Guayaquil Airport Fees Rise 2.56% — Here's the New Cost Breakdown for Domestic and International Flights

Airport fees at Guayaquil's José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport increased by 2.56% on February 1, 2026, following a vote by the Guayaquil Municipal Council on January 22.

The increase was approved under a 2004 concession contract between the municipality and Tagsa, the private company that operates the airport. The contract allows annual adjustments indexed to inflation.

New Fee Breakdown

| Fee Type | Previous | New (Feb 1, 2026) | |---|---|---| | Domestic departure | $11.82 | $12.12 | | International departure | $33.74 | $34.60 | | Security surcharge | $6.38 | $6.54 |

Total per international departure: approximately $41.14 (departure + security)

Total per domestic departure: approximately $18.66 (departure + security)

The increase also covers airline-side fees for landing, lighting, parking, and terminal use.

Will Ticket Prices Go Up?

Tagsa stated that the fee increase applies to airlines, not directly to passengers. Carriers decide whether to absorb the cost or pass it through to ticket prices. In practice, most airlines pass airport fees directly to consumers as line items on ticket receipts.

For a round-trip international flight, the increase adds roughly $1.70 to the total cost. For domestic round trips, about $0.60.

How Ecuador Compares

Ecuador already has some of the highest airport taxes and fees in Latin America. A 2022 analysis by The Cuenca Dispatch found that Ecuador's combined airport charges significantly exceeded those in Colombia, Peru, and Mexico, contributing to higher base fares for flights in and out of the country.

The Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport, operated by Quiport, has not announced a corresponding increase. Cuenca's Mariscal Lamar Airport fees are set separately by the DGAC (Dirección General de Aviación Civil — Ecuador's civil aviation authority) and remain unchanged.

What This Means for Expats

The increase is modest in isolation, but it compounds an already expensive flying environment:

• Frequent flyers between Guayaquil and the US will pay an extra $3-4 per year in round-trip fees — barely noticeable
• Domestic hoppers flying Guayaquil-Cuenca or Guayaquil-Quito will see about $1.20 more per round trip
• The real cost driver remains Ecuador's high base fares relative to the region — a separate issue from airport fees

For the typical expat making 2-4 international trips per year through Guayaquil, the annual impact is under $10. It's not a budget-breaker, but it's another incremental cost in a country where flying remains disproportionately expensive.

Sources: El Mercurio, CuencaHighLife