Quito Airport Runway Closure: April 11, 2AM-2PM

If you are flying through Quito next Saturday, check your itinerary now.

Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) will close its runway for 12 hours on Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 2:00 AM to 2:00 PM local time. All arrivals and departures during that window will be affected.

The Details

The closure is for preventive runway maintenance -- the kind of routine work required to keep the runway surface safe for operations. Quito's airport, located at 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) elevation in Tababela, operates one of the highest-altitude commercial runways in the world, which subjects the surface to unique thermal and pressure stresses.

The airport authority chose Saturday as the lowest-traffic day of the week to minimize disruption. The 2:00 AM start means the heaviest impact falls on morning departures and arrivals.

What Flights Are Affected

During the 12-hour window, no flights can arrive or depart from UIO. This affects:

• Domestic flights to Guayaquil, Cuenca, and the Galapagos
• International flights to Miami, Houston, Bogota, Lima, Panama City, Madrid, Amsterdam, and other destinations
• Cargo operations

Airlines have been notified and are adjusting schedules. Most carriers will either:

• Reschedule flights to before 2:00 AM or after 2:00 PM
• Cancel flights that cannot be easily moved
• Reroute through Guayaquil for some international connections

What This Means for Expats

• Check your April 11 flights immediately. If you have a morning departure or arrival at UIO, your flight has likely been moved. Contact your airline or check the airport website for updated schedules
• Build in extra buffer time. The 2:00 PM reopening will create a surge of delayed and rescheduled flights in the afternoon. Expect congestion at the airport from 1:00 PM onward as operations resume
• Consider Guayaquil as an alternative. If you have flexibility, flying out of Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport (GYE) in Guayaquil avoids the disruption entirely. Many international routes operate from both airports
• Domestic connections may be disrupted. If you are connecting through Quito to the Galapagos, Cuenca, or the coast, your connection timing may have changed. Verify all legs of your itinerary
• This is a one-day event. Normal operations resume Saturday afternoon. If your travel is on Sunday or later, you are not affected

Key contacts:

• Quito Airport information: www.aeropuertoquito.aero
• Airport call center: +593 2-395-4200
• Flight status: Check directly with your airline

Source: Aeropuerto de Quito