2023: a historic year for Latin American and Caribbean aviation

Panama, February 14, 2024 - Four hundred and fifty-one point six million air passengers is not just any number, it is a historic number for aviation in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. It represents 52.9 million additional passengers, up 13.3% compared to 2022 and a strong 3.9% above 2019 levels.

This figure sets a record for the region as, until 2020, the region had been on a steady growth trajectory since 2010, which was abruptly interrupted by the pandemic. This milestone resumes the growth path.

The Caribbean showed the best percentage increase in 2023, with a 20% growth in total passengers, 15% in flights and 16% in seat capacity compared to 2022; the LAC Air Passenger Traffic Report, developed by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), shows.

"The report certainly reflects very encouraging results. However, we could still fly much higher. If we have these results in such complex and sometimes adverse environments, imagine how this performance could be enhanced within an efficient environment," says José Ricardo Botelho, ALTA's Executive Director & CEO, who advocates that States should include aviation in their agendas as an essential sector.

"It is urgent to implement measures that promote efficiencies, 1. updating our legislation, 2. checking taxes, fees and contributions that often are not even related to the operation or the sector, 3. generating incentives and 4. ensuring legal certainty to boost investment under a better strategic vision, taking aviation as a partner for the socio-economic development of countries," he explains.

A record-breaking December:

• In December, passenger volume rose 6.3% over 2022, positioning it as the second highest traffic month of the year
• This growth translates into 2.4 million additional passengers, out of which 1.5 million (62%) come from the extra-regional international market
• A 3.3% increase was noted compared to December 2019, confirming the positive trend in the sector's recovery.

Performance by country during December:

• Colombia recorded 49.5 million passengers, 2.8% more than in 2022, and stood out in the international market with a 30% increase
• Brazil exceeded 100 million passengers, reaching 95% of 2019 traffic
• Dominican Republic exceeded 13% passenger traffic over 2022, setting a record
• Costa Rica reached a milestone by recording 7.9 million passengers, 11% more than the previous record in 2019 and 26% more than in 2022
• Panama set a record year with 18.2 million passengers, exceeding 8% the historical high of 2019 and 16% more than in 2022
• Ecuador recorded 8.5 million passengers, the highest figure since 2013, with a significant increase in international traffic in August.

2023 in figures:

• 451.6 million passengers carried, a 13.3% increase
• 3.6 million flights 8.6% more than in 2022
• 285.8 million seats, 10.5% more than in 2022
• South America leading in air traffic, with 246.6 million passengers, 310.6 million seats offered and 1.9 million flights throughout the year
• The Caribbean showed the highest percentage growth, with a 20% increase in passengers, a 16% increase in seat capacity and a notable 15% increase in flights compared to 2022
• December stood out as the month with the highest international passenger traffic throughout the year, with a total of 19.4 million passengers.

Read the full report here.