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The significant growth of air traffic in Latin American aviation and the Caribe during the first half of the year could lead to a revision of the forecasts for the region in 2025.
Airports Council International for Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) reports that preliminary data from the main air markets in the region indicate an increase in 6.24% in passenger traffic during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year.
Latin American aviation grows
Argentina stood out in the first half of the year, registering a growth of 15% in air traffic in terms of passengers.
According to Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC, «the data seem to indicate that the policies of liberalization and deregulation of the air transport sector in Argentina are bearing concrete fruits in terms of sustained growth, greater connectivity and a notable increase in the number of passengers».
Mexico, one of the largest markets in Latin America, also showed a positive evolution, with an increase of 3.1% in passenger traffic during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period of 2024. Total, they mobilized 94.5 million passengers in that period, reflecting the solidity and maturity of the Mexican market in the region.
Brazil also had an outstanding performance. Brazilian airports mobilized 112 million passengers in the first half of the year, an increase of 9,3% compared to the previous year. Other notable results were The Savior (+8,5%), Peru (+7,1%) and Panama (+7%).
For 2025, ACI foresees growth in air traffic in Latin America and the Caribe of the 4,1%, reaching the 789 million passengers, while global traffic growth is estimated at 3,7%, reaching the 9.800 million passengers.
«Based on the growth observed in the first half of the year, ACI is reviewing its traffic forecasts for the region», Echevarne added..
OAG confirms it
On the other hand OAG, published an analysis for the region that reveals more statistical data representing the growth of the region, is on the rise and with expected results for the end of the year.
- Route growth: Latin America currently has about 550 international air routes, a 41 % more than the 390 from 1996.
- Increased capacity: International seating capacity reached 66,5 million in 2025, a 18 % more than 2019, driven by higher average capacity per route.
- Expansion in Colombia: Colombia's international market multiplied by seven since last year. 2000, with Avianca controlling the 53 % of international capacity.
- Brazilian market: Still the greatest, with 17,6 million scheduled seats and more than 185 airport pairs in 2025, although still below the maximum of 200 from 2019.
- Participation of low-cost airlines: Low-cost airlines represent less than 20 % of international seats in Latin America, well below the 45 % from Europe, indicating room for growth pending regulatory changes.
Focusing exclusively on international connections, These key statistics offer an overview of air connectivity in Latin America:
- Currently there are just under 550 routes to and from Latin America, compared to the 390 from 1996, which represents an increase in 41 %.
- The total for 2025 remains slightly below the maximum 2019, from 572 airport pairs. Passenger rotation on the network has always been a characteristic of the Latin American market.
- The actual capacity of 66,5 million passengers is a 18 % higher than the 56,2 millions of 2019, since the average capacity per route has increased to 122 000 passengers per route, in comparison with the 83 400 from 2019.
Despite Colombia's leadership in terms of capacity growth, Brazil continues to be the largest international market in Latin America, with:
- 6 million seats scheduled this year.
- The greatest connectivity, more than 185 airport pairs connected in 2025, compared to some 200 on 2019, which shows that the market has not yet fully recovered.
- Compared, International connectivity from Colombia has improved with the incorporation of fifteen new destinations since 2019, including Bogotá-Manaus and Cartagena-Lima.
Air Cargo
Preliminary ACI data also indicates that, from January to June 2025, the volume of air cargo in Latin America and the Caribbean grew 2,2% in comparison with 2024. Among the main air cargo markets in the region, Panama highlighted, more than 100.000 tons transported, which is equivalent to an increase in 15%. Argentina also showed significant growth (+8,3%).
Growth in June
in June 2025, air traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 38.3 million passengers, year-on-year growth of 3.4% equivalent to 1.3 million additional passengers, accelerating the pace of growth in 0.8 percentage points compared to the month of May. The overall increase in traffic in the region was driven primarily by the performance of LAC-based airlines., what, according to the latest IATA report, recorded the highest traffic growth globally in June (+7.9%)
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