Best Airlines in Ecuador
Welcome to Ecuador, a country renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, rich biodiversity, and vibrant culture. From the breathtaking Parque Nacional Galápagos to the exhilarating La Nariz del Diablo train ride, Ecuador offers a myriad of attractions for every traveler.
In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best airlines operating in Ecuador, providing convenient and reliable travel options for exploring this beautiful country and beyond.
TAME
TAME, or TAME EP Linea Aerea del Ecuador, was an airline founded in Ecuador in 1962. It was the flag carrier and the largest airline of Ecuador. TAME headquarters were in Quito, Pichincha Province, and the main hub was Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito.
Fleet
TAME operates a fleet of over 20 aircraft, including Airbus A319, Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Boeing 737, Boeing 757, Embraer ERJ-170, Embraer ERJ-190 and Lockheed L-188 Electra.
Destinations covered:
Domestic:
| From | To | Flight Duration |
|---|---|---|
|
Quito |
Baltra |
3 hours 30 minutes |
|
Quito |
Manta |
1 hour |
|
Quito |
Guayaquil |
1 Hour |
|
Quito |
Esmeraldas |
40 minutes |
|
Quito |
Loja |
1 hour |
|
Quito |
Lago Agrio |
55 mins |
|
Quito |
Coca |
55 mins |
|
Quito |
Santa Rosa |
1 Hour 10 mins |
|
Guayaquil |
Quito |
hour |
|
Guayaquil |
Loja |
1 hour |
|
Quito |
Baltra, Galapagos |
2 hours 50 minutes |
|
Quito |
San Cristobal, Galapagos |
2 hours 20 minutes |
|
Guayaquil |
Baltra, Galapagos |
50 minutes |
|
Guayaquil |
San Cristobal, Galapagos |
55 minutes |
International:
| From | To | Flight Duration |
|---|---|---|
|
Quito |
Fort Lauderdale |
5 hours 15 minutes |
|
Quito |
Cali |
2 hours 30 minutes |
|
Guayaquil |
Fort Lauderdale |
4 hours 15 minutes |
|
Guayaquil |
Cali |
4 hours 50 minutes |
Equair
The airline was founded in October 2020 and started operations on January 10, 2022. Equair’s main hub was Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito. Headquarters is in Quito. Equair ceased operations on September 29, 2023, due to financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
| Fleet Details | Number of Aircraft |
|---|---|
|
Boeing 737 - 700 |
2 |
|
Boeing 737 - 800 |
1 |
Destinations covered:
Quito, Guayaquil, El Coca and Franciso de Orellana.
Wingo
Owned by Copa Holdings, Wingo is a low-cost airline with flights to locations in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America. The airline was established in October 2016 to take over the majority of its long-losing Copa Airlines Colombia operations. El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá is Wingo’s principal hub.
| Fleet Details | Number of Aircraft | MAX Speed |
|---|---|---|
|
Boeing 737 - 800 |
9 |
853 km/hr |
Destinations covered:
Armenia, Barranquila, Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cartagena, Medellin, Pereira, San Andres, Santa Marta, Aruba, Cancun, Caracas, Panama City, Curacao, David, Havana, Guayaquil, Lima, Punta Cana, Quito, San Jose and Santo Domingo.
Aeroregional Ecuador
Aeroregional was founded in 2016 and started operations in 2017. The airline operates domestic flights within Ecuador and international flights to Panama, Venezuela and Peru. Aeroregional is an airline headquartered in Quito, Ecuador. The airline’s full name is Servicio Aéreo Regional Cia Ltda and its IATA code is RER.
| Fleet Details | Number of Aircraft |
|---|---|
|
Boeing 737 - 400 |
2 |
|
Boeing 737 - 500 |
2 |
International Flights:
| Flight | Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7A 921 |
Quito |
Panama |
7:00 AM |
8:30 AM |
|
7A 920 |
Panama |
Quito |
10:00 AM |
11:30 AM |
|
7A 951 |
Quito |
Lima |
6:45 AM |
8:45 AM |
|
7A 950 |
Lima |
Quito |
9:45 AM |
11:45 AM |
|
7A 9311 |
Quito |
Caracas |
7:30 AM |
10:00 AM |
|
7A 9310 |
Caracas |
Quito |
12:00 PM |
2:30 PM |
Domestic Flights:
| Flight | Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7A 841 |
Quito |
Coca |
6:30 AM |
7:05 AM |
|
7A 840 |
Coca |
Quito |
7:30 AM |
8:05 AM |
|
7A 851 |
Quito |
Santa Rosa |
3:05 AM |
3:55 AM |
|
7A 850 |
Santa Rosa |
Quito |
4:35 AM |
5:25 AM |
|
7A 853 |
Quito |
Santa Rosa |
3:30 PM |
4:20 PM |
|
7A 752 |
Santa Rosa |
Quito |
4:50 PM |
5:40 PM |
|
7A 833 |
Quito |
Cuenca |
4:30 PM |
5:15 PM |
|
7A 832 |
Cuenca |
Quito |
6:00 PM |
6:45 PM |
|
7A 831 |
Quito |
Cuenca |
3:15 AM |
4:00 AM |
|
7A 830 |
Cuenca |
Quito |
4:45 AM |
5:30 PM |
|
7A 875 |
Quito |
Loja |
5:40 AM |
6:30 AM |
|
7A 874 |
Loja |
Quito |
7:10 AM |
8:00 AM |
|
7A 877 |
Quito |
Loja |
12:15 PM |
Content |
|
7A 873 |
Quito |
Loja |
12:40 PM |
1:30 PM |
|
7A 871 |
Quito |
Loja |
3:00 AM |
3:50 AM |
|
7A 875 |
Quito |
Loja |
6:15 AM |
7:05 AM |
|
7A 876 |
Loja |
Quito |
1:45 PM |
2:45 PM |
|
7A 872 |
Loja |
Quito |
2:00 PM |
2:50 PM |
|
7A 870 |
Loja |
Quito |
4:30 AM |
5:20 AM |
|
7A 874 |
Loja |
Quito |
7:45 AM |
8:35 AM |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Wingo is a low-cost airline that provides reasonable options for travel both within Ecuador and to other countries.
TAME (TAME EP Linea Aerea del Ecuador) is Ecuador’s largest airline and flag carrier.
The majority of airlines operating in Ecuador have their main hubs at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil and Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito.
Numerous cities around Ecuador are covered by the extensive domestic route networks of TAME and Aeroregional Ecuador.
Equair’s operations were discontinued in 2023 due to financial issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic’s challenges.
Conclusion
Based on the analysis, TAME would be the preferred choice for travelers seeking a balance of affordability, service quality, comfortable journey, extensive route network, and a strong airline reputation. However, for budget-conscious travelers, Wingo could be a suitable option, offering affordable prices and a variety of destinations. Aeroregional Ecuador may be considered for travelers looking for domestic flights within Ecuador and limited international routes at competitive prices. Ultimately, the choice of airline would depend on individual preferences, budget constraints, and specific travel requirements.