LATAM Airlines Ecuador has launched its inaugural flight on the new direct route between Quito and Santiago at a special event for passengers and city authorities. The new direct flight to the south of the continent is served by an Airbus 320neo, which departed from Quito at 09:55 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Santiago at 4:55 p.m. (local time).
The Minister of Tourism, Rosi Prado de Holguín, said “the arrival of new airlines to the country and the increase in flights confirms business confidence in Ecuador as a destination and in Mariscal Sucre Airport, which in its six years of operation has won an array of international awards including Best Regional Airport in South America at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. In 2018 alone, 45,000 tourists from Chile visited Ecuador, an increase of 2% compared with 2017”.
LATAM Airlines will offer approximately 72,000 seats per year on this route, a 62% increase in capacity between Ecuador and Chile. The A320neo is an aircraft with new-generation technology offering passengers a more efficient, more sustainable flight and significant environmental performance.
Álvaro Maldonado, Secretary of Productive Development and Competitiveness at Quito Municipality, said “LATAM has been a strategic partner who has known how to make the most of the advantages offered by Mariscal Sucre Airport, the city as a destination and the open skies policy implemented by the national government. These factors have aligned to increase connectivity, tourism, foreign currency, wealth and the wellbeing of our citizens”.
Andrew O’Brian, President and CEO of Corporación Quiport, congratulated LATAM Airlines on the new flight and said “we are very pleased with the launch of this new route which is a welcome addition to the connectivity of the city. I would like to thank LATAM for all its efforts and the joint work which has made this new route a reality today. At Quiport we continue our efforts to open new routes and increase flights to connect Quito and Ecuador with the world. We wish the airline every success and we hope that passengers enjoy its quality of service”.
