Mariscal Sucre International Airport
Encyclopedia
Mariscal Sucre International Airport is the international airport
serving Quito
, the capital city of Ecuador
. It is named after Venezuelan born Antonio José de Sucre
, known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" ("Grand Marshal
of Ayacucho
"), a hero of Ecuadorian and Latin American independence. It began operations in 1960, and currently handles about 6.2 million passengers and 164,000 metric tons of freight per year. The airport, one of the highest in the world (at 2800 meters AMSL
) is located in the northern part of the city, in the Chaupicruz parish, within 5 minutes of Quito's financial center; the terminals are located at the intersection of Amazonas and La Prensa avenues.
Due to its location (in the middle of a city surrounded by mountains), the current airport cannot be expanded to accommodate any larger aircraft or an increase in air traffic. Its operation poses higher risks, too; six serious accidents and several incidents have taken place in recent years. A new airport
is being built in the Tababela parish, about 18 km to the east of the city. This is being constructed by a private consortium (including Aecon
) and is slated to begin operations in November 2011.
The airport charges an international departure tax of US $40.80 as of March 1, 2009, this fee is no longer paid at the airport, it is now included in all international airfares since February 2011.
destination and is sold as an Avianca flight but it is operated by Aerogal
.
: This destination is served as a TACA Peru
destination and is sold as a TACA Peru flight but it is operated by Aerogal
.
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
serving Quito
Quito
San Francisco de Quito, most often called Quito , is the capital city of Ecuador in northwestern South America. It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains...
, the capital city of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. It is named after Venezuelan born Antonio José de Sucre
Antonio José de Sucre
Antonio José de Sucre y Alcalá , known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" , was a Venezuelan independence leader. Sucre was one of Simón Bolívar's closest friends, generals and statesmen.-Ancestry:...
, known as the "Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho" ("Grand Marshal
Marshal
Marshal , is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word is an ancient loan word from Old French, cf...
of Ayacucho
Ayacucho
Ayacucho is the capital city of Huamanga Province, Ayacucho Region, Peru.Ayacucho is famous for its 33 churches, which represent one for each year of Jesus's life. Ayacucho has large religious celebrations, especially during the Holy Week of Easter...
"), a hero of Ecuadorian and Latin American independence. It began operations in 1960, and currently handles about 6.2 million passengers and 164,000 metric tons of freight per year. The airport, one of the highest in the world (at 2800 meters AMSL
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
) is located in the northern part of the city, in the Chaupicruz parish, within 5 minutes of Quito's financial center; the terminals are located at the intersection of Amazonas and La Prensa avenues.
Due to its location (in the middle of a city surrounded by mountains), the current airport cannot be expanded to accommodate any larger aircraft or an increase in air traffic. Its operation poses higher risks, too; six serious accidents and several incidents have taken place in recent years. A new airport
New Quito International Airport
The New Quito International Airport is an airport being built in the Tababela parish, about 20 km east of Quito, Ecuador, to replace Mariscal Sucre International Airport. Work on the facility began in 2006 and is expected to be completed by November 2011. A renegociation of the financing...
is being built in the Tababela parish, about 18 km to the east of the city. This is being constructed by a private consortium (including Aecon
Aecon
Aecon Canada's biggest publicly traded construction company, operates primarily in Canada but also abroad...
) and is slated to begin operations in November 2011.
The airport charges an international departure tax of US $40.80 as of March 1, 2009, this fee is no longer paid at the airport, it is now included in all international airfares since February 2011.
Facilities
The existing airport consists of one terminal split into a national and international area. It is equipped with five swing gates capable of directing arriving passengers to either Immigration or to baggage claim. In addition, there are numerous ground slots where passengers walk to the aircraft from the terminal.Terminals, airlines and destinations
: This destination is served as an AviancaAvianca
Avianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
destination and is sold as an Avianca flight but it is operated by Aerogal
Aerogal
AeroGal is an airline based in Quito, Ecuador. It operates passenger and cargo flights within Ecuador, between the mainland and the Galápagos Islands, and between Ecuador and New York, Perú and Colombia.- History :AeroGal was established in 1986.Through a commercial agreement between AeroGal and...
.
