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A sunset illuminated by the Quito summer sun and an arc of water prepared by aeronautical firefighters at the Quito International Airport bode farewell to the Iberia Airbus A350 yesterday afternoon, the most modern aircraft in the fleet of the Spanish company, which began operating on the Madrid - Quito - Madrid route. It is the first time that this model airplane visits an airport in Ecuador.

Through a statement released by the airline, Iberia explained that these flights are operated in compliance with the regulations established by both Ecuador and Spain, and following all the prevention and hygiene measures of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Spanish Agency Aviation Safety (AESA) and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). These measures can be found on the company's website: https://www.iberia.com/ec/es/covid-19/medidas-adoptadas/

Andrew O’Brian, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport, the company that manages and operates the Quito airport, stressed the importance of starting this operation for the city. “The A350 is the most modern aircraft currently operating commercial flights. It offers a number of advantages in terms of fuel consumption that makes the operation more efficient and friendlier to the environment. In terms of service, the aircraft is ideal for intercontinental flights and offers a high-quality product for our passengers who can enjoy a more pleasant flight. I congratulate Iberia on this milestone in our joint operation,” commented Mr. O’Brian.

"Starting yesterday, the Spanish airline operates with its modern Airbus A350 the three weekly flights that it has scheduled between Quito and Madrid, that it will offer on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during the month of August," the statement said.

High technology at the service of the client and the environment

According to the information provided by Iberia, the Airbus A350 offers great improvements over the A340/600 fleet, which it replaces, both in the customer experience and in its operation, which is much more sustainable. These aircraft have a configuration of 348 seats: 31 in Business class, 24 in its new Premium Economy cabin and 293 in Economy class.

A currentless ventilation system with ozone filters renews the air inside the aircraft every two to three minutes, which contributes to its purity and improves the cabin humidity level by between 11 and 16 percent.

The windows are panoramic and the lighting is with LED lights. In addition, the materials with which this aircraft is built, added to the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines Iberia has equipped its Airbus A350-900 with, make it the quietest on the market.

It is a twin-engine aircraft, which has a range of 14,800 km, and consumes 25 percent less fuel than other models of similar capacity, which also represents a 25 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.

Aeromexico resumed operations this Sunday in Quito with an offer of three weekly flights to Mexico City. To celebrate the return of the airline in Ecuador, the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito received the Mexican aircraft with the traditional arch of water.

Mexico is a tourist destination par excellence which has a variety of domestic destinations, from pre-Hispanic cities to internationally recognized beaches, such as Cancun, one of the most visited locales in the Mexican southeast; or Yucatan, with a gastronomy that mixes the ingredients of the ancient Mayans, with the flavors imported by the Spanish at the time of the Colony. Due to its traditions, culture and history, Mexico is among the top countries visited by international tourists.

During the contingency, Aeromexico transported to Ecuador more than 27 tons of essential medical supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the flights was operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which for the first time flew to this destination.

Andrew O'Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport, commented: “Aeromexico is one of our most important strategic partners and the first new airline to start operations at the then new Quito airport in December 2013. Therefore, it is very it is important for us to resume connectivity with Mexico City, a destination that has a significant demand and that will undoubtedly contribute to the economic recovery of the city and the country. We are very pleased to receive the airline again in Quito, now as the first Latin American airline to return to Ecuador."

Carla Cárdenas, General Manager of Quito Turismo, stated: “the reopening of flights and air operations in Quito opens the way for recovery and gives the opportunity to provide the best experience to the traveler on his visit to the Center of the World, with biosecurity protocols that will allow him to feel confidence and security upon arrival until their return to their country of origin”.

Finally, Giancarlo Mulinelli, Aeromexico Senior Vice President of Global Sales, commented: “We thank the authorities of Ecuador and the airport for their warm welcome. We will continue increasing our operations in Mexico and the world, taking care of our clients with the highest standards in the industry through our Health and Hygiene Management System”.

Aeromexico reaffirms its commitment to increase operations, resuming destinations and increasing frequencies gradually and safely. The airline estimates operating more than 7,400 flights during the month of August, thus increasing its operation by 20% compared to the previous month.  

