The Smartest Place in the World to Start an Airline

In today’s episode, I sit down with Ed Delgado, the President and CEO of Ecuatoriana Airlines, to talk about reviving Ecuador’s iconic national carrier and the opportunity it presents. With over three decades in global aviation, Ed shares why Ecuador’s underdeveloped domestic market, where buses remain the main competition, makes it one of the few regions where starting an airline still makes sense. We discuss the strategic plan backed by KPMG, the untapped tourism potential across the country’s 14 airports, and how EquAir is positioning itself to reconnect Ecuador through domestic, regional, and eventually international routes built on a legacy brand.