1. ACED Session 7 - Aviation:
Catalysing the Tourism Sector
Creating and ‘outdoor’ airport city at the
gateway of Meso America - Guatemala
Estuardo Jose Robles
Development Director
Ciudad Aeropuerto - Americas
tatarobles@ciudadaeropuerto.com
www.ciudadaeropuerto.com
© Copyright 2010 Ciudad Aeropuerto

2. How does a strategic approach to the
development of the Aviation sector
lead to tourism growth for a region?

3. Guatemala is well
positioned within
the Americas
Bulk of region within a 4 hour flight
L.A. (4.5hr)
N.Y. (4hr)
FL (2hr)

4. Guatemala Interesting Facts
•
•
•
Gateway to Mayan World
3 UNESCO Heritage Sites
500+ Mayan ruins and
temples 90% of world total
• Multicultural country
(50% ethnic origin)
• Dubbed the “Land of
Eternal Spring”

5. Old Approach:
If you build it… they will come.

6. Things were going well for Guatemala
Year 2004
•Highest growth rate in Latin America - Number of
tourists (34%)
Year 2005
•“Best cultural destination in the world” BBC London
Year 2006 thru 2007 saw a growth in Air Services/Routes
•New airlines, new routes, and frecuency increases
 250+ weekly flights
 More Frecuencies: AA, Copa, Taca, United, Mexicana
 New Routes: Iberia, Continental-Petén, TACA-Lima
 New Airlines: Spirit, Iberia, InterJet, Aeromexico
© Copyright 2010 Ciudad Aeropuerto

7. 2006: Ground Breaks on Airport Expansion
Project in reaction to increased Passenger flows

8. Passenger Terminal was renovated and expanded

9. 26 Gates - 450% increase, 3x baggage handling, 4x
more customs stations, 10x more parking, etc.

10. Remodeled and Modernized Passenger Facilities, yet
original architecture & design was mostly preserved

11. New Airport Terminal opened early 2008

12. Then… along came 2008…
With a brand new terminal originally built to cope with
increased growth, 2008 and the Global financial crisis
affected operations tremendously.
Years 2008 thru 2009:
•Less airlines, less routes, and frecuency decreases
 Strong reduction in weekly flights
 Less Frecuencies: AA
 Scratched Routes: Continental-Petén, Spirit-LAX
 Airline Exits: InterJet, Aeromexico, United, US-Airways
© Copyright 2010 Ciudad Aeropuerto

13. New Approach:
Guatemala is improving its approach
and finding ways to increase its
relevance and importance to the Air
Services Sector, including Tourism.

14. Response in Mid 2008: Guatemala
Airport City is Officially Launched
“If the concept of Airport City can be reinvented
to create a livable, distinctive and sustainable
urban development pole, then it is probably
here, in Guatemala City.”
Mathis Güller, Rotterdam, July 2008
Güller Güller Architecture Urbanism - GGAU.net

15. Land Development: Strategic definition of
land uses and priority projects
Residential &
business
Air side — Airport
Logistics, cargo
& mobility
Passengers
& tourism
Leisure & culture
06
AIRPORT CITY

16. Inter-Modal Transportation Hub (BRT)
Proposed integration to public transportation grid

17. Companies have been Attracted
• 4,000 new jobs created in 2008/9
• 3 Multinational Corporate Expansions
• Key Commercial Real Estate Projects
• Confiansa El Cortijo I & II (Operational):
• 2M ft2 (200K m2) Warehouse/Logistics Park
• Airport Technology Plaza (launch early 2011)
• 2M ft2 Class A/B office + retail & parking cap. 2,200

18. Upcoming Wave of Tourism:
1.More Destinations, less duration
2.(-) Mega Hubs, (+) Feeder Hubs
3.Shorter segments, longer layovers
4.Word of Mouth Tourism
5.Smarter, value/deal-seeking Tourist

19. End Goal : World’s first Outdoor Airport
due to: average temperature: 21°C (70°F)
Area already houses
3 Museums, ¼ mile
Sculpture Walk, a
Public Zoo, the
official Craft Market
and several Sports
and rec facilities.

20. Catering to Transit/Short-visit passengers
Planned connection from AirportCity to Hotels and Conventions:
Intercontinental, Westin, Clarion, Accor, Crowne, Barcelo, Radisson, Holiday, others

21. Sculpture Corridor Completed 2009
White Marble Sculptures, artists from 16 different nations.
All Passengers exiting the terminal are able to appreciate.

22. A strategic approach to the
development of the Aviation sector
leads to tourism growth for a region
- Lower volatility
- Higher profitability
- Greater Sustainability

23. ACED Session 7 - Aviation:
Catalysing the Tourism Sector
Creating and ‘outdoor’ airport city at the
gateway of Meso America - Guatemala
Estuardo Jose Robles
Development Director
Ciudad Aeropuerto - Americas
tatarobles@ciudadaeropuerto.com
www.ciudadaeropuerto.com
© Copyright 2010 Ciudad Aeropuerto