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New Quito International Airport

Sep 7th, 2012

Located 18 kilometres from central Quito in Tababela parish (part of the Metropolitan District of Quito), the new airport measures 10 times the size of the original airport. When the original airport was built in 1960, it was on the northern fringe of the city. In the meantime Quito expanded northward and development surrounded the airport preventing further expansion. The new airport is located at an altitude of 2400 metres (413 fewer than the current airport) and has a longer runway. The new runway measures 4100 metres which is nearly 1000 metres longer than the old one.

The new airport will be able to handle 5 million passengers annually. Its larger size and runway also means that larger aircrafts with more distant destinations and increased air traffic can be accommodated. Earlier proposals had been introduced to name the airport Mitad del Mundo International Airport, but in the end, it will be named Mariscal Sucre International Airport just like the original Quito airport.

The opening of the new airport will be on February 20, 2013 once the highways connecting the airport and central Quito have been finished.  This will provide better comfort and mobility for travellers. 

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