Airports / Ecuador / MEC
Eloy Alfaro International Airport.
Manta, Ecuador · 48 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.3/5
Google rating
904 ratings
0
Operators based
48
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#6 / 17
Ecuador airports by Google rating
4.3★ across 904 Google ratings , ranked against 17 rated Ecuador fields.
14 nm
To the nearest alternate
Reales Tamarindos Airport (PVO).
Overview
Eloy Alfaro International Airport, listed as SEMT / MEC, is a mid-sized airport in Manta, Ecuador. The airport sits 48 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into MEC for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Reales Tamarindos Airport (PVO, 14 nm), General Ulpiano Paez International Airport (SNC, 78 nm), and José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport (GYE, 87 nm). With a single 9,383-foot paved runway, MEC can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from MEC depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Manta.
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Field capability
ICAO
SEMT
IATA
MEC
FAA / Local
SEMT
Elevation
48 ft
Coordinates
0.9461° S · 80.6788° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Ecuador fields
state range 18–9,649 ft
At 48 ft, MEC sits lower than 71% of the 17 Ecuador fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 9,383 ft
- 05/239,383 ft × 148 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 9,383 ft
MEC's 9,383 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 14nmPVOReales Tamarindos AirportPortoviejo
- 78nmSNCGeneral Ulpiano Paez International AirportSalinas/La Libertad
- 87nmGYEJosé Joaquín de Olmedo International AirportGuayaquil
- 124nmLTXCotopaxi International AirportLatacunga
- 127nmATFChachoán Regional AirportAmbato
- 132nmESMCarlos Concha Torres International AirportTachina
Location
Open the full mapSEMT · Eloy Alfaro International Airport · Manta, Ecuador
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from MEC on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Miami (MIA) | 1,606 nm | 4h 8m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 1,659 nm | 4h 15m |
| Houston (HOU) | 2,018 nm | 5h 6m |
| Austin (AUS) | 2,107 nm | 5h 18m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 2,226 nm | 5h 35m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 2,251 nm | 5h 38m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 2,402 nm | 5h 59m |
| New York (TEB) | 2,535 nm | 6h 18m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use MEC?
- Eloy Alfaro International Airport's longest paved runway is 9,383 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at MEC?
- Eloy Alfaro International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 9,383 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to MEC?
- The closest alternate is Reales Tamarindos Airport (PVO), about 14 nm away, followed by General Ulpiano Paez International Airport (SNC) at 78 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from MEC to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Miami about 4h 8m (1,606 nm), Palm Beach about 4h 15m (1,659 nm), Houston about 5h 6m (2,018 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.