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We spoke with Marisol Ruiz, Sales Manager of Copa Airlines on Ecuador about the airline's current affairs in the country, increase in frequencies and flights to Guayaquil, Quito and Manta.
Copa Airlines is the airline with the most international destinations in all of Latin America and its network continues to grow, only this year it will open 3 new routes towards San Diego, Salta and Tocuman, strengthening its route network and offering more and more options for travelers connecting in the Tocumen International Airport, Your great connection hub.
Among these travelers, there are the Ecuadorians, that during the 2024 added more than 1 million trips to more than 18 millions of passengers who traveled through Cup in all America. In this context and with an annual growth close to the 5%, Copa Airlines continues to position its brand and preference in the Ecuadorian market increasing frequencies and capacity.
Copa Airlines flies more than 60 times a week to Ecuador
In this important context and in search of good news for Ecuadorian aviation after months of news of airline departures and decline in connectivity, I was able to talk to the airline Cup in Ecuador with their 3 international routes in the country. Is the airline growing? How many frequencies are there? How is Manta doing?? I will tell you this and more below..
Have passed 32 years since Copa Airlines began its flights to Ecuador performing a triangulation Panama – Quito – Guayaquil, Now the reality is another, The airline reaffirms its strong commitment to the connectivity of Ecuador, surpassing the 60 weekly frequencies that connect the country with Panama and the rest of the American continent. In an exclusive interview with Marisol Ruiz, Copa Airlines sales manager in Ecuador, We explore the constant growth of the airline in the main Ecuadorian cities, the surprising success of the Manta-Panama route and the news that awaits travelers in the near future.
Our conversation began with the impressive number of more than 60 weekly frequencies. Marisol Ruiz immediately emphasized the importance of maintaining that vital connection between Ecuador, Panama and the entire American continent during 32 years of uninterrupted operation. He detailed the robustness of its current operation: Five daily flights from Guayaquil and four from Quito, figures that speak for themselves about the demand and confidence of Ecuadorian passengers.
Nevertheless, It was Manta's story that especially captured our attention. Let's remember the initial skepticism when the route was launched, contrasting it with the resounding success that has led to the incorporation of a fifth weekly frequency and, sometimes, Temporary flights with greater capacity aircraft. «The secret of Manta goes beyond the city itself,» explained, "encompasses the entire region of Manabí." The figures are overwhelming: from an initial projection of 12,000 passengers in a year, They exceeded the 20,000 in just six months and reached more than 50,000 passengers in the last year. The key, according to Marisol, lies in being the only international airline connecting directly with the Hub of the Americas, offering a range of destinations for business travelers, Tourism and the Ecuadorian community abroad. The occupation higher than 85% It is a clear indicator of the reception of this route.
We deepen the pillars that support this growth, and Marisol highlighted the focus on customer service and the quality of the travel experience. From free onboard service to the inclusion of carry-on luggage in all fares and the comfort of business class on all their flights, Copa Airlines seeks to differentiate yourself. AND, of course, the puntuality, A crucial factor recognized at the regional level.
When exploring the passenger profile in Manta, Marisol revealed a balanced 50/50 between emissive and receptive traffic. Ecuadorians use the route mainly to connect with Panama and destinations in the United States and, increasingly, with Colombia.
As to Quito and Guayaquil, Marisol painted a picture of consolidated operations with high occupancy rates that exceed the 90%. Quito maintains its four daily frequencies, adapting to demand with additional flights in key seasons up to five daily flights. Guayaquil, With your five daily flights (and up to six at certain times), It benefits from a diverse demand that includes passengers from the coast, from the southern region and a strong flow towards USA through the convenient connection in Panama.
An added value that Marisol highlighted is the Panama Stopover program, that allows passengers to enjoy a stay in Panama no additional cost, an incentive that has been very well received. At 2024, more of 24.000 passengers from Ecuador they made Panama Stopover.
We were also able to learn very interesting data about the destinations most visited by Ecuadorians with Copa, which are Panama, new york jfk, Miami, Orlando and Mexico City.
Looking to the future, Marisol shared exciting news for 2025: The beginning of flights to San Diego and the expansion in Argentina with destinations like Salta and Tucumán. The airline hopes to continue growing in destinations and number of passengers, with a projection of more than one million passengers boarded from Ecuador on 2024 and an expectation of growth of 5% for this year. What's more, the consolidation of the fifth frequency in Manta is a key objective. «In the markets where we operate, Copa Airlines consistently ranks between first and second in terms of participation,» Marisol concluded., reaffirming the airline's leadership in the region.
We trust that Copa Airlines hold your position, growth and commitment to the Ecuadorian air market in the medium and long term.
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