• The flight left this afternoon for Guayaquil and Madrid. Starting August, the airline will offer two weekly flights between Ecuador and Spain.

This afternoon the Air Europa Boeing 787 Dreamliner departed from Quito Airport for Guayaquil and Madrid. The Spanish airline will use this type of aircraft to fly to Ecuador to replace the Airbus 330 that it had been using. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the most modern, efficient and state-of-the-art aircraft that currently operates and it is precisely these characteristics that have motivated Air Europa to start using this type of equipment for the route to Ecuador.

As of August, the airline will offer two weekly flights: Monday and Thursday, on the Quito - Guayaquil - Madrid route.

Air Europa applies all the health prevention measures during the flight of all its aircraft. The cabin air during the flight is constantly renewed and the HEPA filter system, used in operating rooms, is part of the aircraft equipment. Cabin air renewal and filters, which remove up to 99.99% of pathogens, bacteria or viruses from the air, guarantee the quality of the cabin air. In addition, the entire crew uses masks and gloves.

Air Europa joins airlines such as American Airlines, Iberia, KLM, United Airlines, Jetblue, Avianca, LATAM, Plus Ultra and Aeroregional, which are already operating at Quito International Airport with sanitary security and efficiency.

• The flight arrived yesterday afternoon and left this morning with 50 tons of flowers bound for Montreal.

As part of the 60 years of bilateral relations between Ecuador and Canada, on Monday afternoon a brief act took place that formalized the start of Air Canada cargo operations at the Quito airport, with two weekly flights. The aircraft, an Airbus 330 C of the Canadian airline, departed this morning from the cargo terminal of the Quito airport with 50 tons of flowers for export to Montreal.

In turn, through these cargo flights, medical supplies and electronic items from Canada will arrive in Ecuador, which are the main items of import by air from that country.

The event was attended by Daniel Legarda, Vice Minister of Industries and Production; Tyler Wordsworth, Charge d'Affaires of the Canadian Embassy;​​Caleb McLean, President of the Canadian Ecuadorian Chamber of Commerce; Patricia Aulestia, representative of Air Canada in Ecuador; Sandro Ruiz, Manager of the Metropolitan Public Airport Services Company; Felipe Ribadeneira, President of the Fedexpor Board; Alejandro Martinez, President of Expoflores; and Alex Moreno, Quiport Manager of Route.

The Vice Minister of Industries and Production, Daniel Legarda, pointed out that the new route “will open important perspectives to continue deepening bilateral relations with Canada, hopefully with the search for a trade agreement or an investment agreement, as well as to resume passenger flights and to further advance on the bilateral relationship with Canada and North America in general".

The Canadian Embassy in Ecuador has been instrumental in the initiation of air cargo transportation through Air Canada. Tyler Wordsworth, Chargé d'Affaires of the Canadian Embassy explained that “on the sixtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations with Ecuador it is very important to have this Air Canada cargo flight that arrived after a successful season of passenger flights. Now, due to the pandemic, we can only arrive with cargo, but we are very pleased that Air Canada has sent this flight that will result in the strengthening of diplomatic relations between our countries”.

The direct benefit will be for the flower growing sector, since flower cargo represents 92% of total exports by air from Quito. Alejandro Martinez, President of Expoflores, was satisfied with the Air Canada operation. "Without a doubt, the direct flight from Quito to Canada is positive especially related to transport time, we are talking about reducing some 48 to 72 hours, which is positive". He noted and stressed that "Canada is a highly exclusive market, a niche market for Ecuador… We certainly believe that this is going to help reactivate the Canadian market in an important way ”.

For his part, Andrew O'Brian, President and CEO of Quiport, the company in charge of the administration and operation of the Quito airport, explained that cargo operations during this health emergency have been key to keeping the export sector active and to receive medical supplies. "Air Canada's decision to operate cargo flights in Quito is vital for the economic recovery and an indicator of the importance of cargo activities at our airport", he concluded.