New Quito Airport officially inaugurated by Ecuadorean President; operational from 09:00 20-Feb-2013

Ecuador's New Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport was inaugurated (19-Feb-2013) by President Rafael Correa. The airport began operations from 09:00 on 20-Feb-2013. Twelve times larger than the old airport, with capacity for five million pax p/a and 45 aircraft with a 4100m runway, the longest in Latin America. President Correa said the airport "clearly represents the profound changes we are making together", and announced, "Quito, Ecuador, Latin America, [proclaim] the inauguration of New Mariscal Sucre Airport." The inaugural flight was a TAME service from Guayaquil. Ecuador's Ministry of Defence will have a presence at the airport, with the Air Force's 11th Air Transport Wing to move to the airport once a new facility is completed in early 2014. Quito Mayor Augusto Berrera said the new airport was "essential to improve the productive capacity of the city", and noted the next stages of the airport's development will include the construction of a second runway and the doubling of capacity, without providing a timeframe for future works. Meanwhile, the old Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport will be converted to urban parkland once all airport equipment is withdrawn. [more - original PR - Airport Inauguration - Spanish] [more - original PR - Inaugural Flight - Spanish] [more - original PR - Defense Ministry - Spanish] [more - original PR - Quito Mayor - Spanish]