Tourism and business travel have made both Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador a magnet for attracting new airlines.

Ecuador has long been a hub for tourism and business travel in South America and finding cheap rates to/from Quito, Guayaquil, and the Galapagos Islands can be difficult.

International flights arrive and depart from Quito’s Mariscal Sucre Airport and Guayaquil’s Simón Bolívar Airport. Flights fluctuate on international and transcontinental flights, but roughly stay about the same whether you are flying to Quito or Guayaquil. If heading to the Galapagos Islands, it is often cheaper to fly direct to Guayaquil.

LAN Ecuador airlines is the major Ecuadorian carrier and has the most complete routes within Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and Argentina. TAME, Aerogal, and Icaro airlines also cover extensive international routes. The international departure tax at Quito and Guayaquil was raised to $40.80 in August 2007.

South and Central American Airlines that fly to Quito and Guayaquil, Ecuador

LAN Ecuador airlines - LAN has the most flights to and from Quito and Guayaquil to international destinations. LAN flies direct to Lima, Peru, locations in Brazil and Argentina, Miami, Newark, and several destinations in Central America. LAN also is the best way to head west with flights to Easter Island, Tahiti, and Australia.

Copa Airlines - The Panamanian air carrier Copa has direct service between Quito and Guayaquil and Panama City, sometimes stopping in Lima or San Jose depending on the flight. Connecting flights in Panama City can fly to Houston, Texas with Continental.

TACA - The Costa Rican air carrier has made Lima its South American hub. Flights go direct to Lima, San Jose, Panama city, and Miami from both Quito and Guayaquil.

Avianca - The Colombian airline has direct flights to Bogota, Colombia and connecting flights across Colombia and South and Central America from both Quito and Guayaquil.

Aerolíneas Argentinas - Argentina’s favorite air carrier has the most complete routes within the Argentina and has direct flights between Buenos Aires and Guayaquil.

LAB - Lloyd Aero Boliviano has direct service between Quito and the Bolivian city of La Paz.

Aeromexico - The Mexican air carrier has service between Quito and Mexico City, Mexico.

TAME - TAME has a long list of flights to domestic destinations such as Coca, Cuenca, Esmeraldas, Lago Agrio, Loja, Macas, Machala, Manta, the Galápagos islands (including San Cristóbal) and to Havana and Panama City.

Aerogal - Aerogal has some of the most complete flight schedules between Guayaquil and Quito to the Galapagos Islands. Aerogal flies to both San Cristóbal and Santa Cruz/Baltra, as well as to Manta, Medellin, Bogota, Cuenca.

Icaro - Cheap flights from Guayaquil to Cali, Coca, Cuenca, Esmeraldas, and Manta.

North American Airlines that fly to Quito and Guayaquil

Air Canada - Air Canada has flights between Toronto and Guayquil that often stop in Atlanta.

American Airlines - American flies direct to Miami from Quito and Guayaquil and has connecting flights across the United States.

Delta - Delta airlines has flights between Quito and Guayaquil and their hub in Atlanta.

Continental - Direct flights from Quito and Guayaquil to Houston. A cheaper alternative is to take a Copa air flight using Continental planes that stops in Panama City.

European Airlines that fly to Quito and Guayaquil

KLM - KLM launched a direct service between Quito or Guayaquil and Amsterdam, Holland.

Air France - French air carrier Air France offers direct service between Guayaquil, Quito and Paris, with connecting flights across Europe.

Iberia, and Air Comet - These airlines all offer flights between Quito and Guayaquil and Madrid, Spain.

Alitalia - Flights between Quito and Guayaquil and Milan.