Manta flights – Galapagos: What is lacking?

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In a short time the start of flights between Manta and Galapagos, But what is missing for this to become a reality??

Once inaugurated (again) the new passenger terminal Eloy Alfaro International Airport In the city of Manta, expectations are high regarding the development of new direct routes from this airport..

several months ago, the intention of LATAM Ecuador to fly to the Galapagos from this airport with significant growth potential, but there has been no news about that project. Now the name of Avianca Ecuador as the airline interested in doing so.

Manta to Galapagos flights

With the terminal working and the intentions of the airlines to fly from Manta to the Galapagos, we must review what is needed for these flights to materialize..

Normally, we would think that it is very easy, the airline flies and ready, but in the case of Galapagos due to environmental control and powers of the provincial government, Several modifications to regulations must be made and even the acquisition of equipment to be able to have these flights.

let's remember, before moving forward, that at the moment the only airports authorized to issue passengers to Galapagos are those of Guayaquil and Quito, this is the preamble to move forward with what is needed.

¿Qué hace falta?

1. That the interested airline modify its operating permit to include the Manta point: currently the routes are made up of Quito and/or Guayaquil to the Galapagos. In this way, the interested company should modify to do it Quito and/or Guayaquil and/or Manta as an example.
2. Fueling: according to NOTAM this point is already solved, but it must go through the respective quality control audits by the airlines to comply with their parameters.
3. The Migration and Residence Regulations of the Special Regime of Galapagos must be modified: ordinance no. 001-CGREG-V-V-2017, specifically the art. 46 has as the only departure airports to the Galapagos those of Quito and Guayaquil.
4. Favorable reports are required to be issued by ABG, DPNG and CGREG for the operation of these flights.
5. Adquisition of equipments: X-rays and/or tomographs for inspection of hand luggage and bodega are required for their review and thus avoid the entry of prohibited items to the islands.
6. Personal: personnel must be trained and hired for the different entities mentioned in point 4.
7. Others

I consulted the Minister of Transport in this regard and he told me that in total they are 26 points to be resolved:

They're like 26 steps in the roadmap that was prepared on 12 December to reach this target before the 31 from January 2023. The Vice Minister @aguilarh_jose is in charge. The ABG inspection will be done with my presence in Manta. cordially invited @n_larenas, if you have time.

— Darío V. Herrera (@dariovherrera) December 28, 2022

¿Qué ventajas ofrece Manta?

You may be wondering why the airlines want to cover this route now and not before.. I am going to detail some advantages over the traditional technical scale in Guayaquil:

• Aviation fuel subsidy
• Reduced airport taxes
• low air traffic
• optimal track
• favorable weather

Based on the first two points, We can think that the airlines are interested in Manta since they would lower their operating costs compared to stopping in Guayaquil, although the challenge will be in counting on the demand to complete the quotas of travelers who would normally go up in the JJO to complete the quotas from Quito.

For now, Let's hope these pending advances and these flights and also the international ones that would be even more attractive towards Panama for instance.

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