Ecuador and Quito report rising air connectivity and tourism in 2026

Air connectivity in Ecuador and specifically Quito is showing significant growth in 2026. Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) indicates that over 210,000 passengers traveled between Ecuador and Peru during the first half of the year, with 102,176 traveling from Ecuador to Peru and 108,098 in the opposite direction.

Ecuador's total air passenger movement reached 4,041,495 between January and June 2026, a 5.46% increase compared to the same period in 2025. International traffic grew by 9.06% year-on-year, accounting for over 2.5 million passengers.

In response to this demand, JetSMART has increased its Quito–Lima route to four weekly frequencies as of August 1, 2026. Meanwhile, Quito is strengthening its international positioning through the reactivation of the Mexico City–Quito route and planned connections with Santiago, Toronto, and Montreal by December. Tourism data shows Quito received 418,444 non-resident visitors in the first half of 2026, surpassing pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.