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On a recent trip to the province of Manabí I was able to visit the provisional Terminal and the new Manta International Airport. – Eloy Alfaro.
Located on the south side of what was the previous terminal and control tower, that collapsed and became totally unusable after the catastrophic earthquake that hit Manabí on 16 april 2016 at 18:58, I pass 1 year and a half for Manta to once again have a terminal that is sufficiently operational and functional to serve this important tourist and commercial destination.
The construction of the new Manta Airport terminal was scheduled to begin at the beginning of 2018, but it has finally started, in November of that same year with the presence of the President of Ecuador, Minister of Transport and Public Works, city authorities and guests.
In this ceremony, it was tentatively shown how the new terminal will look inside and outside as well as its facilities.:
After the terrible earthquake, Manta Airport when resuming its commercial operations, operated with a series of tents exposed to the open air that generated several complaints and claims towards the authorities. no air conditioning, dirt or stone floor, little space and exposure to inclement weather affected passenger traffic to this city, Sure, the earthquake was the main cause.
Given the need to offer a better service to passengers and support the economic recovery of the province, the authorities prepared a temporary and a long-term strategy for the fourth airport in the country in annual passengers with more than 264 thousand yearly with the Quito route – Manta.
Provisional Terminal Manta International Airport
Manta International Airport (THERE IT IS: GUY, ICAO: DISTRICT) It is the main air terminal of Manabí and is administered by the DGAC – General Directorate of Civil Aviation. It has a runway 2.860 meters long by 46 meters wide with direction 06/24 of asphalt material.
Located at 15 meters high this airport until the year 2009 It was the site of a United States military base for the control of drug trafficking and during that time the airport was repowered with the construction of new platforms, installation of lighting system and ILS and improvement of its runway, which was rebuilt with concrete for greater duration and resistance in both headwaters, now the whole track is asphalt.
Currently, the FAE – Ecuadorian Air Force uses those facilities and the Ecuadorian Navy has also increased its presence with the construction of its own hangar and platform.
With a construction area of 1.350 square meters that required an investment greater than the $500 one thousand dollars, the 6 October this provisional terminal was inaugurated, to offer better services and comfort for passengers.
The temporary terminal is located to the south of what was the previous terminal of the airport. The new terminal or hangar is quite similar in design and distribution to the destroyed original Eloy Alfaro terminal.
Despite being small and not very attractive to the eye, It is a functional terminal that has all the facilities for passengers. Commercial stores, toilets, security and even free WiFi network are available at the airport.
With the early arrival of LATAM Airlines Ecuador with flights from Quito, surely additional adaptations will be made to the terminal so that they can operate the 3 airlines, surely there will be rotation of the use of check counters.
It must be remembered that before the earthquake this airport operated Aviation Airlines from Barcelona, Venezuela with 3 weekly flights and also came to operate Laser and Aeropostal, both Venezuelan in charter mode.
New Manta Airport
The totally new terminal of the Manta Airport, It will be located in the area where the previous terminal that was affected by the earthquake was located and additionally, will occupy a larger construction area, since the current parking lots will also be moved to make room for this new space.
It should be noted that at least in the initial renders, the new terminal will not have boarding sleeve systems and this process would continue to be carried out on foot to and from the aircraft. We hope the project will have the option of adapting sleeves for aircraft coupling in the future., taking into account the international category of the airport and the potential benefits of the Open skies that this airport could have.
The new construction will have an estimated size of 5.000 square meter, will have a greater capacity to 400 passengers at rush hour and will require an investment of more than $25 million dollars that will be in charge of the Government of Ecuador with funds earmarked for reconstruction after the earthquake.
This budget includes planning and design work, new terminal, cargo platform, new control tower (it currently operates with a provisional tower), enclosure, runway maintenance and aeronautical and technological elements.
The start of construction was to take place during the year 2018 and should be ready by the middle or end of the 2019, but its start has been postponed without a specific start date or completion date for construction.
Airline, flights and frequencies to Manta
To Manta airport, currently fly 2 passenger airlines, which only cover the domestic route Quito – Manta – Quito, below we detail their itineraries and frequencies:
Flights Quito – Avianca Ecuador blanket
Avianca Ecuador operates 12 weekly flights between Quito and Manta with Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.
Flights Quito – Manta de Tame EP
Tame EP opera 9 weekly flights on the Quito route – Manta with ATR42-500 and Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft.
It should be noted that 2 years ago, Tame came to operate 19 weekly flights on the route with up to 3 Daily flights.
Too Copa Airlines has indicated its interest in starting flights, when conditions allow, to Manta from Panama.
Also and according to the cargo demand, in some seasons the airline lands in Manta Cuban Cargo with flights to and from Havana with up to 2 weekly flights.
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Let's hope we don't wait for the new airport to open, and start by not having a store dump that has a robbery in the prices of drinks! Demand 2,50$ for a bottle of water is a nerve. You can't see the tourist's face like that and abuse like that.
Regrettably, those prices are normal in all airports, will always be superior to a corner store.
excellent report.
It would be a great shame if it did not have sleeves.
Half things once again.
We hope that the planning and development contemplates this project in the future without another reinvestment.
will not have sleeves, at least at this stage and I don't know if it will be contemplated.
I tell you that this was said by the Minister of Transportation and Public Works in a radio interview at the Manta airport…
https://twitter.com/PublicaFM/status/1027170974603649025
Thank you Alexander, very different from what the Vice Presidency said, who do we believe?
The terminal will have two floors. ?
Manta has a barbaric development, it grows more every day, we need an airport like the one in Guayaquil , quito ,etc. manta needs more international flights that go directly to italy , U.S , France ,etc to promote tourism
From what is seen in the renders, it will be only one, at least, initially.
very nice collection .thanks for sharing…
Hello friend, I always follow your information regarding the aeronautical issue and you have good topics like scoops. About the new Manta airport, City where I live, The truth seems to me that it is going to have a horrible design, nothing to do with the new infrastructures of the world's airports. The most painful thing is that no authority says anything; That construction model has a market crossed out. Shame on Manta
Hello John, nice and thanks for writing. The design seems to me to be very close to all those that have been built new or remodeled in Ecuador such as Esmeraldas and Santa Rosa. Honestly, More than the design, it makes it more difficult for me that the design does not have boarding sleeves from the beginning or at least it does not seem that they can be implemented. Hopefully the final design, since what is shown are only renders, take into account the installation of sleeves, with the potential of Manta, they have to have.
very good with everyone, I congratulate you for such a good report and information, I would like to know the name of the architect who designed such a passenger terminal for the Manta airport, It would be great to know what inspired him.
Let's hope those details are known.
Valuable information Nicholas. Without a doubt, it will be a very beautiful terminal with state-of-the-art and anti-seismic technology.. There will also be space to expand the airport due to its space and location with another runway in the future when more airlines arrive..
The tourist potential of Manta is enormous, with proper development and investment it will be an internationally renowned coastal port. We all want it to be like this for the good of the country.
Very much agree Carlos!