Mariscal Sucre International Airport (IATA: UIO, ICAO: SEQM) is the largest and busiest airport in Ecuador, serving the capital city of Quito and acting as the country’s primary international gateway. The airport is located in the Tababela parish, approximately 18 kilometres east of Quito city centre, on a 1,500-hectare site that is roughly ten times larger than the old airport it replaced.
The airport opened on 20 February 2013, replacing the former Mariscal Sucre Airport that had operated within the city since 1960. The old airport was surrounded by urban development, making expansion impossible, and its location near mountainous terrain with strong winds contributed to numerous incidents over the years. The new airport was built on the Oyambaro plain near Tababela to provide modern facilities and greater capacity. The airport is named in honour of Antonio José de Sucre, a leader of South America’s independence movement.
UIO serves as the primary hub for Avianca Ecuador and LATAM Ecuador, and was the main hub for the now-defunct national carrier TAME until 2020. The airport features a single 4,100-metre runway (18/36), the longest in Ecuador and any South American capital, capable of accommodating the largest aircraft currently in service, including the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380.
In 2025, Quito Airport handled 5.4 million passengers, with 12 commercial airlines connecting the capital to 8 domestic and 14 international destinations. Cargo volume reached 407,000 metric tons, consolidating Quito’s position as a key driver of foreign trade, with flower exports accounting for 93% of the cargo exported from the airport.