In 2025, total passenger air traffic to, from, and within Latin America and the Caribbean reached 477.3 million passengers, representing year-on-year growth of 3.8% compared to 2024, equivalent to 17.5 million additional passengers. Eighty-four percent of net growth came from intra-regional traffic (domestic plus intra-regional international).
Total number of flights increased 2% year-on-year, while total seat capacity rose 3.1%. On average, 160 seats per flight were operated in 2025, compared to 158 in 2024[i].
Key Indicators
Brazil, Argentina and Panama led traffic growth in LAC in 2025
Brazil remained the largest air transport market in the region and the main contributor to net passenger growth in 2025. The country recorded 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, domestic traffic exceeded 100 million passengers, while international traffic also reached a historic high of 28.4 million passengers. Domestic traffic grew 8.4% year-on-year, while international traffic increased 13.4%. International growth coincided with a strong expansion in inbound tourism. International tourist arrivals by air rose 33.2% year-on-year[ii], with visitors from Argentina increasing 77%. In line with this trend, air traffic between Brazil and Argentina increased 29.7% year-on-year and accounted for approximately one-third of Brazil’s international traffic growth in 2025.
Argentina posted the highest percentage growth in the region in 2025. Total traffic reached 33.3 million passengers, up 13.2% year-on-year, equivalent to 3.9 million additional passengers. Domestic traffic totaled 17.4 million passengers (+9.1%), while international traffic reached 15.9 million (+18.2%). The increase in international flight supply coincided with international traffic growth, particularly on routes to Brazil (+38% year-on-year), the Dominican Republic (+93%), and Colombia (+28%), in a context of greater market openness.
Panama recorded year-on-year growth of 9% in 2025, reaching nearly 21 million passengers, equivalent to 1.7 million additional passengers compared to 2024. This figure reflects total passenger traffic in the country, including both origin–destination and connecting traffic. Within this context, origin–destination traffic between Panama and the United States totaled 4.63 million passengers in 2025 (+8.1% year-on-year)[iii] a notable result given that total traffic between Latin America and the United States contracted by 0.3% during the year.
Mexico grew at a moderate pace, Colombia and Chile weakened in domestic traffic, while Peru posted stronger growth
Mexico recorded 122.4 million passengers in 2025 and remained the second-largest market in LAC after Brazil. Total traffic grew 2.4% year-on-year, equivalent to 2.9 million additional passengers. Domestic traffic growth (+3.3%) outpaced international growth (+1.5%). Domestic traffic gains were concentrated in markets with origin or destination in Monterrey and Guadalajara. Passengers with origin or destination in Monterrey totaled 13 million in 2025 (+15% year-on-year), while Guadalajara recorded 12.7 million (+6.6%). International traffic increased 1.5% year-on-year. The Mexico–Canada market reached 6.2 million passengers (+16.4%), while traffic between Mexico and the United States declined 0.2% year-on-year, totaling 40 million passengers.
Colombia was the third-largest market in the region in 2025, with 57.5 million passengers and year-on-year growth of 1.7% (+945 thousand passengers). Domestic traffic declined 1.2%, associated with a 3.8% reduction in passengers with origin or destination in Bogotá, which account for around 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, particularly Peru (+18%), Ecuador (+16%), and Brazil (+23%).
Chile carried 28.4 million passengers in 2025, up 0.8% year-on-year. Domestic traffic fell 1.5%, while international traffic increased 3.9%. International growth was concentrated on routes with Southern Cone countries, particularly Brazil (+6%) and Argentina (+5.6%). In the domestic market, mining-related routes, especially Santiago–Calama (+10%) and Santiago–Antofagasta (+5.9%), helped limit the overall decline in domestic traffic.
Peru recorded stronger growth in 2025, with 28.5 million passengers and a year-on-year increase of 5.9%. Domestic traffic grew 4.7%, while international traffic rose 7.6%. This growth occurred in a context of expanded airport infrastructure, including the entry into operation of Lima’s new international airport.
The Dominican Republic led growth in the Caribbean and Central America
In the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic recorded the highest passenger growth in 2025, with 19.6 million passengers carried, up 3.1% year-on-year. The increase was associated with greater flight supply on routes to and from the United States (+5.1%), Peru (+40%), Mexico (+24%), and Argentina (+93%). In contrast, Jamaica recorded a 7.7% year-on-year decline in air traffic. The drop was mainly driven by an almost 8% contraction in the Jamaica–United States market, which accounts for around 70% of the country’s international traffic. The last quarter of the year was particularly weak, affected by the impact of Hurricane Melissa in late October, which caused temporary airport closures and operational disruptions. During that quarter, traffic between Jamaica and the United States fell 36.2% year-on-year, after having grown 1% during the first nine months of the year[iv].
In Central America, the three largest markets after Panama showed mixed results. Costa Rica carried 6.4 million passengers (+3.2% year-on-year). Guatemala reached 5.1 million passengers (+3.8%), while El Salvador recorded 5.2 million passengers, with a 1.7% year-on-year decline.
“In 2025, total air traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 477.3 million passengers, a 3.8% year-on-year increase that confirms a stable and positive year for the region. Eighty-four percent of growth came from operations within LAC, with Argentina posting the highest percentage growth, followed by Brazil, which reached a historic milestone by surpassing 100 million domestic passengers, and Panama. The data show sustained momentum that could accelerate further if more efficient regulatory frameworks and competitive market conditions continue to advance” said Peter Cerdá, CEO of ALTA.
Glossary: RPK (Revenue Passenger Kilometers): number of paying passengers transported multiplied by the distance flown | ASK (Available Seat Kilometers): number of seats available for sale multiplied by the distance flown | Load Factor: obtained by dividing RPK by ASK.
Methodological Note
In this document, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is defined as the combined total of South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. This definition is applied consistently across all regional and international traffic analyses.
Domestic traffic refers to flights operated within the same country. International traffic is classified into two broad segments:
[i] ALTA internal calculations based on Cirium SRS Schedules Analyzer data (query: January 2026).
[ii] Embratur – Brazilian Tourism Board. Data Panels – International Arrivals. Platform with statistics on international tourist arrivals to Brazil, available for the tourism sector. Available at: https://embratur.com.br/para-o-trader/inteligencia-de-dados/paineis-de-dados/chegadas-internacionais/ (accessed January 2026).
[iii] U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration (ITA), National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). U.S. International Air Travel Statistics (I-92 Data). Statistical database on international air traffic between the United States and other countries, based on APIS/I-92 records. Available at: https://www.trade.gov/us-international-air-travel-statistics-i-92-data (accessed January 2026)
[iv] U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration (ITA), National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO). U.S. International Air Travel Statistics (I-92 Data). Statistical database on international air traffic between the United States and other countries, based on APIS/I-92 records. Available at: https://www.trade.gov/us-international-air-travel-statistics-i-92-data (accessed January 2026)
Johnny is a Public Accountant graduated from Santa Maria University in Caracas, Venezuela. He has over 30 years of experience in service and manufacturing companies in the Administration, Accounting and Finance areas, leading the implementation of administrative and financial systems and restructuring of the accounting department. In January 2009, he joined ALTA as head of Administration and Finance with the objective of preparing the financial statements and responsible for the external audit, updating internal procedures, controlling assets and coordinating IT services and maintenance, providing forecasting and financial reporting to drive current and long-term profitability.
Carolina is a lawyer, specialized in International Law and Business since 2007. She has worked at Citibank, Asobolsa (as Legal and Administrative Vice President), IATA (as Government Affairs Manager), and more recently has provided consulting services in personal and professional development.
