Air France returns to Ecuador after 25 years

Ecuadornews:

In the last two years four new airlines have arrived in Ecuador and next year Air France returns. A fact that benefits the tourism sector. But the most benefited city is Quito: of the five airlines, only two arrive in Guayaquil.

Rob Westerman, regional delegate of Andean countries & Netherlands Antilles of Air France, told Diario EXPRESO that the flight Joon (from the same Air France economic group) will connect the Ecuadorian market with France and the rest of Europe.

“The study on the viability of the Joon route to Ecuador showed a greater demand for tourism to Quito as a gateway to the country, from where travelers can connect later with Guayaquil and other cities in the country,” Westerman said explaining why they They also have a route that lands in Quito.

Air France returns to the country after 25 years.  It left because of the economic situation of that time, which forced the company to leave some countries, including Ecuador. “The brand that is here, KLM, is working very well and that allows Air France to return with Joon,” Westerman said.

Air France will arrive in Quito with Joon. One difference is that the hostesses wear casual wear, said Rob Westerman, regional delegate of the Andean countries of Air France.

Another motivation to return is that the company has seen an increase in interest in coming to Ecuador, and that predilection goes beyond Paris; and Air France can also provide the service to these other routes, then the Ecuadorian market becomes interesting.

Air France will arrive in 2019, but there is another airline that announced in 2017 that it would land in the country this year. Condor Flugdienst GmgH would have the Frankfurt-Santo Domingo-Quito route. Among those that already operate is Air Europa, which expanded its frequencies to Ecuador, flying Madrid-Quito-Guayaquil.

GOL, which gives the Sao Paulo-Quito service, is from this year. And one of the first to come is Spirit Airlines, which offers the Fort Lauderdale-Guayaquil route.

The tourism sector expects an exponential growth in the arrival of travelers to the country. The increase was 55.6% comparing January to September of this year with the same period of 2017, according to the Ministry of Tourism. (I)

Source: https://www.expreso.ec/economia/viajes-turismo-aerolinea-airfrance-ecuador-CA2442224