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Welcome to San Cristóbal Island Airport in Galapagos, the second main passenger terminal of the Enchanted Islands Archipelago. In this post we will talk about the characteristics of the airport, clue, control tower, terminal, airlines, flights, companies that operate there and more.
As we had anticipated in the specials on the flights to Galapagos of Avianca-Ecuador, LATAM Ecuador and Tame EP, Here we start the special on the Galapagos Airports with the first installment starring the San Cristóbal Island Airport.
Here you can read a Flight report flying from San Cristóbal to Galapagos.
San Cristobal Island Airport in Galapagos
San Cristobal Airport (THERE IT IS: SCY, ICAO: SEST) It is the second largest of the Islands and has a landing strip and takeoffs from 1.840 meters long by 30 meters of pavement width with numbering and address 17/35 and is located at an elevation of 19 meters above sea level.
Remodeled in the year 2014 with a labor cost of $7.4 millions, It has an area of 3.842 m2 of terminal which was completely rebuilt and expanded, technical block of 300 m2 next to a platform of 2000 m2 with capacity to receive at the same time 3 airplanes weather airbus 320 O 5 Britten Norman Islander aircraft.
The access road to the airport was also improved, repowering of the aeronautical firefighters hangar and parking lots.
Among the general improvements made to the airport are, among other, baggage control and delivery areas, flight information screens, access systems to restricted areas with magnetic cards, new offices for airlines and cargo handling, commercial premises, implementation of fixed internet and WiFi networks, fire-fighting system and air conditioning in administrative and airport control offices.
The Airport seeks to be as friendly to nature as possible, that is why the public areas do not have air conditioning, but they have been specially designed to guarantee a constant air flow that allows excellent ventilation, a cool and comfortable environment for passengers and workers. High ceilings and "air intakes" stand out to maintain ventilation and temperature.
San Cristóbal Airport Statistics
Currently, San Cristóbal Island Airport receives approximately 60 weekly inter-commercial flights, private, military and inter-islands. Daily traffic reaches 600 passengers or more depending on the day and season.
During the 2016, San Cristóbal Airport covered the 22% of commercial traffic to the Galapagos Islands, what represents 48.087 passengers between national and international, during this same year the airport transported 141.508 passengers.
Due to the earthquake 2016 in continental Ecuador its affect was felt in the islands, San Cristóbal presented a decrease in -5.93% of passengers received, which implies that 3.029 passengers stopped flying to this island.
The route between Isabela islands – San Cristóbal is the most popular route in the Archipelago with 5.108 passengers transported during the year 2016.
Regarding the Ecuadorian commercial air market, the Guayaquil route – San Cristóbal ranks fifth in traffic with 201,430 passengers transported during the year 2017 Based on the study published on the air market in Ecuador.
The companies that operate here are:
- Avianca-Ecuador
- LATAM Airlines Ecuador
- Tame EP.
- Fly Galapagos
- EMETEBE
- TALMA
Airlines, flights and itinerary
Son 3 commercial airlines that fly from Quito and Guayaquil to San Cristobal. It is important to indicate that this Island does not have direct flights from mainland Ecuador and all operate with a stopover in Guayaquil..
The flights and itineraries of each airline can be found here:
San Cristobal tourist information
San Cristóbal Island is the westernmost island of the archipelago and the closest to the mainland as well., and it is one of the oldest islands. A surface 550 km2, its highest peak is just 730 meters high.
It has a population of approximately 6000 people and the capital of Galapagos, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, is there. It is the most fertile island of all as it has its own freshwater tributaries., scarce in Galapagos.
Rich for its variety of flora and fauna (frigates, sea lions, red footed boobies, iguanas, seagulls, albatross and turtles) Galapagos unique, San Cristóbal is a coveted tourist spot for those who want to get to know the islands and live a unique experience in the world..
Its geographical location near important points of visit has made it one of the obligatory steps for local and foreign visitors over time.. Life in San Cristóbal is relaxed and its inhabitants are kind to all the thousands of weekly visitors who arrive from Ecuador..
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Hello Nico, how cool that you do a report on the airport of the island where I live and work., but the downside of the friendly part sq n the hot season (December-May) we all complain because there is no ventilation and the passengers complain the most since they get on the planes completely wet from sweat, but from there all of us who work either in airlines or indirectly do our best because the passengers get the best impression and return
It is the disadvantage of an environmentally friendly airport.
It is nice to read your detailed report on air movement to and from San Cristobal. What I met is nothing like what you show . congratulations Nico. Good job and commitment to publicize details of the Insular territory.
Thank you dear Ignacio for your comment.