The decision by Aeroméxico to suspend its flights to Ecuador, announced at the end of May, is another blow to the South American country, which has been suffering a decline in international air connectivity.
Ecuador has had a good post-pandemic performance in terms of air traffic: in 2023, it was one of the few countries in South America that saw international growth of 6.97% compared to 2019.
However, in early 2024, the South American country took a different path after the Ecuadorian government declared an «internal armed conflict» due to escalating insecurity in various cities across Ecuador. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ecuador has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with 46 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.
See Also: Flights to Ecuador begin to be affected by the security crisis
This situation has hit the tourism and corporate industry, main generators of air traffic. As a result, some airlines have begun to reduce or cancel their routes to Ecuador.
Although the offer and demand figures were sustained in the first and second quarters of 2024, Cirium data shows a 3.1% drop in international capacity in Ecuador (in ASK) for the second half of the year. In contrast, neighboring markets such as Peru project a growth of 9%, Argentina 12%, Colombia 12%, and Chile 18.7%.
Fewer routes and airlines in Ecuador
One of the first victims was Equair, which stopped flying in September 2023 despite having achieved a 17% market share in terms of passenger movement. The airline had recorded USD 17 million in losses in 2022.
In the international market, four airlines have left Ecuador:
- VivaAerobus: decided to suspend its flights on January 8, 2024, after eight months of operating between Quito and Cancun.
- Wingo: suspended its flights on April 8, 2024, after eight years of operations. It flew from Bogota to Quito and Guayaquil.
- ConViasa: suspended its flights in January 2024 after just a month of flying from Caracas to Quito.
- Aeroméxico: will suspend its flights on June 30, 2024. It connects Quito with Mexico City. It might return in December 2024, although this is subject to change.
Several routes have also been suspended throughout 2023 and 2024:
- Guayaquil – Medellin (MDE) by Avianca, suspended in August 2023.
- Guayaquil – Cartagena (CTG) by Avianca, suspended in September 2023.
- Quito – Cancun (CUN) by Avianca, suspended in October 2023.
- Guayaquil – Medellin/Rionegro (MDE) by LATAM, suspended since January 31, 2024.
- Cuenca (CUE) – Quito by Avianca, suspended on April 15.
- Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Quito (UIO) by jetBlue, will suspend its flights on June 12.
Additionally, several routes and airlines that operated in 2019 have not resumed in Ecuador, including:
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Quito and Guayaquil by American Airlines.
- Quito – Coca (OCC); Guayaquil – Cali (CLO) and Lima (LIM) by Avianca.
- Quito – Santiago (SCL) by LATAM.
- Air Canada, which operated the Quito – Toronto (YYZ) route.
- Air France, which flew between Quito and Paris/Charles de Gaulle.
- GOL, which operated between Quito and São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU).
Any good news in Ecuador?
Arajet was the last airline with significant changes in the country, operating its flights to Quito and Guayaquil separately, which until May 2024 functioned as a triangular route from Santo Domingo.
Previously, JetSMART landed in Ecuador with flights from Lima to Quito and Guayaquil.
Last year, Copa Airlines inaugurated its operations to Manta (MEC) with three weekly flights, which have now increased to four per week.
In December 2023, Aeroregional launched its charter flights to Caracas. Additionally, SKY started proceedings to establish an Ecuadorian subsidiary with domestic flights.
