Cuenca Is Taking Another Run At Flights To Northern Peru

Cuenca's airport is making a third attempt at something travelers here have wanted for years: a direct connection with northern Peru.

El Mercurio reports that local airport officials are looking again at a Cuenca-Chiclayo route, with the first step likely to be charter flights rather than regular scheduled service.

What Is Being Discussed

The idea is not new. Previous attempts were made in 2006 and 2010, but neither turned into a lasting route. José Luis Aguilar, director of the Corporación Aeroportuaria de Cuenca, says the airport's current situation is different enough to justify another try.

For travelers, the practical route to watch is Cuenca-Chiclayo. Peru's longer-term tourism idea is more ambitious: connecting Cusco, Chiclayo, Cuenca and Galápagos as a regional travel circuit.

Why Expats Should Care

If this gets off the ground, it could make northern Peru easier to reach without routing everything through Quito, Guayaquil or Lima. That matters for short trips, family visits, tourism, and anyone who likes overland Peru but does not love the current travel logistics.

The cautious part: this is still an effort to build demand, not a confirmed daily route. Charter service would be the test. If passengers show up, scheduled flights become more realistic.

What To Watch

The next useful update will be whether an operator, dates, and charter pricing are announced. Until then, treat this as promising airport development news, not a route you can book yet.

Source: El Mercurio