Quito International Airport (UIO) Save
Description
Flying to Quito Airport
From Central and North America
| Atlanta (ATL) | Delta |
| Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | jetBlue |
| Houston (IAH) | United Airlines |
| Miami (MIA) | American Airlines, LATAM |
| Mexico City | AeroMexico |
| New York (JFK) | Avianca |
| Panama (PTY) | Copa Airlines |
| San José (SJO) | Avianca |
| San Salvado (SAL)r | Avianca |
Flying via Panama City with Copa Airlines or via Bogotá with Avianca are popular alternatives.
From Europe, Africa, and Asia
When you want to fly from Europe, Africa, or Asia to Quito, there are many options. The most popular and fastest options are:
1. Via Amsterdam (AMS) with KLM.
2. Via Madrid (MAD) with Air Europa or Iberia.
KLM offers the best service, while the services of Air Europa is not received well by many travelers.
From South America
| Bogotá | Avianca (from June 2023), LATAM, Wingo |
| Buenos Aires | Avianca |
| Lima | LATAM |
| Medellín | Avianca (from March 2023) |
From the Galápagos Islands
| Baltra | Aeroregional, Avianca, LATAM |
| San Cristóbal | Avianca, LATAM |
From continental Ecuador
Quito airport is connected with the following cities in continental Ecuador:
| Coca | Aeroregional, LATAM |
| Catamayo | LATAM |
| Cuenca | Avianca, LATAM |
| Guayaquil | Aeroregional, Avianca, LATAM |
| Loja | Aeroregional |
| Manta | Avianca, LATAM |
| Nueva Loja | LATAM |
| Santa Rosa | Aeroregional |
Arriving
1. Immigration
At immigrations, you have to show your passport. It’s usually a fast and friendly process.
2. Baggage pick up
After immigrations, you can pick up your baggage at one of the carousels. To get a cart, you’ve to pay $ 2. You can request assistance at the same desk where you can rent a cart. You may tip these employees after they have given you their support.
3. Customs
The last step is the customs. You will be asked to scan your passport. If the scanner gives a red signal, you have to put your luggage on a belt to let it go through an X-ray machine. If you get a green signal, you can go to the exit without an inspection of your baggage. Expect a lot of people waiting in the Arrivals Hall.
Connecting Flights
If you arrive on an international flight and have a stop-over at Quito Airport before continuing your journey on another flight to an Ecuadorian airport, you first have to go through immigration. In case your luggage has not been checked through your final destination, you will need to collect your bags. To enter the departure area, you will first have to go through security.
If you don’t have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, you’ll have to check-in. Arline check-in-desks open three hours before international flights and one hour before domestic flights.
You may want to spend some time in the Quito Airport Center (food court) or in the Wyndham Quito Airport Hotel. Sleeping is possible in the Layover Stay at the Quito Airport Center or in a nearby hotel.
Lounges
Layover Stay
The Layover Stay is a landside lounge. It’s particularly popular among travelers who have to wait for a connecting flight but cannot yet check-in. If you arrive late and you have your next flight early in the morning, it’s a good alternative for a hotel.
You will find the Layover Stay in the Quito Airport Center, which is conveniently located in front of the main terminal building. When you leave the main terminal building, you only have to cross the street to arrive at the Quito Airport Center. The lounge is located on the second floor, which means it is at the same level as the arrivals hall in the main terminal building.
The entrance fee is $ 36 for four hours and includes soft drinks, coffee, tea, wines, snack food, wifi, reclining chairs, pillows, blankets, wifi, and showers (including towels). For children, there’s a special children’s play area.
The Layover Stay has an à la carte menu subject to payment, but you can also eat at the food court on the third floor of the Quito Airport Center.
Warning: the Layover Stay accepts only credit cards.
Tips:
- Only small pieces of luggage are accepted. Medium and large pieces of luggage can be left for free at the luggage storage (called Bag Parking) in the main terminal building if you stay at the Layover Stay.
- Several national credit cards give free access. Members of Diner’s Club and Priority Pass also get free access.
- Although the maximum stay is 18 hours, a hotel near the airport may be more comfortable when you have sufficient time to enjoy a hotel.
- There's no need to make a reservation, except when there are special circumstances like strikes, etc.
Accommodations
- Wyndham Quito Airport
High altitude
Quito Airport sits at an elevation of 2,400 meters (7,874 ft). The elevation of Quito sits at an even higher elevation of 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level. If you are sensitive to high altitudes, you may want to use Guayaquil International Airport instead of this airport.
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Quito Airport Introduces Biometric E-Gates for International Departures
Starting January 16, 2025, the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito has rolled out biometric E-gates for passengers departing on international flights. These gates have been in use for international arrivals since December 2023.
The E-gates streamline immigration processes for Ecuadorian citizens traveling internationally, significantly reducing wait times and cutting down long lines at traditional immigration counters.
Who Can Use the Biometric Gates?
The E-gates are available for Ecuadorian citizens who meet the following criteria:
Are of legal age.
Possess an electronic or biometric passport or a valid Ecuadorian ID (cédula).
How to Use the E-Gates
Start the process: Tap the touchscreen and press "Start."
Scan your boarding pass: Use the QR code on your pass.
Choose your ID: Select whether to use your cédula or passport, then scan the MRZ code (found in the bottom-right section of these documents).
Facial verification: The system will take a photo of your face to validate your identity.
If everything checks out with no issues or alerts, the gates will open, allowing you to continue your journey. Otherwise, the screen will direct you to a nearby immigration counter for assistance from a migration officer.
Destinations and Document Requirements
With ID (cédula): Direct flights to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Peru.
With Passport Only: Flights to Venezuela, Suriname, and Guyana.
Important: If your trip involves a layover in countries like Panama, a passport is mandatory, even if your final destination is one of the countries where a cédula is accepted.
Biometric Gates for International Arrivals
For travelers arriving in Ecuador, the biometric gates can be used regardless of the origin of their flight.
Quick and Convenient
According to Quiport, the airport’s operator, the entire biometric gate process takes between 30 seconds and one minute per traveler.
The introduction of these gates marks a significant step forward in improving efficiency and convenience for passengers at Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport.
Source: Primicias.
Quito International Airport resumes its expansion
On Wednesday, July 31, 2024, Quiport announced that the Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito will resume its expansion to "improve the passenger experience and increase operational capacity."
In November 2019, the expansion of the passenger terminal began but was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Quiport, the investment amounts to USD 74.2 million. Of this amount, USD 19.1 million has already been spent, and USD 55.1 million is "yet to be executed."
There are four levels in the terminal expansion, which is an additional 25% and will be carried out between 2024 and 2025:
Level 0:
- Expansion of technical rooms and storage areas
Level 1:
- Expansion of the public arrivals hall
- Baggage claim area
- Increase in the capacity of international baggage carousels
- Reconfiguration of the Customs area
- Expansion of the duty-free store and baggage handling system
Level 2:
- Expansion of the public departures hall
- Passenger check-in area with 20 new counters and 12 self-check-in machines
- Pre-boarding lounge for 350 passengers
- New dining spaces
- Expansion of the international departure duty-free store
Level 3:
- Expansion of the international VIP lounge
Quito International Airport closes its runway on May 18, 2024
Due to maintenance work on its sole runway, Quito International Airport will suspend its operations from 02:00 to 12:00 on May 18 (Saturday). The passenger terminal will remain open during these hours.
The flights that cannot land or depart will be rescheduled in coordination with the airlines.
Future closures
Operations at the airport will also be suspended on June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, September 7, September 14 and September 21.