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We analyze the historical impact, operational and what we can expect from the El Niño phenomenon at airports and flights Ecuador, and of the region, with essential codes for travelers. Reference photo created with AI
The El Niño phenomenon is one of the most determining meteorological events for the South Pacific region. Although its effects are usually measured in terms of rainfall, agriculture and road infrastructure, The air transport sector faces a complex scenario that tests the resilience of civil aviation.
From the temporary suspension of operations due to adverse weather conditions to the logistics of airlifts in times of crisis, Intense weather events require rigorous technical deployment by airlines, airport operators and aeronautical authorities.
I remember a while ago, a big storm fell on Guayaquil, flooding several areas of the city, one of them was the airport, although its operations were not completely suspended, did generate some delays or operational difficulties and if this happened with a storm, what could happen with El Niño? . With this as a reference, I thought it was important to analyze what could happen in the coming weeks, even more so with the threat that it will not be just any year, but a "Super", «Mega» or «the worst in history» Niño, so be prepared and anticipate, It will always be a great recommendation.
El Niño and aviation
Although there is very little information available about what exactly happened regarding flights in 1997, which was the last great event of El Niño, since only today the press cares about the airline industry…, yes there is some context that will allow us to understand what could happen.
To better understand what is happening, let's go for the basics. The El Niño phenomenon is a natural climate pattern characterized by anomalous warming of surface waters in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean.. It is generated when the trade winds, which normally blow from east to west pushing warm water towards Oceania, weaken or reverse direction. This allows warm water masses to move towards the coasts of South America, altering global atmospheric circulation and causing intense rains and flooding in countries such as Ecuador and Peru, while generating droughts in other regions of the world.
This produces the presence of warm and unstable air masses coupled with strong convective storms., that generate conditions that directly affect flight stages and platform operations. For instance, In the coming months we could see the following in several airports in the region:
- Abrupt changes in the direction and intensity of the wind in the final phases of approach or during takeoff, forcing the crews to execute go-around maneuvers (go-around) or diversions to alternate airports to safeguard the aircraft.
- High intensity precipitation that reduces the minimum visibility required to operate safely and increases the risk of hydroplaning on the runway., which results in the temporary closure of airspace in key terminals in the country such as Guayaquil (GYE), to mention one.
- The saturation of drainage systems and landslides on the state road network make it difficult to transport technical personnel, crews and passengers to airports, stressing the programmed itineraries.
- Flooding of airport facilities would cause operations to be suspended or passengers not to be able to use the spaces designated for them., depending on the intensity of the rain and its damage generated.
Lessons from historical events in Ecuador
The analysis of the historical phenomenon of 1997-1998 —evaluated at the time by the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC)— made it clear how the collapse of land routes turned aviation into the only logical and emergency connectivity route for the country. Thus, keep all airports in the Costa area active and available, will be essential for the short term.
For the most recent cycles, The industry has adopted preventive measures at airports in the Costa and Sierra region. These actions cover the waterproofing of terminals, preventive maintenance of the running layer on runways and the adaptation of drainage channels to mitigate the impact of severe rainfall.
As you can see, there is little information available, but it is to be expected that as countries that have experienced El Niño before, preventive actions have been taken, they are almost 30 years since the last large-scale event of this nature. There is no excuse.
Recommendations for travelers
In the presence of severe weather events and I am not just referring to the bus (speaking in Ecuadorian), The operational management of flights strictly conforms to the aeronautical safety manuals. If you plan to travel during these periods, Take into account the following recommendations that I can give you as a frequent traveler and keep them for all your trips.:
- You understand that any adjustment to your departure time, Detour to an alternate or cancellation does not respond to a logistical oversight, but to the rigorous application of operational safety standards. The absolute priority of crews and air traffic controllers is to get the aircraft to the ground safely..
- Check the status of your itinerary through the airline's mobile applications or the official accounts of airport operators before moving to the terminal. look at the news, You will be able to know in advance if your origin or destination is experiencing bad weather that could affect your travel plans., that is, it anticipates, desire.
- Consider additional road travel times to counter congestion, accumulations of water on public roads or partial closures of access avenues.
- Make sure your email and cell phone number are correctly registered on your reservation to receive automatic notifications in case of itinerary changes.
Okay, This post only had the idea of starting to talk about the topic., so that we are prepared, We do not know the magnitude that El Niño will finally have, which we all hope is as little as possible for the good and safety of all, but be prepared, will always give us an advantage.
As you can see, the aviation y los fenómenos meteorológicos extremos están indisolublemente ligados. Eventos como El Niño ponen a prueba de forma constante los límites operativos de las aerolíneas, los aeropuertos y el control del tráfico aéreo. Si bien las demoras, desvíos o cancelaciones pueden resultar incómodos para los pasajeros, es crucial recordar que cada decisión técnica tomada en tierra o en la cabina responde a un solo principio fundamental: operational security.
A medida que la infraestructura aeroportuaria continúa adaptándose y fortaleciéndose frente al cambio climático, la preparación preventiva y la comprensión de los usuarios seguirán siendo la mejor herramienta para mantener los cielos seguros.
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