Mariscal Sucre International Airport

Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre) (IATA: UIO, ICAO: SEQU) is the international airport serving Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador. Is the busiest airport in Ecuador by passenger traffic, by aircraft movement and by cargo movement, and one of the busiest airports in South America. It is named after Venezuelan-born Antonio José de Sucre, a hero of Ecuadorian and Latin American independence. It began operations in 1960, and currently handles about 6.2 million passengers and 164,000 metric tons of freight per year. The airport, one of the highest in the world (at 2,800 metres / 9,200 feet AMSL) is located in the northern part of the city, in the Chaupicruz parish, within 5 minutes of Quito's financial center; the terminals are located at the intersection of Amazonas and La Prensa avenues. Mariscal Sucre International is the largest hub for TAME with an average of 50 daily departures.

Due to its location in the middle of a city surrounded by mountains, the current airport cannot be expanded to accommodate any larger aircraft or an increase in air traffic. Its operation poses higher risks, too; six serious accidents and several incidents have taken place in recent years. The new airport is being built in the Tababela parish, about 18 km to the east of the city. This is being constructed by a private consortium and is scheduled to begin operations in February 2013.

The airport charges an international departure tax of US $40.80 as of March 1, 2009, this fee is no longer paid at the airport, it is now included in all international airfares since February 2011.