Aviation liberalization should boost competitiveness and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean are expected to close 2025 with an air traffic volume of 789 million passengers, a 4% increase compared to 2024. The countries with the best expected performance are Colombia (+5.6%), Mexico (+4.5%), and Brazil (+2.1%).

Preliminary data also project that air traffic in the region will reach 821 million passengers by 2026. The information was presented Monday during the Airports Council International Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) Annual Assembly and Conference, which is being held until tomorrow (7) in Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean.

In his inaugural address, ACI-LAC Director General Rafael Echevarne argued that liberalization and deregulation of the aviation sector are essential to driving sustainable and competitive growth in aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Openness and unrestricted market access have proven successful globally, promoting efficiency, connectivity, and innovation, and generating direct benefits for passengers, airlines, and airports.

In a context of growing demand for efficiency and sustainability in aviation, ACI-LAC emphasizes the importance of ensuring that airports have the necessary resources to maintain and develop their infrastructure and services with quality, guaranteeing the continuity of investments, operational safety, and the passenger experience.

"Airports have the right to charge for the use of their facilities and services. These fees are based on actual operating and maintenance costs and represent only a small portion of airlines' total expenses. Furthermore, they are regulated by the relevant authorities, ensuring transparency and balance in the relationship with airlines and passengers," stated the Director General of ACI-LAC.

Air connectivity, climate resilience and business generation

Under the theme "Airports Defining Connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean," the first day of the annual ACI-LAC conference offered an overview of the direction and challenges of the airport sector, combining strategic and current topics.

In the conference's opening panel, airport CEOs and regulatory authorities shared best practices in concession contracts, exploring lessons learned and potential advancements in the airport market. Other panels, held throughout the day, addressed the legal framework for aerodrome certification—from ICAO standardization to practical implementation—as well as strategies for building resilient infrastructure that addresses climate challenges, ways to leverage air cargo as a driver of opportunity, and trends in ground handling services that balance operational efficiency, passenger experience, and the necessary energy transition.

Source: ACI-LAC.