Cargo transportation at Ecuador’s Mariscal Sucre Airport has been growing significantly since the start of operations in February 2013, reaching a record figure of 338,973 metric tonnes in 2023.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, Quito airport is ranked fifth according to the Airports Council International of Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC), making it undoubtedly one of the most important air cargo hubs in the region. The growth is due to the operational advantages of the airport’s position in Quito, its location in the middle of the main production centres of export flowers and a positioning strategy in the cargo sector, making it the main cargo airport in Ecuador, handling 90 percent of the country’s total air cargo.
“Quito’s Mariscal Sucre Airport is prepared to serve its passenger and cargo operations in a highly efficient and safe manner,” Luis Galárraga, Communications Manager of Corporación Quiport, said.
“Quiport’s commercial strategy regarding cargo is not based on what happens with capacity at neighbouring airports but on taking advantage of the intrinsic advantages of our market and our airport. During 2023, the cargo load factor at Quito airport was approximately 77 percent. We had 16 cargo airlines considering regular operations and regular charters. “Having an export product highly appreciated by international markets, such as flowers, gives us a competitive advantage over other airports in the region. “It is important to mention that, considering Ecuador’s geographic location in the region, Quito is a strategic connection point with final destinations in North America and Europe. This fact explains the decision of the cargo companies to increase cargo capacity in Quito. Today, Quito airport has the capacity to meet the growth of our cargo operations.”
Developing facilities Quito’s airport is the only one in the country and one of the few in the region to have a cargo logistics centre within the airport grounds. The logistics centre, operated by Tababela Cargo Center, carries out important processes such as centralised consolidation of export cargo, on the one hand, and customs clearance and temporary warehouse services for imports. The other components of the logistics chain are an international cargo terminal with 13,000 Sq m of usable area, where four cargo palletising companies operate, and the cargo platform that can accommodate up to six high-capacity cargo aircraft simultaneously (four E-code and two F-code). Due to an investment by the companies operating in the cargo terminal, both the manoeuvring area in the parking lots for the entry of cargo and the cargo processing area in the palletisers have been expanded. The expansion, which added 2,880 sq m to the facilities, enables a much more efficient and comfortable reception and processing of cargo.
“For Quiport, the most important aspect is planning, considering the valuable relationship with all stakeholders in the cargo sector. This involves evaluating their needs and contributing to the efficiency of operations as part of the import and export value chain,” Galárraga explained.
“Another important axis refers to the management we develop to attract new cargo airlines that can expand the capacity offer and generate competition that allows reducing costs for the end customer in this case the exporter.” Growth and hurdles Thanks to the free trade agreements that the country is signing, the region foresees a greater push to open markets, especially in Asia, to its most traditional exports, like flowers, as well as to exports of nontraditional products, like fruits. A revealing example is that of the pitahaya, a fruit grown on the Ecuadorian coast and widely sought after in China and Asian markets. With the signing of the free trade agreement with China, the growth opportunities for exports of this product are significantly expanded. The biggest threats that are currently identifiable have to do with the delay in the delivery of cargo aircraft to airlines, which forces airlines to place their fleet in the most profitable markets and routes.
This delay also does not allow for increasing cargo capacity at the pace required by our exportable supply. One of the strategies implemented by Quiport to maintain the attractiveness of operations at its airport is the delivery of incentive packages for cargo airlines in order to position Quito above other cargo markets in the region. “The Quito airport has worked on the development of infrastructure to provide its operators with facilities that enhance cargo operations and generate efficiencies in terms of cargo transfer based on our strategic position and available capacity,” Galárraga added.
“Finally, the development and updating of a master plan serve as excellent tools for projecting the infrastructure improvements required to meet future cargo demand. It is important to mention the value that innovation could bring to cargo operations through the implementation of new technological solutions in the processes associated with cargo operations.”
