Cuenca-Chiclayo Flight Plans Move to an Airport Worklist

A proposed Cuenca-Chiclayo-Cuenca flight connection has moved from an idea to a short list of airport tasks, according to Primicias on August 21, 2026. The project is being discussed in connection with Pope Leo XIV's planned visit to Peru in November, but the route is not yet a bookable service.

What has to happen first

Cuenca's Mariscal La Mar Airport currently does not have international flights enabled. A meeting held on Thursday, August 20, at the Azuay Governor's Office reviewed the steps needed to advance the proposal.

The commitments reported by the source include:

• The Municipality of Cuenca is to manage a maintenance plan within the next two weeks.
• A technical visit to Mariscal La Mar is planned for the first week of September.
• Authorities are to identify financing mechanisms with bilateral organizations for any required airport works.

The goal is for the first Cuenca-Chiclayo-Cuenca flights to be enabled in November, when the Pope is expected to visit Peru. The source also says that final approval and the start date depend on the required conditions being met.

Who is involved

The meeting included Mayor Marisol Penalosa, Peru's consul in Cuenca German Vera, officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Technology, Ecuador's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, tourism representatives, and the Cuenca Chamber of Commerce. Xavier Bermudez, the governor of Azuay, directed the meeting, according to the report.

The proposed airline is Aeroregional, which the source says has operated other flights from Cuenca. That is a working arrangement, not confirmation that tickets or a published schedule are available.

What this means for Cuenca expats

The practical takeaway is that a Peru connection is being evaluated against specific infrastructure and operating requirements. Residents who are planning November travel should wait for confirmation from the airport, the airline, or the aviation authorities before changing an itinerary or paying for a ticket.

The September technical visit should be the next useful checkpoint. It may clarify the airport's condition and the work still required, while the maintenance and financing steps will show whether the November target is realistic.

Source: Primicias