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Does 15 years, the Ecuador with the Baltra Airport, took a key step in the conservation of Galapagos Islands with the construction and operation of the first ecological airport in the world.
are fulfilled 15 years since the start of operations of the first aerodrome planned and built under strict eco-efficiency standards worldwide: the Galapagos Ecological Airport. Managed by Corporación América Airports (CAAP), This project has demonstrated the viability of balancing the development of air connectivity with the strict preservation of highly vulnerable ecosystems..
15 years of the Galapagos Ecological Airport
The history of this air terminal dates back to the year 2008, when Corporación América Airports (CAAP) won the tender carried out by the government of Ecuador to build and operate an ecological airport in the Galapagos Islands. The central challenge was to structure a building 100% sustainable, directly oriented to maintaining the quality of the Natural Heritage of Humanity.
To achieve this goal, The architectural design was designed to make the most of the lighting conditions., temperature and winds typical of the island, adapting the structure to optimize the use of natural resources and materials from the old terminal Baltra. Responsibly, The administration has rigorously complied with the environmental regulations required by the Ministry of the Environment of Ecuador and the Galapagos National Park, spanning from the initial construction phase to current daily operation. This commitment has positioned the terminal as a technical benchmark in the international airport industry..
Global milestones and certifications
The effort to exceed conventional operational standards has allowed the airport to obtain the most demanding environmental recognitions at an international level.:
- LEED gold level certification: Awarded by the U.S.. Green Building Council, This distinction recognized a design and building aimed at optimizing energy use., illumination, water consumption and the use of ecological and recycled materials, formalizing its position as the world's first green airport.
- Carbon neutrality certification: Awarded by Airports Council International (ACI) through its Airport Carbon Accreditation program, made the terminal the first airport in Latin America and the Caribbean to achieve this status. This scheme certifies that the airport manages, reduces and offsets all carbon emissions generated by its operations.
Baltra Statistics
throughout these 15 years of service focused on excellence, quality and sustainability, The air terminal has mobilized about 7,5 million passengers, consolidating itself as the main gateway to the archipelago.
According to the most recent management reports, during the year 2025 They were recorded 527.526 passengers and 6.392 aircraft movements. These figures confirm a trend of sustained recovery compared to the levels recorded in the year 2019 (prior to the global health crisis), when they reported 526.662 passengers and 6.021 aircraft operations.
Although the year 2023 represented a historical peak in demand with 578.218 passengers and 7.079 movements, the contraction in 2024 (514.193 passengers and 6.058 movements) and the subsequent rebound in 2025 reflect a highly resilient operation. This behavior of air traffic demonstrates the infrastructure's ability to adapt to fluctuations in the tourism market, maintaining an essential balance between the demand for connectivity of users and the strict protection of the natural heritage that defines Galapagos.
Congratulations to the first ecological airport in the world and for many more years contributing to the conservation of the Galapagos Islands.
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