: This destination is served as a TACA Peru
TACA Peru
TACA Peru is an airline based in Lima, Peru. It operates domestic services and international services. Its main base is Jorge Chávez International Airport , Lima. The airline operates out of 18 airports. It is part of Grupo TACA and operates its flights with TACA's codes.- History :The airline was...
destination and is sold as a TACA Peru flight but it is operated by Aerogal
Aerogal
AeroGal is an airline based in Quito, Ecuador. It operates passenger and cargo flights within Ecuador, between the mainland and the Galápagos Islands, and between Ecuador and New York, Perú and Colombia.- History :AeroGal was established in 1986.Through a commercial agreement between AeroGal and...
.
Cargo airlines and destinations
Accidents and incidents
- September 16, 2011: The Ecuadorian newspaper El Comercio reports in Spanish that it was TAME flight 148 from Loja, 97 passengers & 6 crew, that slipped off the runway at 19:11 on Sept. 16. A government official at a 20:30 press conference said there were some passengers with "light contusions". There were no lives lost. See http://www.elcomercio.com/quito/Avion-Tame-salio-Mariscal-Sucre_0_555544616.html Another Ecuadorian newspaper, Hoy, includes other details. See http://www.hoy.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/un-avion-se-sale-de-la-pista-501107.html Regarding the airport closure, Hoy reports operations were closed approximately 3 1/2 hours and that after 22h30, some activity resumed with at least 4 take-offs as of 00:10 today (Sept. 17).
- September 30, 2010: Troops from the Ecuadorian airforce took control of Mariscal Sucre International Airport in protest2010 Ecuador crisisThe 2010 Ecuador crisis took place on September 30, 2010, when elements of the National Police and military forces of Ecuador blockaded highways, occupied the National Parliament, blocked the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito and the José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in...
of Ecuadorian president, Rafael CorreaRafael CorreaRafael Vicente Correa Delgado born is the President of the Republic of Ecuador and was the president pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations. An economist educated in Ecuador, Belgium and the United States, he was elected President in late 2006 and took office in January 2007...
. - October 27, 2009: An Ecuadorian Air ForceEcuadorian Air ForceThe Ecuadorian Air Force is the Air arm of the Military of Ecuador and responsible for the protection of the Ecuadorian airspace.-Mission:To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional objectives which guarantee sovereignty and contribute towards the nation's security and...
HAL DhruvHAL DhruvThe HAL Dhruv is a utility helicopter developed and manufactured by India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited . Dhruv was first announced in November 1984. The ALH was designed with assistance from MBB in Germany. The Dhruv first flew in 1992; but, due to the changing demands of the Indian Army and...
helicopter crashed during display maneuvers at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, with both pilots sustaining only minor scratches and no casualties. The aircraft was flying in military formation next to two other helicopters at the time of the incident. - March 19, 2009: An Ecuadorian Air ForceEcuadorian Air ForceThe Ecuadorian Air Force is the Air arm of the Military of Ecuador and responsible for the protection of the Ecuadorian airspace.-Mission:To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional objectives which guarantee sovereignty and contribute towards the nation's security and...
Beechcraft B200 King AirBeechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
struck a building2009 Quito B200 King Air crashThe 2009 Quito B200 King Air crash occurred when an Ecuadorian Air Force Beechcraft B200 King Air struck a building in the Guápulo district of Quito, Ecuador on March 19, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. . The plane was trying to land at Mariscal Sucre International Airport in heavy fog but grazed one house and...
in the Guápulo district of Quito while on approach to Mariscal Sucre International Airport in heavy fog. All five occupants of the aircraft were killed, as well as two people on the ground. - September 23, 2008: An Icaro AirIcaro AirIcaro Air is an airline based in Quito, Ecuador. It operates domestic passenger services under the name of Icaro Express, as well as fixed-wing and helicopter charters...
Fokker F28 Mk4000Fokker F28The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a short range jet airliner designed and built by defunct Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:...
skidded off of the runway. There were no injuries among the 62 passengers, but the aircraft was written off. - November 9, 2007: An Iberia AirlinesIberia AirlinesIberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., commonly known as Iberia, is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport....
Airbus A340-600Airbus A340The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...
(Iberia 6463 Flight) was badly damaged after sliding off the runway. The landing gear collapsed and two engines were dislodged. All 333 passengers and crew were evacuated via inflatable slides, but no serious injuries were reported. - January 17, 2003: A TAMETameTame may refer to:*Taming, the act of domesticating wild animals*River Tame, Greater Manchester*River Tame, West Midlands and the Tame Valley*Tame, Arauca, a Colombian town and municipality...
