Ecuadorian carrier Tame launched new service between Fort Lauderdale and Quito on Friday. The inaugural flight from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport departed 9 a.m. after arriving from Ecuador at 7:30 a.m.
This is the first scheduled air service from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood to Quito, airport officials have said. Tame is operating the new once-daily route with Airbus A320 planes that seat 128 passengers in economy class and 12 in business.
Airline, airport and tourism officials hosted a breakfast Friday at Hyatt Regency Pier 66 to celebrate the new service. Ecuador's U.S. ambassador, Nataly Celi, Minister of Transportation Paola Carvajal and Tame's general manager, Fernando Guerrero, attended.
A contingent of business executives and Ecuador trade and government officials also were in attendance. "This is a very important day for us as we're creating a new hub in Ecuador, and that's the reason we've launched a flight to Fort Lauderdale," Guerrero said in an address. "The connectivity is most important for us."
Tame's new route will provide Broward's diverse population an option for friends and family visiting from Ecuador. It also is expected to increase connections throughout South and Central America, with same-day flights to more than 15 destinations within Ecuador and key feeder markets in Latin America.
Fort Lauderdale is the carrier's ninth international destination, Guerrero said. More than 10,000 Ecuadorians live in Broward County, according to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.