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FEATURE<br />
GUAYAQUIL<br />
Ecuadorian<br />
Swansong<br />
Sebastian Schmitz reports from Guayaquil’s José Joaquín de Olmedo International<br />
Airport, a few years before its replacement by a new out-of-town facility.<br />
AeroGal is now<br />
known as Avianca<br />
Ecuador and is one<br />
of three carriers<br />
competing on the<br />
lucrative route Quito.<br />
The airline’s Airbus<br />
A319-112 HC-CKL<br />
(c/n 1866) is<br />
prepared for its next<br />
flight. (All photos<br />
author)<br />
Ecuador<br />
Peru<br />
Airport Statistics<br />
ICAO Code:<br />
IATA Code:<br />
Location:<br />
Elevation:<br />
Runway:<br />
SEGU<br />
GYE<br />
02° 09.26’ S, 79° 53.00’ W<br />
19ft (6m)<br />
03/21 9,154 x 151ft<br />
(2,790 x 46m)<br />
Frequencies: ATIS: 115.9<br />
Tower: 118.3<br />
Ground: 121.9<br />
Approach: 119.3<br />
Website: www.tagsa.aero<br />
Colombia<br />
Brazil<br />
Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest<br />
city, a major commercial centre<br />
and a hub for transportation,<br />
although it is yet to achieve<br />
tourist attraction status. Yet, during a visit<br />
to the country, travellers are likely to make the<br />
acquaintance of Guayaquil’s José Joaquín de<br />
Olmedo Airport (GYE) and even more likely<br />
to find it a very pleasant experience.<br />
A strong second place<br />
Follo wing major upgrades, Ecuador’s second<br />
busiest airport (after the new Quito Airport<br />
which opened in 2013) is one of the most<br />
modern in Latin America, with a wellappointed<br />
terminal and offering a wide range<br />
of domestic and international connections. It<br />
is just over 3 miles (5km) from the city centre<br />
so extremely convenient. However, as it is<br />
surrounded by homes and industry it cannot<br />
grow at the current location. Plans for a new<br />
airport outside the city are already in place<br />
and construction is set to start in 2019 with<br />
a planned opening five years later. By that<br />
time, in spite of its impressive new terminal,<br />
GYE will probably be operating beyond its<br />
design capacity.<br />
Corporación América, an Argentinean<br />
holding company, was awarded the<br />
concession to run the airport in 2004. The<br />
firm has stakes in more than 50 airports<br />
around the world, including Argentina,<br />
Uruguay and Armenia. A separate company<br />
was established to run Guayaquil Airport –<br />
TAGSA (Terminal Aeroportuaria de Guayaquil<br />
SA) and construction of the new terminal<br />
began immediately after the concession<br />
contract was signed. In 2008, the deal<br />
was extended from 15 to 20 years, and now<br />
runs until 2024 when the new facility is<br />
due to open.<br />
Today’s airport<br />
The modern terminal opened in July 2006<br />
and replaced a much smaller structure at<br />
the southern end of the airport, which was<br />
subsequently converted into an exhibition<br />
centre. To coincide with the new terminal<br />
inauguration, the airport’s name was<br />
changed from ‘Simón Bolívar’ to ‘José<br />
Joaquín de Olmedo’, a famous Guayaquilborn<br />
Ecuadorian poet and driving force<br />
behind the country’s fight for independence<br />
from Spain (which occurred in 1830) and<br />
who later became the Ecuadorian president.<br />
Although the terminal is already eight<br />
years old, the building still has a ‘brand<br />
new’ feel to it.<br />
78 airports of the world
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