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Discover Antanka, the first hotel restaurant on a plane in Ecuador. One Embraer 190 (HC-CGF) ex-Tame EP transformed into a unique tourist concept.
Commercial aviation and tourism often find creative ways to reinvent themselves. After the cessation of operations of Tame EP, the flag carrier ecuadorian, Questions arose about the final destination of its aircraft fleet. Some aircraft were sold in flying condition as the ATR, returned to their owners and others, They were disassembled for pieces.
Hoy, one of his most iconic pieces has begun a completely different chapter: become the first themed hotel restaurant inside an airplane in the Ecuador and it is already operational.
Antanka Lodge on Lake San Pablo
Under the name Antanka—a term of Quichua origin that literally translates as “airplane” or “iron bird”—, This pioneering project combines the conservation of the national aeronautical heritage with a high-end hotel and gastronomic proposal. To learn how the passenger cabin was transformed, the flight systems and the fuselage of this aircraft in a habitable and tourist space, I have recorded a special AeroReportaje on my YouTube channel.
In the video, we take a detailed tour of the aircraft structure, from the adapted cockpit to the suites and the gastronomic proposal served on board. It is an essential visual experience to understand the scale of the engineering and design work required to convert a commercial jet into an operational tourist complex..
History of the Embraer 190 HC-CGF
The star of this project is an Embraer 190AR regional jet, registered at the time with the Ecuadorian registration number HC-CGF (msn serial number 137). Manufactured by the Brazilian firm Embraer in the year 2007, This aircraft played a key role in the modernization of commercial aviation in the country.
It was part of the ambitious fleet renewal promoted by Tame at the end of the 1990s. 2000 to strengthen internal connectivity and cover regional routes to destinations such as Bogotá, Cali, Caracas and Lima.
In its commercial days, The aircraft was configured to accommodate 104 passengers in a single class, operated by two pilots and three flight attendants.
It was equipped with two GE CF34-10E5 turbofan engines., The E190 offered a greater range than the 4.000 kilometers and a cruising altitude of up to 41.000 pies, becoming the workhorse of Ecuador's domestic and cross-border network.
After the liquidation process of the state company and the definitive withdrawal of the fleet, The HC-CGF was acquired at auction by the private company to rescue pieces and parts that could still be used in other Embraer aircraft and later, local visionaries to prevent its dismantling for scrap, thus giving it a lasting historical and tourist value.
Where is Antanka and what does the experience offer??
Strategically located for national and international tourism, The project is located in the province of Imbabura, in the Gonzalez Suarez sector, Araque community, very close to Lake San Pablo.
Antanka's comprehensive proposal is divided into three main pillars:
- The central area of the passenger cabin was refurbished as a themed dining room where diners enjoy a signature menu, preserving the original windows and details of the aeronautical lighting.
- The front and rear sections of the fuselage will be transformed into exclusive suites equipped with all modern comforts., air conditioning and views of the natural environment of the area.
- Rooms available for couples and families just below the Embraer fuselage 190.
Adaptive reuse projects for retired aircraft such as Antanka are common in North American and European markets, but they represent an absolute novelty in the Andean region. This initiative not only preserves a material asset that was part of the history of the Ecuadorian skies, but creates a new pole of economic and tourist development in the northern mountains of the country.
If you are passionate about aviation, gastronomy or are you looking for an unusual lodging experience, I invite you to watch the complete AeroReportaje on YouTube to get a closer look at every corner of this fascinating Embraer 190.
For reservations, I recommend you consult directly with Antanka's social networks.
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