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Air Europa flew for the first time from Spain to Ecuador
Posted On 03 Jan 2018
Ecuadornews:
The company will operate from Madrid with three weekly flights to Quito and Guayaquil. Flights will increase in high season. The goal is to transport about 90,000 passengers a year. The Spanish airline Air Europa inaugurated yesterday the new frequency Madrid – Quito – Guayaquil -Madrid. This is the A330-200 aircraft that arrived at 07:30, after completing an 11-hour flight from Barajas International Airport, in Madrid. Cristóbal Roldán, ambassador of Ecuador in Spain, highlighted the open skies policy of the country to promote free competition, for the benefit of users.
He also said that the stable legal framework of the government of President Lenin Moreno has awakened the interest of another Spanish company and another German one. “Possibly at the end of this year flights to Frankfurt will increase, since airlines see the Government opening to foreign investment.” With the arrival of the aircraft, the presence of this Spanish flag company opens in the country that plans to transport at least 90,000 passengers a year. 160 passengers arrived for this flight.
As a welcome to the new line on the Ecuadorian airstrips, an event was prepared by the company Quiport. Germania Salme, commercial manager of Air Europa in Ecuador, pointed out that within the company’s expansion plan the arrival to Ecuador was always considered, since they see it as a country with commercial potential. The executive also referred to the open skies policy. She said that they see it in a positive way and as an initiative that will allow healthy competition. She added that passengers will have the opportunity to choose between more airlines, either for their attention, services or for the offer in their rates.
The Spanish airline will cover the Madrid-Quito-Guayaquil-Madrid route, as part of a flight strategy and in response to user demand. The destinations will have three weekly frequencies. Yves Gautier, director of operations of Quiport, said that this airline offers more possibilities for connectivity and diversification of schedules, thereby enhancing tourism and trade.
“This inaugural flight is a new sign of confidence in the security offered by the airport, which has consolidated its status as the main gateway to Ecuador.” Air Europa joins the two airlines that connected the country with Europe through Madrid and Amsterdam. Joffre Santana, an Ecuadorian citizen residing in the Iberian country, purchased his one way ticket in this new company for $ 1,215, while in other companies he was bordering between $ 1,300 and $ 1,400, so he described as positive the presence of other airlines so that there is a greater offer of flights and prices.
In a brief search conducted by this newspaper it was found, for example, that for a trip between the end of July and the beginning of August (high season), a flight in Air Europa in economic class is around $ 1,160, with the option of carrying a suitcase and another in the cellar. In other airlines the average cost of the same ticket is close to $ 1,400
Roads, ports and airports received $ 650 million
During 2017, the Government allocated $ 650 million for the maintenance of roads (9,900 kilometers), ports and airports. Among the works undertaken, the Azuay Road Plan stands out, which includes the intervention in six road projects, which reach more than 560 km, with an expected investment of $ 300 million, in its first stage. The construction of the Posorja Deep Water Port, the rehabilitation and expansion of the International Pier 2 of the Port of Manta and the dredging of the Port of Esmeraldas began with different management models. Regarding airports, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (I)
