✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Verified codes to save on your next trip.
With marked contrasts between countries, air traffic in Latin America and the Caribe grew a 3,8% on 2025, with Brazil setting a historical passenger record.
On 2025, total air passenger traffic from, to and within Latin America and the Caribbean reached 477,3 million passengers, which represents an interannual growth of 3,8% compared to 2024, equivalent to 17,5 million additional passengers. The 84% of net growth was concentrated in intraregional traffic (domestic + international intraregional).
Air traffic grew in Latin America and the Caribbean
The total flight offer increased 2% interannual, while total capacity measured in seats grew 3,1%. On average, they had surgery 160 seats per flight in 2025, compared to 158 on 2024.
Summary of indicators
- Capacity measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) grew up 4,6% interannual
- The demand, in passenger kilometers transported (RPK), increase 4,5% interannual
- The average load factor was 83,7%
- In December, air traffic in LAC reached 44,3 million passengers, with a year-on-year growth of 5,4%, the second highest monthly growth of the year, only behind April (+6,4%)
Brazil, Argentina and Panama led the growth of 2025 in LAC
Brazil consolidated itself as the largest air market in the region and the main contributor to net passenger growth in 2025. The country registered 129,6 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 9,4%, equivalent to 11,2 million additional passengers. During the year, Brazil reached several milestones: for the first time it exceeded 100 million domestic passengers, while international traffic also recorded its best historical performance, with 28,4 million passengers. The domestic market grew 8,4% interannual, while the international increased 13,4% interannual. The dynamism of the international segment was supported by the strong increase in inbound tourism. International tourist arrivals by air grew 33,2% interannual[ii], with an increase of 77% in visitors from Argentina. In line with it, air traffic between Brazil and Argentina increased 29,7% year-on-year and explained approximately a third of the growth of Brazilian international traffic in 2025.
Argentina recorded the highest percentage growth in the region in 2025. The total traffic reached 33,3 million passengers, with a year-on-year growth of 13,2%, equivalent to 3,9 million additional passengers. Domestic traffic totaled 17,4 million passengers (+9,1%), while the international reached 15,9 millions (+18,2%). The increase in international flight supply coincided with the growth in international traffic, especially on routes to Brazil (+38% interannual), Dominican Republic (+93% interannual) and Columbia (+28% interannual), in a context of greater market opening.
Panama recorded year-on-year growth of 9% on 2025, reaching almost 21 million passengers, equivalent to 1,7 additional million versus 2024. This result corresponds to the total traffic of the country, which includes both passengers with origin or destination in Panama and connecting traffic. In that context, origin-destination traffic between Panama and the United States totaled 4,63 million passengers in 2025 (+8,1% interannual), a relevant performance considering that total traffic between Latin America and the United States contracted 0,3% year-on-year during the year[iii].
Mexico grows moderately, Colombia and Chile weaken domestically
Mexico record 122,4 million passengers in 2025 and was the second largest market in LAC, after brazil. Total traffic grew 2,4% interannual, equivalent to 2,9 million additional passengers. The growth of the domestic market (+3,3%) surpassed that of the international market (+1,5%). The increase in domestic traffic was concentrated in markets with origin or destination Monterrey and Guadalajara, that totaled 13 millions (+15% interannual) and 12,7 millions (+6,6% interannual) of passengers respectively in 2025. International traffic grew 1,5% interannual. The market between Mexico and Canada reached 6,2 million passengers (+16,4% interannual), while traffic between Mexico and the United States fell 0,2% interannual, totalizing 40 million passengers.
Colombia was the third largest market in the region in 2025, with 57,5 million passengers and a year-on-year growth of 1,7% (+945 thousand passengers). Domestic traffic fell 1,2%, associated with a reduction of 3,8% for passengers originating or ending in Bogotá, that concentrate near the 70% of the country's domestic traffic. International traffic grew 5,7%, reaching 24,7 million passengers. Growth in the international segment was concentrated on routes to neighboring countries, in particular Peru (+18% interannual), Ecuador (+16% interannual) and Brazil (+23% interannual).
Chile transported 28,4 million passengers in 2025, a year-on-year growth of 0,8%. Domestic traffic fell 1,5%, while the international increased 3,9%. International growth was concentrated on routes with countries in the Southern Cone, in particular Brazil (+6% interannual) and Argentina (+5,6% interannual). In the domestic market, routes linked to mining activity, Santiago–Calama (+10% interannual) and Santiago–Antofagasta (+5,9% interannual) moderated the aggregate decline in internal traffic.
Peru recorded higher growth in 2025, with 28,5 million passengers and a year-on-year increase of 5,9%. Domestic traffic grew 4,7%, while the international increased 7,6%. This growth occurred in a context of expansion of the country's airport infrastructure., including the entry into operation of the new Lima international airport
Dominican Republic leads growth in the Caribbean and Central America
In the Caribbean, Dominican Republic recorded the highest passenger growth in 2025, with 19,6 million passengers transported, a year-on-year increase of 3,1%. The increase was associated with a greater supply of flights operated on routes to and from the United States. (+5,1% interannual), Peru (+40%interannual), Mexico (+24% interannual) and Argentina (+93% interannual). By contrast, Jamaica presented a year-on-year drop of 7,7% in air traffic. The decrease was mainly explained by the contraction of almost 8% in the Jamaica-United States market, which concentrates near the 70% of the country's international traffic. The last quarter of the year was particularly weak, affected by the impact of Hurricane Melissa at the end of October, which caused temporary airport closures and operational disruptions. In that quarter, traffic between Jamaica and the United States fell 36,2% interannual, while in the first nine months of the year it had shown a growth of 1%[iv].
On Central America, the three main markets after Panama showed mixed results. Costa Rica transported 6,4 million passengers, a year-on-year growth of 3,2%. Guatemala reached 5,1 million passengers (+3,8%), while El Salvador registered 5,2 million passengers, with a year-on-year drop of 1,7%
✈️ Exclusive Benefits for Readers
Search here for hotels ALL over the world at the best price.
