Summary
The New Quito International Airport is located at approximately 18 kilometers east of Quito replacing the former Mariscal Sucre Airport located in the densely populated residential area of Quito’s northern sector. The Civil Aviation Direction of Ecuador acquired the relocation site in the 1970s through fair compensations. The relocation is also part of Quito’s Municipality effort to promote aviation safety, renew its historical center and create an urban park in the grounds of the old airport. The new airport site was an undeveloped greenfield that presented a range of habitat conditions, a high level of biodiversity, and neighbors mostly agricultural lands. The new airport has 1500 hectares, which exceed the old airport capacity expecting having more passengers and cargo demands. The new airport includes a 4,100-meter landing strip, a passenger terminal, an administrative building, national and international cargo buildings, navigation systems, a catering building, and a wastewater treatment plant. Quito’s Municipality is the project’s owner and private companies fund construction and operations estimated at US $700 million. The major companies involved are AECON Group and Airport Development Corporation from Canada, the HAS Development Corporation from United States, and the Compañía de Concesiones Rodoviárias from Brazil. Part of the revenue estimated at US $800 million during the 35 years long operation concession by Corporación Quitport S.A., who also operated the old airport, is anticipated to help subsidize future subway and road projects.
Research director
Dr. Andreas Georgoulias
Research core team
Cristina Contreras, ENV-SP • Hatzav Yoffe, ENV-SP
Case study written by
Maria Ignacia Arrasate, MDes Risk & Resilience 2015 candidate
Editors
Julie Mercier, MDes Risk & Resilience 2015 candidate
