Avianca Ecuador started flights between Manta and Galapagos (Baltra)

✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers

Verified codes to save on your next trip.

The airline Avianca Ecuador began its direct flights between Manta and the Island of Baltra on Galapagos with two initial weekly flights.

With a schedule of two weekly flights between Manta and Galapagos, Avianca began its new direct national route with the takeoff of flight AV1628 from the Eloy Alfaro International Airport towards the Galapagos Ecological Airport, on Baltra and with an occupation of more than 80% of the airplane.

After some months of uncertainty and doubts focused mainly on the fueling in this air terminal and having complied with all the requirements that the Government of Galapagos imposes on flights to Galapagos Islands, The operation began and allows Manabita travelers to travel to the Enchanted Islands without stopovers or without wasting time traveling by land to Guayaquil O Quito.

The airline will have flights on Sundays and Wednesdays on Airbus A320ceo or neo aircraft, with capacity for 180 passengers and an offer close to 3.000 monthly chairs, thus opening the third direct connection between the Ecuador continental y Galapagos.

Avianca Ecuador started Manta flights to Galapagos

I was able to be on this inaugural flight that will originate twice a week in Quito with a stopover in Manta, so I bring you the details of what this first operation was in this new Flight Report available on the YouTube channel:

To go into the report, We are going to talk about the schedules and frequencies that these flights have from the past 2 of July:

For travel to galapagos we must meet a series of basic requirements, the first and most important is to acquire the Transit Control Card – TCT that is purchased at airports in Guayaquil, Quito and now also in Manta for a value of $20 that must be paid by all travelers to the islands.

For this same reason, although it is a domestic flight, approach the airport with 2 hours in advance is recommended, since the line to acquire the TCT can be quite long, more than 500 tourists, you could potentially miss your flight. Without the TCT you will not be able to board your flight to the Galapagos.

This new route has a particularity, the flight from Quito is 2K1692, but when landing in Manta, it changes its flight number and even, you may have to change seats, despite the fact that you do not have to get off the plane if your final destination is Baltra, since this changes to 2K1628.

Definitely, One of the most frequently asked questions every time there is an inaugural flight is occupancy, so I will detail how the movement of passengers was on each of the flights:

• From Quito to Manta with 120 passengers.
  • 25 passengers stayed in Manta
• From Manta to Galapagos we travel 145 passengers.
  • In Manta they embarked 50 passengers to Baltra
• From Galapagos to Manta we traveled 100 passengers.

Upon arrival in Manta, the flight was greeted with the traditional water arch, where together with authorities from the city and Avianca the ribbon cutting was done, considering initially inaugurated these flights that many years ago had been looking for.

After the formal ceremony, the flight continued its route to the Islands Galapagos, which lasts for 1 hours and 24 minutes, which makes it an alternative to 15 minutes faster than doing it through Quito or Guayaquil, without counting the additional delays that there may be in terms of air traffic and other factors that occur in large airports and with more air operations.

After arriving in Galapagos, Ecuador formally began to have three continental destinations operating towards the archipelago, Without a doubt, a very important day for Ecuadorian aviation, which is taking new steps towards diversifying its network of traditional routes and offering more options to other cities., so that its inhabitants do not have to go to other intermediate points.

"We continue to strengthen the country's connectivity. Today we become the first airline to connect by air to the provinces of Manabí and Galapagos and with this we contribute to the revitalization of tourism, cargo transportation. We promote a new gateway to the Enchanted Islands with sustainable travel. We are very excited to open more doors to new adventures and opportunities”, said Juan Francisco Ortiz, Country Officer de Avianca. And he recalled that the new frequencies are added to the 30 weekly flights operating to San Cristóbal and Baltra from Quito and Guayaquil.

Thus, a completely new route in the country began its operations and opens the door for the country's third international airport (from 4 what we have) continue to grow thanks to its new infrastructure, and little by little it becomes attractive for more routes and airlines. It is a matter of waiting and trusting that the demand accompanies each of these operations.

✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers

Search here for hotels ALL over the world at the best price.