Aviation in Latin America Takes Off in 2025 with Passenger Traffic Growth in January

Panama, march 13th, 2025 - The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) has released the region's traffic data for January 2025, reporting a total of 42.3 million passengers, marking a 2.4% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was driven by the reactivation of routes, the adoption of open skies policies, and the rising demand for tourism travel. The Brazilian domestic market played a key role in this expansion, adding 438,000 passengers, accounting for 44% of the region’s total growth. Intra-regional traffic also saw a significant increase, reaching 5.3 million passengers, with the Lima – Santiago route standing out as the busiest in Latin America, transporting nearly 156,000 passengers.

The international market maintained its growth trajectory, totaling 15.6 million passengers, a 0.7% increase from the previous year. Traffic between Brazil and France was one of the standout performers, growing by 33.5%, boosted by the introduction of the Paris – Salvador route. Connections between Panama and the United States also showed strong performance, with over 2,500 frequencies, representing a 12% year-over-year increase. Additionally, the total number of flights in the region grew by 4.8%, reaching 345,331 operations, while the average load factor rose to 84.7%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points compared to 2024.

Among the standout markets, Brazil and the Dominican Republic reached historic records in international traffic. Florianópolis recorded a 175% growth in connections with Buenos Aires following the entry of a new airline. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic achieved its highest volume of international passengers in history, reaching 1.8 million in January, a 3% increase year-over-year. In Mexico, airports like Santa Lucía experienced strong growth, rising by 78%, while in Argentina, Tucumán saw a 116% jump in international traffic.

“With these results, 2025 begins with an optimistic outlook for aviation in the region. The consolidation of new routes, the expansion of connectivity, and the industry's commitment to sustainable development will remain key to maintaining this positive trajectory,” commented José Ricardo Botelho, CEO of ALTA.

The report also highlights the impact of fuel costs on aviation. In January 2025, the average price of Jet Fuel was .05 per barrel, while Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) remained approximately 2.1 times more expensive, averaging 8.05 per barrel. This cost disparity continues to pose a major challenge to large-scale SAF adoption in the region, making it essential to develop policies that encourage its production and enhance its competitiveness against conventional aviation kerosene.

The data reinforces the resilience of the air sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, demonstrating a continuous recovery in demand and the crucial role of aviation in regional connectivity. The significant growth in both domestic and international markets, coupled with an increase in flight availability and network expansion, paints a positive outlook for the sector. However, challenges such as fuel costs and the need for policies that support airport infrastructure modernization remain key industry concerns to ensure sustainable and efficient development.

Read the full report here.