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Needs to Guayaquil a new airport? When and where should it be built? These and other key questions are answered by THERE IT IS in an exclusive interview for our portal.
Within the framework of HERE IS THE AGM 2026 celebrated in Rio de Janeiro, I was able to speak with the organization about one of the most controversial topics in aviation today. Ecuador. Of course, the controversy over the future of Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport and the existing discrepancies between the central government and the local municipality regarding the need and location of a new air terminal..
New Guayaquil Airport, when and where?
Peter Cerda, regional vice president of THERE IT IS for the Americas, was blunt when evaluating the current state of the Guayaquil terminal. According to industry analysis, the current airport remains functional and efficient, far outweighing the immediate need for replacement:
«We are growing as an industry, but we have not reached a saturation point or average capacity at the Guayaquil Airport. The airport that is inside the city, for the passenger, It is a benefit for the sector. The one we have today meets the needs we have.".
The design capacity of Guayaquil José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport is currently located in the 7.5 million passengers per year. For his part, The current registered demand is 4.4 million passengers per year, figure that remains below the nominal capacity of the infrastructure. In this context, the executive of THERE IT IS maintains that the terminal still retains a considerable operating margin, indicating that the sector continues to function efficiently without having yet reached a saturation or collapse scenario that requires immediate relocation.
Planning as the guiding axis
While the industry recognizes that the government may have long-term development visions, Cerdá emphasized that any decision about a new terminal must be stripped of political interests and based strictly on technical demand.. The executive stressed that, although the Ecuadorian market maintains a growth trend, does not currently present critical saturation levels like those observed in other regional markets.
On the location and characteristics of an eventual new infrastructure, airline priority is clear: connectivity and accessibility. Cerdá warned about the risks of building isolated terminals, citing negative examples in the region where the lack of external connection infrastructure - such as bridges or expressways - has ended up affecting the passenger.. About, he pointed:
«The important thing is to have access to the city that allows the passenger to arrive quickly., efficient and safe. Obviously there are options not only for cars., but also train, if possible, and that the distance is not very long".
The exact location of a new air terminal must be defined technically, analyzing the benefits that each one can bring for travelers, airlines, operators and each of the actors who are part of the life of an airport. For now, The current infrastructure meets what the demand requires, so thinking about a new airport is still far away.
Guaranteed operational safety
Given the concerns about the central location of the current airport and its space limitations in the security areas of the runway ends, Cerdá ruled out that this constitutes a technical reason to force an immediate transfer. He assured that the operation in Guayaquil remains under the strictest international air safety standards, a priority that the industry does not negotiate under any circumstances.
In conclusion, the position of THERE IT IS It is a call for prudence and coordinated planning. For the organism, The priority should not be the hasty construction of a new terminal, but the continuous optimization of the existing infrastructure, which, till the date, continues to be valued positively both for its professional management and for its ability to meet the operational expectations of the international airlines that connect with Guayaquil.
The future of the airport Guayaquil requires a pragmatic vision that transcends territorial debates. Regardless of whether the project eventually materializes in sectors such as Taura or Daular, The construction of a new terminal must be a response to a real technical demand and not a temporary impulse.
The right time to execute this transition will be when the current infrastructure reaches its maximum capacity., a scenario that, based on current industry projections, is still several years away. Until that point comes, The priority should be to maintain operational efficiency and responsible planning that ensures that, when it is necessary to take the step, the new airport is a strategic asset, connected and optimized for the sustainable growth of aviation in Ecuador.
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