The National Civil Aviation Council (CNAC) amended the Operating Permit Regulations for the Provision of Commercial Air Transport Services through Resolution No. 003/2025, which came into effect on February 21, 2025. The reform aims to optimize the management and operation of the aviation sector in Ecuador. These changes align with the country’s current open-skies policy.
Main Changes Introduced:
- Modification of the Operating Permit (Art. 4): Introduces the homologation of the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for foreign operators, which must be completed within a maximum period of one month. Additionally, the explicit reference to the criteria previously considered by the CNAC when granting a permit (service demand, connectivity, tourism and commercial exchange, and environmental standards) has been removed.
- Payment Requirements (Art. 8, 9, and 24): Establishes the obligation to submit a physical or digital invoice as a formal requirement along with the application.
- Administrative Deadlines (Art. 47 and 56): The processing time for certain stages of the necessary procedures to grant operating permits and to fully or partially suspend a permit has been reduced from five to four days.
- Financial Compliance with DGAC (Art. 51, 53, and 55): Airlines requesting renewals, modifications, or suspensions of their operating permits must not have outstanding debts with the DGAC.
- Certification of Foreign Operators (Art. 57): Foreign operators may not commence operations without obtaining recognition of their Air Service Operator Certificate (AOCR) from the DGAC, which must be completed within a maximum period of one month.
This reform aims to modernize and streamline administrative processes in commercial aviation, ensuring greater efficiency and transparency in sector regulation.
Xavier Rosales, Partner at CorralRosales
xrosales@corralrosales.com
+593 2 2544144