March 07,2013
Gulliver Expeditions is announcing that operation at the new international Quito airport has been picked up on the 20th of February and that operation has left room for further improvement so far.
After the new international airport of Quito (still named like the old one, Mariscal Sucre Airport) was opened on February 20th 2013, some issues have been registered as well as some annoyances for departing and arriving passengers have occurred.
The new airport was built to process more flights and passengers per annum as the passenger load had exceeded the old airport's capacities in the past. On February 20th then, the switch to the newly built airport, which lies about 20km further north than the old airport, was fulfilled. However, not everything worked smoothly in the first weeks of operation. Flight delays, shifts in takeoff times, long lines at customs, immigration and check-in or falsely placed info and direction signs which led to some confusion among passengers are some of the issues that passengers had to deal with in the first weeks of operation. After a young Ecuadorian had been searching for her luggage all around the baggage claim for 45 minutes, she said that it wasn't a big deal and that it would just take some time for the new airport to get everything running smoothly. Furthermore, complaints about extremely high food and beverage costs in departure and arrival halls have made an impact and have already induced providers to lower their prices during the first week of operation.
Times and fares towards and from the airport have as well been an issue as travel times can be long and prices are therefore relatively high. There are several options for travellers to get to and from the airport. Taxi costs range between 11$, to and from close neighborhoods, to 47.50$, to and from the very South of the city. Costs to and from the tourist hub of Quito, the Mariscal, range between 23$ and 26$. A shuttle service has also started operating between the old airport and the new airport. The costs range between 8$ and 12$ and the buses run regularly and 24 hours a day. Additionally, public busses run between the bus station Rio Coca, in the north of Quito, and the airport and operate regularly and for a cost of 68 cent per person.
Gulliver Expeditions offers its guests a private pick-up and drop-off service to hotels in Quito as well as to the Hosteria Papagayo, close to Machachi which is located just South of Quito. The transfer to Hosteria Papagayo takes about one hour and twenty minutes, which is almost faster than going to the city center even though it's farther away. This service is offered in order to ensure Gulliver's guests the best possible comfort when arriving at the new airport with the aim of staying in the Hosteria Papagayo and/or to go on one of the many exciting tours.
About Gulliver Expeditions
Gulliver Expeditions, Quito based tour operator and agency, specializes in adventure travel Ecuador, including climbing and hiking tours in the Avenue of the Volcanoes and the highlands. They also offer cultural sightseeing, biking tours, horseback riding, jungle trips and once-in-a-lifetime cruises to the Galapagos Islands, as well as tailor-made itineraries for trips across the whole country.
Every one of Gulliver's Ecuador tours intergrates high-quality, personalized service, competitive prices, high standards in safety procedures as well as professional, qualified guides.
For more information contact Gulliver on www.gulliver.com.ec or mail to info@gulliver.com.ec.
