Ecuador’s Air Map Expands With Five Routes in 2026

Ecuador’s air-connectivity map is expanding in 2026 with five routes that are returning, launching, or nearing confirmation. Primicias updated the overview on August 19, 2026 at 20:45.

The expansion is happening while passenger growth remains moderate. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, or DGAC, reports that 4,041,477 passengers moved through Ecuador’s airport network during the first half of 2026. Of those, 1,529,562, or 37.9%, were domestic passengers, while 2,511,915, or 62.1%, used international services.

Where the network is moving

The most-used domestic corridors in the first half were Quito–Guayaquil, Cuenca–Quito, Baltra–Guayaquil–Quito, and Manta–Quito. The DGAC says these routes show the central role of Quito and Guayaquil and the importance of connectivity with the Galápagos.

Internationally, the most frequent destinations were Panama, Bogotá, Miami, Madrid, and New York. The DGAC links those connections to exports, foreign investment, and tourism.

The report says the first seven months of air traffic were similar to 2025, with an increase of only about 2.4% from January through July. That is a useful counterweight to the headline about five new or returning routes.

The route details

• Quito–Santiago: Latam is expected to restore direct service on December 1, 2026, with four weekly flights.
• Guayaquil–Punta Cana: Arajet is expected to resume service on October 6, 2026, with two weekly flights.
• Quito–Toronto and Quito–Montreal: Air Canada is expected to reopen direct service from December 4, 2026, with one weekly Toronto flight and three weekly Montreal flights.
• Cuenca–Chiclayo: A possible route has been raised around Pope Leo XIV’s November 11–17 visit to Peru, but it remains a proposal under discussion.

What this means for expats

The confirmed or planned routes may improve connections for residents who travel through Quito or Guayaquil, but schedules and fares should be checked with the operating airline before booking. Cuenca’s existing connection to Quito remains the relevant domestic link in the source; Cuenca–Chiclayo has not been announced as a bookable service.

For residents planning international travel, the broader signal is improved route choice alongside only modest overall passenger growth. Those are different facts: more routes do not automatically mean a broad expansion in national demand.

Source: Primicias

The timing is also uneven. Santiago and the Canadian routes are described for December, while Punta Cana is expected earlier in October. That makes the announcement more useful for forward planning than for an immediate change to a traveler’s itinerary. The distinction between a route that is expected to return and one that is still under discussion matters as well: the source treats Cuenca–Chiclayo as a possibility linked to a future visit, not as a service with a published operating schedule. Travelers should therefore verify the route, airline, frequency, and sale status before changing plans or paying for a connection.