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Flight into the future

Article - October 17, 2011
The planned airport at Daular can make Guayaquil the major transport hub for the whole of Latin America
Guayaquil has the potential to become the main commercial/cargo hub for Latin America once the Daular Airport project becomes a reality. The airport is ready to be built, well before the originally planned timeframe of  between 2017 and 2021. That’s when the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International airport will reach its capacity of 5 million passengers per year. But if a major cargo haulier can be attracted to the project, work can start immediately.

The new airport will be built in the Daular area, 12 miles outside the city, near the highway that connects Guayaquil to Salinas and other coastal towns.

Once built, the Daular Airport, designed in collaboration with US-based MITRE, will be one of the few airports in the world with three runways capable of handling simultaneous landings – even those of aircraft as large as the Airbus 380.

Having an international freight carrier base its operations in Guayaquil would be the icing on the cake with regard to the city’s plans of becoming the main commercial hub for Latin America.
“WE HAVE A FIRST CLASS PORT IN THE REGION, AN AIRPORT INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN LATIN AMERICA.”

Nicolas Romero, general manager of Autoridad Aeroportuaria de Guayaquil, states that the J.J. Olmedo airport is a window to the city, and that the airport is not only recognized globally but has been awarded several times as the “best airport” in Latin America as well as being classified as one of the best in the world.

“Guayaquil definitely has the infrastructure to be a logistics and commercial hub,” said Mr Romero. “We have a first class port in the region, an airport internationally recognized as one of the best in Latin America, and good infrastructure,” said Mr Romero.

Add to this Ecuador´s strategic position that provides direct access to East Asia markets and to the West coast of the United States. Its proximity to the Panama Canal permits safe access to Europe, the eastern coast of the US, Africa, the Middle East and the rest of Asia.

As Mr Romero states, the AAG has both the location and the finance to build Daular airport, and he is hopeful that at least  one of the global cargo/logistics companies will set up a base there. Mr Romero points out that that all the global cargo and logistics giants have hubs in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America –  but none in Latin America… and Guayaquil would be the ideal location.

Nicolas Romero, general manager of Autoridad Aeroportuaria de Guayaquil, on the importance of airports:

Why do you think Guayaquil is a good choice to become the main commercial hub of Latin America?


We have a first class port in the region, an airport internationally recognized as one of the best in Latin America, we have good roads throughout the province, and the Guayas River Basin, one of the richest areas on the Pacific coast, where you can grow everything from bananas to coffee to cacao. Flying conditions are perfect too: 99.9 per cent visibility, and the ability to take off and land 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Do you think building a second airport will further enhance Guayaquil?


Airports are big news these days as they add value and cause cities to grow in a positive way.

Previously authorities were asked to build an airport as far from the city as possible so as not to disturb people by noisy aircraft. Now people have realized that when an airport is built it becomes a center of employment and enhances the economic development of a city.

And is that something you are striving to achieve?


Currently there is a new concept used in the United States - "aerotrópolis" - which is no longer the airport city concept but a concept of integral development. An example are large companies in Silicon Valley in California are moving their offices to Memphis because that's the big distribution center for all products. It’s the way forward.

So once the new airport is built you would like to attract more businesses to set up shop in Guayaquil?


Yes, for example, all the global cargo and logistics giants have hubs in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America but none in Latin America.

I think once the new airport comes online that Guayaquil would be the perfect base for Latin American operations.”

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