It was named after Venezuelan-born Antonio José de Sucre, a hero of Ecuadorian and Latin American independence.

The old Mariscal Sucre International Airport ceased all operations at 19:00 on February 19, 2013, following the departure of TAME flight 321 to Guayaquil (scheduled for 18:55).

Due to its location in the middle of a city surrounded by mountains, the old airport could no longer be expanded to accommodate any larger aircraft or an increase in air traffic.

[4][5] Mariscal Sucre International Airport was inaugurated in 1960, the main terminal was designed during the government of President Velasco Ibarra.

The airport had a runway safety area, built in 1999–2000 as a consequence of the crash of Cubana de Aviación Flight 389 in August 1998.

Tufiño Avenue, which circles the start of runway 17, had a two-way tunnel built to allow vehicular traffic under the new structure.

[9] On 10 December 2000, TAME officially opened its hub in Quito, offering an estimated 2,000 possible connections per week, including greater numbers of frequencies, schedules and destinations served.

For security reasons, visitors were recommended to take only those taxis offered by registered companies at the airport Terminal A arrivals area.