Air travel demand remains strong in Latin America despite global uncertainty

In an international landscape marked by geopolitical tensions, cost pressures, and capacity adjustments, air transport continues to show signs of strength. Both globally and in Latin America and the Caribbean, the latest data confirm that passenger demand remains on the rise, solidifying a positive trend for 2026.

According to the latest report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global passenger demand grew 6.1% year-on-year in February, while capacity increased by 5.6%. This performance resulted in a load factor of 81.4%, the highest ever recorded for the month of February.

However, the organization warned that the international context continues to generate uncertainty. Factors such as the conflict in the Middle East, rising fuel prices, and pressure on tariffs could impact the sector's performance in the coming months. Even so, the indicators reflect that demand fundamentals remain strong.

Latin America, among the most dynamic regions

In this context, Latin America and the Caribbean stand out as one of the most dynamic markets globally. According to IATA, international demand for airlines in the region grew 13.5% year-on-year in February, significantly exceeding the global average, while the load factor reached 85%.

This trend is supported by data from the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), which reported a 6.2% growth in total passenger traffic in January 2026, with 45.1 million travelers in the region, representing 2.63 million additional passengers compared to the previous year.

One of the most relevant aspects is that 82% of the net growth was concentrated in domestic traffic and flights within the region itself, which demonstrates the consolidation of intra-regional connectivity as a key driver of the market.

Key markets and sustained growth

The performance of the main countries also reflects this positive trend. Brazil led the regional expansion, accounting for approximately 44% of total passenger growth, with a 10.3% increase in its domestic market and record figures in the international segment.

Other markets showed outstanding results, such as Panama, with a growth of 15%, and Argentina, which registered an increase of 12.3% and reached its highest historical monthly passenger volume in January.

In addition, Colombia started the year with a recovery in its domestic traffic, growing 9.5% year-on-year after a low end to 2025.

Capacity, efficiency and new dynamics

In terms of supply, capacity in the region grew at a more moderate pace than demand. According to ALTA, available seats increased by 3.9%, while demand (RPKs) expanded by 6.4%, bringing the load factor to 84.6%.

This balance between supply and demand reflects greater operational efficiency and more intensive use of available capacity, in line with the global trend.

In the cargo segment, growth was more moderate, with a year-on-year increase of 1.9%, showing more heterogeneous dynamics among the different markets.

Resilience in a challenging context

Despite some isolated declines in specific markets such as Jamaica, Bolivia, Cuba or Chile, the overall outlook for the region remains positive.

The combination of sustained demand, strengthening domestic and regional traffic, and more efficient capacity management positions Latin America and the Caribbean as one of the most resilient regions within the global airline industry.

In this context, the beginning of 2026 confirms that, beyond international tensions, air transport remains a key driver for connectivity, tourism and economic development in the region.

Source: International Air Transport Association (IATA) / Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA)