What does Latacunga need to have commercial flights again?

The Cotopaxi International Airport on Latacunga has great potential, ¿but thaté needs to have commercial flights again?

There are several people who write on social networks about the need to return to having regular commercial flights at the Airport of Latacunga and they wonder ¿becauseé there is no?

In this new installment we are going to review the reasons and whaté must change at this airport so that it is considered by the airlines againídenies.

Cotopaxi International Airport – Latacunga

Let's first briefly review the history of this airport. The 21 July 2011 expansion works were inauguratedón and new terminal with an investmentón of $26 millions, moment you thinkó that the storyéarea in Latacunga daríat a turn of 360 degrees.

Histórichly, This airport has not been from the terminals toéareas of greatest movement, but yesí has been key in complex operational situations in Quito, making it its alternate airport (currently it is not, despite the fact that it is known as Cotopaxi Alternative Airport).

The potential is clear, a large landing strip 3.641 meters long, almost unused terminal with annual capacity of 2 million passengers and an enviable climate.

Despite these clear differences, their úlast regular passenger flights were made Tame EP the 12 april 2017 and the úlast regular cargo flight was carried outó Aercaribe the 29 May 2019. Si contamos operationón chárter, the úHe is undergoing surgeryón was he 5 June 2021 with Aeroregional.

Many máAirport details can be consulted hereí:

Cotopaxi International Airport: with great potential to grow

Then, ¿thaté it is needed to have flights again?

We are going to answer the key question of this publication.ón. Once we review their characterísticas básicas and we understood that it has an interesting potential, ¿becauseé nobody flies in Latacunga?

There are points to be analyzed:

• The aerosolsíNeas fly where there is a market, óbe where you will haveán an interesting flow of passengers that makes its operation profitableón.
• The airport must meet all the needs and capabilities téconical to receive flights.
• The city must have all the facilities to receive travelers.

Having said that, We are going to expand each of these three importantíwe are points:

Aerolídenies

• First of all, you need an aerosolíwe will, analyze and study the possibility of flying to this airport, which in terms of prices is much más competitive than the other international airports in the countryís how Guayaquil O Quito, even at this airport passengers payíthe one Reduced EcoDelta.
• For this, the airínea analyzeá facilities, costs and market.
  • The costs areán very well and generateían passages sás cheap.
  • Market is a touchy subject, in Quito isá a great focus of travelers, ¿will moveían estos 1 hour and 30 minutes until thereá? To dependíto destiny, cost and cóhow to get there.
    • The central highlands have a large flow of travelers, especially migrants., what makes it very interesting, so dependíto the destination that is sought to be opened.
  • facilities, this is the point máIt's complex at the moment and I explain it belowón.

facilities

• At the moment, This airport does not have service fueling Jet A1.
  • Fundamental for any aerosolínea. ¿First is the supply or first is the airlineíI need it?
• Customs and immigrationón. The airport has these capabilities, but they must be activated, improved and implement greater controls with X-rays and scanners.
• Ground and handling equipment. At the moment there is noún ground service available, Therefore, a company that enters the airport is required to offer these services..
• luggage bands. The airport has only one, ¿thaté marketá when they arriveás flights?
• restaurants, pharmacy, stores, etc. This will activateá themselvesún the demand that justifies an investmentón.

Ciudad

• Ground transportation from Quito direct to the airport or implementationón of new lílines for travelers from nearby cities.
• Hotels. Latacunga has a hotel offer, but should be expanded based on demand, ¿thaté happens if 3 airplanes 150 passengers stay on the ground at the same time? ¿There are hotels that can accommodate all these passengers?

¿Can Latacunga have flights again?

it's possible, but there are many things to oweán occur over time and are dependent on each otherí. as we see, The Airport must go through several transformations and recover its operability to be attractive for an airline.ínea, where the price factor is not úsole determinant.

¿First the aerosolínea and from thereí we activate handling and fuel? This will beá the question that the authorities interested in seeing this airport take off shouldán solve, lo más soon possible for the good of the city and its economic developmentómonkey that will comeíhand in hand with flight arrival.

Let's not forget that an avión landing generates direct and indirect employment, moves the economyía local allows a traveler to buy a bottle of water and generates occupancyón hotel, Therefore, it is urgent that action be taken as soon as possible..