National COE authorizes an increase in the ceiling of air frequencies up to 50%

On July 17, the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) authorized the increase of air frequencies in Ecuador from 30% to 50% as of August 1.

According to the resolution, the percentage “may not exceed 50% of the frequencies authorized to the airlines in their operating permit, for which purpose, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works is appointed to notify the airlines of the approved percentage”.

For the resumption of commercial passenger operations that came into effect on June 1, the National COE authorized only the operation of airlines with up to 30% of the frequencies that operated before the present COVID-19 emergency. With the new resolution, airlines will be able to increase the percentage to 50% starting August 1.

The increase in the percentage of frequencies is one more step for the recovery of air transport in Ecuador. According to Allan Padilla, Director of Operations of Quiport, the company that operates and manages the Quito International Airport, “this is the result of the successful application of the sanitary protection measures and security protocols that are carried out in the airports of the country and in particular at the Quito airport. We have been working in hand with the authorities of the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the Municipality of Quito, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation and our airline partners so that the National COE can take this decision,” said the director.

In addition, Mr. Padilla revealed that several airlines that operate at the Quito airport register a significant demand for air tickets and they already had several plans in advance to increase their frequencies to the city. With this decision, the regulatory framework that allows airlines to increase their frequencies is now in place. “We have to move towards the recovery of air transport, which is one of the pillars on which the economic development of the city and the country is founded upon. A robust connectivity network will allow us to contribute to the recovery of business and tourism. We are also working with the Government to establish a measure to replace compulsory preventive isolation (APO, in Spanish) for people who may arrive in the country with a negative Covid-19 PCR test result, while maintaining security,” explained Allan Padilla.