Argentina recorded the highest percentage growth in air traffic in Latin America last year, with 33.3 million passengers travelling to, from and within the country.
The figure represents a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase, equating to some 3.9 million additional travellers, according to data released Tuesday by the Latin America and the Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA).
Domestic traffic totalled 17.4 million passengers, up 9.1 percent on 2024 levels, while international traffic climbed to 15.9 million – up 18.2 percent annually.
A sharp increase in international demand was driven by strong growth for key regional routes, particularly to Brazil, where traffic surged 38 percent year-on-year.
Flights to the Dominican Republic soared 93 percent, while routes to Colombia rose 28 percent, reflecting greater market openness and expanded connectivity.
The expansion comes amid President Javier Milei’s push to liberalise Argentina’s aviation market through an “open skies” policy, easing restrictions on routes and frequencies and encouraging new operators to enter the market.
Milei’s government argues that greater competition will lower costs and improve connectivity, particularly international routes.
LatAm aspect
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, total passenger traffic reached 477.3 million in 2025, marking a 3.8 percent increase on 2024 and an additional 17.5 million travellers, according to the ALTA report.
Some 84 percent of the net growth came from intra-regional operations — both domestic and international within the region.
The number of flight options rose two percent year-on-year, while total seat capacity increased 3.1 percent. On average, 160 passengers travelled per flight in 2025, up from 158 the previous year.
In December alone, regional air traffic hit 44.3 million passengers, a 5.4 percent year-on-year increase – the second-strongest monthly performance of the year, behind April’s 6.4 percent expansion.
Brazil
Alongside Argentina’s standout performance, Brazil consolidated its position as the region’s largest aviation market and the main contributor to overall passenger growth. The country recorded 129.6 million passengers in 2025 – a 9.4 percent year-on-year rise, equivalent to 11.2 million additional travellers.
For the first time, Brazil surpassed the 100-million mark for domestic passengers, while international traffic reached a record 28.4 million. The domestic market expanded 8.4 percent year-on-year, while international traffic grew 13.4 percent, supported by a surge in inbound tourism.
International tourist arrivals by air to Brazil increased 33.2 percent year-on-year, including a 77 percent rise in visitors from Argentina. Traffic between the two countries grew 29.7 percent and accounted for roughly one-third of the expansion in Brazil’s international segment in 2025.
“In 2025, total air traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 477.3 million passengers, a 3.8 percent year-on-year increase, confirming a stable and positive year for the region. Eighty-four percent of the expansion came from operations within the region, with Argentina recording the highest percentage growth, followed by Brazil, which broke a historic record by surpassing 100 million domestic passengers, and Panama,” said Peter Cerdá, CEO of ALTA, in a statement.
– TIMES/NA
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