Fokker F28 Mk4000Fokker F28The Fokker F28 Fellowship is a short range jet airliner designed and built by defunct Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:...
ran off the runway after takeoff was abandoned due to a tire blowout. The nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest 81 meters past the runway threshold. There were no injuries. - August 29, 1998: A Cubana de AviaciónCubana de AviaciónCubana de Aviación S.A., commonly known as Cubana, is Cuba's largest airline and flag carrier. The airline was founded on 8 October 1929, and has its corporate headquarters in Havana. Its main base is at José Martí International Airport...
Tupolev Tu-154MTupolev Tu-154The Tupolev Tu-154 is a three-engine medium-range narrow-body airliner designed in the mid 1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. As the mainstay 'workhorse' of Soviet and Russian airlines for several decades, it serviced over a sixth of the world's landmass and carried half of all passengers flown...
overshot the runway killing the 14-member crew, 56 of the 77 passengers and 10 people on the ground. - May 1, 1996: A Fly Linhas AéreasFly Linhas Aereas-History:The airline began operations on August 25, 1995 with a Boeing 727-200 as a charter carrier linking Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to holiday destinations in the northeast of Brazil. Originally it was a direct competitor of Air Vias, another Brazilian airline dedicated to charter flights...
Boeing 727Boeing 727The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
-200 aborted takeoff in rainy weather, but overshot the runway, crossing a road that lay at the end of runway 35. The aircraft had been overloaded. No injuries were reported. - May 3, 1995: A Gulfstream II operated by American Jet selected the wrong VORVHF omnidirectional rangeVOR, short for VHF omnidirectional radio range, is a type of radio navigation system for aircraft. A VOR ground station broadcasts a VHF radio composite signal including the station's identifier, voice , and navigation signal. The identifier is typically a two- or three-letter string in Morse code...
frequency during a nighttime approach to Quito; the jet flew 12 miles further south than it should have, striking the Sincholagua volcano at 16,000 feet. All seven occupants were killed. - December 10, 1992: A North American Sabreliner 60 operated by the Ecuadorian Air ForceEcuadorian Air ForceThe Ecuadorian Air Force is the Air arm of the Military of Ecuador and responsible for the protection of the Ecuadorian airspace.-Mission:To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional objectives which guarantee sovereignty and contribute towards the nation's security and...
clipped a 10-story building under construction 3 kilometers south of the airport. The aircraft crashed into a residential area, killing all 10 on board and 3 more on the ground. - June 3, 1988: A North American Sabreliner 40 operated by the Ecuadorian Air ForceEcuadorian Air ForceThe Ecuadorian Air Force is the Air arm of the Military of Ecuador and responsible for the protection of the Ecuadorian airspace.-Mission:To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional objectives which guarantee sovereignty and contribute towards the nation's security and...
flew into a mountain on the outskirts of Quito, killing all 11 on board. - September 18, 1984: An AECA (Aeroservicios Ecuatorianos) Douglas DC-8Douglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
-50 freighter failed to achieve altitude during takeoff, running off the end of the runway and crashing into a residential area 460 meters past the runway, destroying 25 houses, killing all 4 crewmembers as well as 49 people on the ground. - April 29, 1982: A Lockheed C-130 Hercules operated by the Ecuadorian Air ForceEcuadorian Air ForceThe Ecuadorian Air Force is the Air arm of the Military of Ecuador and responsible for the protection of the Ecuadorian airspace.-Mission:To develop the military air wing, in order to execute institutional objectives which guarantee sovereignty and contribute towards the nation's security and...
crashed into a mountain near Quito while executing a missed approachMissed approachMissed approach is an instrument flight rules procedure which is a standard component segment of an instrument approach. Generally, if the pilot flying or the pilot in command determines by the time the aircraft is at the decision height or missed approach point , that the runway or its...
; 7 were killed. - January 27, 1980: An AviancaAviancaAvianca S.A. is the flag carrier airline of Colombia since December 5, 1919 when it was initially registered under the name SCADTA. It is headquartered in Bogotá, D.C. with its hub at the El Dorado International Airport...
Boeing 720Boeing 720The Boeing 720 is a four-engine narrow-body short- to medium-range passenger jet airliner. Developed by Boeing in the late 1950s from the Boeing 707, the 720 has a shorter fuselage and less range...
landed too fast, too far down the runway, and consequently overran, collapsing the nosegear. No injuries were reported. - November 7, 1960: An AREA Ecuador Fairchild F-27 crashed into a mountain 16 kilometers south of Quito during its approach. 37 occupants were killed.