism of Pichincha is the highest representative of private tourism in the province, and groups together all the companies that work in the five areas of tourism recognized by the Special Law for Tourism Development and the Law on Chambers of Tourism and the National Tourism Federation:

• Hospitality, and accommodation;
• Travel agency operators;
• National and international air, land, maritime and river transport;
• Food and beverages, and
• Other tourism activities.