News

Quito International Airport played an important role in the success of Habitat III, the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development. The agility with which passengers were attended to, added to the friendliness and efficiency of all the persons, companies and institutions that provide services at the airport, were key factors in projecting an excellent image of the country to the thousands of visitors who arrived in Quito.

This is shown by the numerous positive comments received from authorities, special visitors and participants of the conference, who highlighted the comfort of the airport facilities and excellent service.

In order to rise to the challenge posed by Habitat III, Corporación Quiport carried out a series of improvements and special coordination to ensure that Mariscal Sucre International Airport was completely prepared, in this way contributing to the improved image of the city during this significant event for Quito, which showed itself at its best to the world.

Thanks to the opening of the new domestic terminal in May 2015, we were able to optimize and adapt spaces to ensure more spaciousness and comfort at the international terminal.

We have made the following changes to the freed spaces:

• Additional areas in the Immigration Hall at Arrivals, Baggage Claim and Customs.
• Anti-Narcotics Control Room.
• Re-location of the Arrivals Duty Free Shop.
• New A8 Departure Lounge accommodating 150 passengers.
• New Protocol Room.
• New room for non-admitted passengers.

Furthermore, we have worked to install a fifth baggage carousel to improve efficiency in the delivery of baggage and at Customs. We are replacing the internal lighting of the terminal and the aprons with LED lights which will significantly reduce energy consumption, having a positive impact on the reduction of the airport´s Carbon Footprint.

“We have worked not only on optimizing spaces and services, but also on landscaping. At the exit of the airport´s passenger terminal, we have installed a linear water fountain with night lighting. Behind this fountain is a garden mounted on three levels, in the style of terraces, which display various species of ornamental plants” states Andrew O´Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport, concessionaire of the city´s airport service.

Precise Coordination

In addition to infrastructure and services, coordination to maintain the safety and efficiency of operations is very important. Thanks to joint efforts with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation and Empresa Pública Metropolitana de Servicios Aeroportuarios, an organized operation was executed in order to handle Habitat participants without affecting the airport´s regular passengers.

“On this occasion we received 11 heads of state from various parts of the world, as well as the highest authorities of bodies of the United Nations system, headed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. But our team is very professional and experienced; remember that we have carried out special operations for the visit of Pope Francis and a Summit of Presidents of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)”, explains Andrew O’Brian.

All these experiences have allowed Mariscal Sucre Airport to continue positioning itself as one of the principal airports in the region, placing Quito in a confident position regarding the excellence of its airport service.