Since October, Ecuador misses its direct flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Saint Joseph on Costa Rica, reducing five routes immediately.
A few weeks ago I commented on my networks and blog about the map of direct international routes that Ecuador has and with which we would close the 2026, with interesting prospects for next year, but just before closing the year, news and updates arrive about some direct routes that we have from both Quito and Guayaquil..
The summary, we miss direct flights to Argentina and Costa Rica in a single direct blow to our connectivity, which seemed to be in full recovery and growth with the launch of flights to Toronto, Montreal and Santiago toward Quito. Not everything is good news and I also report the bad news in this space.
Ecuador loses flights to Buenos Aires and San José
Until this month of October, Ecuador had two airlines operating at Argentina: Avianca and LATAM, but it is worth clarifying that the second had already suspended its flights since Quito y/o Guayaquil via Lima a Buenos Aires the 1 from September of 2026.
After 4 years of the greatest historical connectivity between Ecuador and Argentina, all direct flight options are lost, directly affecting costs, options, times and trade between both nations, demonstrating that despite having agreements of Open skies, these are not a guarantee of flights, even more so when market conditions and operating costs cause routes to lose profitability..
We are going to review the operational context of the two airlines that have suspended or will suspend their operations between both countries.:
In the case of Avianca, operates the direct route from Quito and Buenos Aires that starts in Saint Joseph from the 30 October 2022 and operated with up to one daily flight with airplanes Airbus A320neo, at the time operated by both the subsidiary of Costa Rica as for that of Ecuador.
But from Quito it is not everything, also operates the route between Guayaquil and Buenos Aires that starts in Costa Rica and which was operated at the time by Avianca Costa Rica and Avianca Ecuador, operating from the 27 October 2024 with 4 current weekly frequencies.
About, I asked Avianca about its decision to stop operating the route, commenting on the following officially:
On Avianca We permanently evaluate the performance of our network to ensure that our capacity is aligned with the needs of our clients and with the growth opportunities of each market.. As part of this process, we have decided to suspend, from the 24 October 2026 San José routes (SJO) – Quito (UIO) – Buenos Aires (EZE) and San Jose (SJO) – Guayaquil (GYE) – Buenos Aires (EZE), operated by Avianca Costa Rica S.A., date on which our last flights will take place.
Our priority is to protect our clients' travel plans. Thus, all passengers with confirmed reservations will be relocated through the Avianca Group route network. What's more, In case this option does not suit your needs, They may request the corresponding reimbursement for the journeys that are pending to fly..
On the other hand and in the case of LATAM Ecuador, historically operated non-stop flying from Quito via Guayaquil and even via Santiago de Chile (when it was LAN Ecuador), but it is worth pointing out that, in october 2022, with a daily flight, LATAM Ecuador returned to operate in Buenos Aires – Ezeiza, operated both since Guayaquil as from Quito with Airbus A319 aircraft. As time went by, the offer was adjusted with a stopover via Lima, but this connection has already stopped operating 1 last september.
It is worth indicating that all routes have been or will be suspended, leaving open the possibilities in the future that either of the two, if market conditions are favorable, restart their respective flights, that today, due to the increase in the operating cost of fuel and the increase in the cost of living in Argentina, have reduced the demand for these flights that for years have performed with good operating and profit margins.
Let's hope in the short term to have news of direct flights that connect these two Latin American capitals again..
✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Search here for hotels ALL over the world at the best price.
