National flights in Ecuador transported 41% more passengers in 2021 and start 2022 with a new actor

With the start of operations of the Equair airline, 2022 begins with a new competitor within the supply of the Ecuadorian domestic market.

The new firm, which yesterday took to the skies with flights between Quito, Guayaquil and the Galapagos, It will have 40 weekly frequencies between these two cities and seven frequencies to the islands.

Equinoxair wants to fill the space that Tame left in the local aeronautical market

Equair enters to compete with three other airlines that already operate in Ecuador for the domestic market.

According to data from the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP), these companies are Latam, Avianca and Aeroregional. The three firms currently cover the main destinations in the country such as Cuenca, Manta, Quito, Guayaquil, Galapagos and Loja (since January 2022).

During the inauguration ceremony of Equair’s operations, the head of the MTOP, Marcelo Cabrera, reiterated: “The country’s air connectivity is fundamental, that is why we strive to provide the best conditions for the reactivation of this important sector.”

In fact, to continue with this objective, the Portfolio also announced that at least three airlines are in the certification process to increase the local offer and it is working to increase the number of national destinations served with regular flights in cities such as Esmeraldas, Lago Agrio, Santa Rosa, among others.

In the country, according to the Civil Aviation Directorate (DGAC), until the end of 2021, there were 14 operating routes in the domestic market that were covered by three airlines.

“Increased competitiveness in the market will allow us to recover connectivity in destinations not served and increase the offer of seats on routes already served for the benefit of users,” said the ministry.

For the president of the Federation of Provincial Chambers of Tourism, Holbach Muñetón, the start of operations of the new airline generates a positive impact on the local airline and tourism industry. “As there is a new competitor, prices tend to fall and that generates dynamism,” he said.

Muñetón explains that this new actor will allow move more tourists to domestic destinations.

The Ministry of Transport has already ordered the DGAC to update incentives to reactivate the country’s airports, which have different complexities

For example, he said, a foreign tourist can arrive in the country and travel with lower prices by plane and with direct connections. In addition, for the leader, a greater interest will be generated by local tourists to visit the cities of Guayaquil, Quito and Galapagos. “Everything will serve to reactivate tourism and it is positive wherever it is seen,” Muñetón explained, adding that the tourism sector is still with 50% occupancy due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The space that Tame left

The exit of operations of the Tame company resulted in a loss of connectivity to certain destinations. The MTOP noted that several low-demand sites were left without regular air transportation service. These were Santa Rosa, Esmeraldas and Lago Agrio.

In that sense, it was announced that work is being done to create the conditions for new airlines to enter the market and to recover the connectivity lost due to the exit of Tame EP from the market, in a sustainable way and that does not have an implicit cost for citizens.

Passenger flow

Regarding passenger transport, the outlook for 2022 is increase the number of passengers transported, support domestic connectivity and contribute to domestic tourism.

The Minister of Tourism, Niels Olsen, He previously said that despite the arrival of visitors, it is still far from the 2019 figures, although there was a recovery in the year that ended.

This is reflected in the fact that, until December 2021, the flow of passengers grew compared to 2020. The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) recorded an increase of 41% in domestic traffic and 74% in international traffic.

Until the end of 2021, 47 companies for the international market operated in the country on 98 routes. (I)