Quito International Airport (UIO)

Flying to Quito Airport

From Central and North America

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

From the Galápagos Islands

From continental Ecuador

Quito airport is connected with the following cities in continental Ecuador:

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.

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