October 2024: Traffic in LAC reaches 38.7 million passengers

According to the latest ALTA report, this figure represents a growth of 4.6%, that is, more than 1.7 million passengers compared to October 2023

(Source: IATA)

45% of this increase was driven by the Colombian domestic market, which added 524,624 additional passengers (+16.2%). The domestic segment, which accounted for 60% of the total growth, handled 22.3 million passengers (+4.8%), achieving its second best performance of the year, after February. In total, 190,406 flights were operated, with the Bogotá (BOG) - Medellín (MDE) route being the busiest, with 422,318 passengers (+20%).

Intraregional traffic grew by 9.1%, reaching 4.7 million passengers and 43,147 flights (+8%). This growth was led by the Brazil-Chile market, which added 103,000 additional passengers (+59.6%) thanks to new frequencies on routes such as Brasilia (BSB)–Santiago (SCL) and Salvador de Bahía (SSA)–Santiago (SCL), which added 44 flights. Also notable was the 21.7% increase in passengers between Colombia and Panama.

Extra-LAC traffic grew 2.5%, totaling 11.7 million passengers on 72,257 flights. Routes to North America recorded the largest absolute increase, with 941,185 additional passengers (+0.9%) and 398 additional flights, 108 of them on the Orlando (MCO)–Punta Cana (PUJ) route. Connections to Europe grew 6.3%, totaling 9,808 flights (+600 frequencies), with Caracas–Madrid as the leading route (+77% in flights).

Demand (RPK) grew by 3.8% and supply (ASK) increased by 3.3%, with a load factor of 84.9% (+0.4 percentage points vs 2023). Between January and October 2024, 394.5 million passengers were transported, an increase of 5.7% (+21.2 million passengers).

Domestic market in October 2024:

Brazil and Colombia lead the growth, while Mexico and Argentina show declines

In October 2024, Brazil recorded 8.3 million passengers and 64,612 domestic operations, consolidating its position as the second busiest month after July. This represented a 6.5% increase in passengers (+520,000 vs 2023) and a 1.3% increase in operations. The Congonhas (CGH) – Santos Dumont (SDU) route was the busiest, with 361,000 passengers (+7% in frequencies), followed by Brasilia (BSB) – Congonhas (CGH) and Congonhas (CGH) – Confins (CNF), which handled 223,000 and 198,000 passengers, respectively.

In Colombia, the domestic market continued to lead the region's percentage growth, with a 22% increase, reaching 2.9 million passengers, the largest percentage increase of the year. In October, 28,914 flights were operated (+38% vs 2023). The Bogotá (BOG) – Santa Marta (SMR) route increased by 39% in frequencies, totaling 1,454 flights, while Bogotá (BOG) – Pereira (PEI) mobilized 134,997 passengers (+42% in operations).

In Mexico, domestic traffic totaled 5.2 million passengers, reflecting a decrease of 4.2% compared to 2023. 35,797 flights were operated (-6.2%). However, the Guadalajara – Monterrey route grew by 1.8% 

6% in frequencies, moving 86,291 passengers. The Mérida airport (MID) increased its flights by 8.2%, while Puerto Vallarta (PVR) reported an increase of 9%.

In Argentina, domestic traffic fell by 12.6%, accumulating seven consecutive months of declines. This represented a loss of 197,618 passengers compared to October 2023, with a total of 1.4 million travelers. Frequencies decreased by 5%, reaching 10,941 flights. However, the Aeroparque (AEP) – Neuquén (NQN) route stood out with a 28% increase in frequencies.

Chile reported a 9.5% growth in domestic passengers, reaching 1.4 million, with a 5% increase in frequencies. This growth was the highest since April (+10.3%). The Santiago (SCL) – Calama (CJC) and Santiago (SCL) – Antofagasta routes showed increases of 15% and 7%, respectively.

In Peru, domestic traffic grew by 11.5%, reaching 1.4 million passengers, with a 12.8% increase in operations. Panama also reported a 10.4% growth in domestic passengers.

International Market in October 2024:

Brazil leads absolute growth, while Chile and Peru stand out in percentage growth

In October 2024, Colombia recorded a 12.4% increase in international traffic, adding 214,985 additional passengers to reach 1.9 million travelers. 12,078 flights were operated (+9.3% vs 2023). The Bogotá (BOG) - Panama (PTY) route grew by 39% in frequencies, while operations to and from Peru increased by 38%, driven by 132 additional flights from an airline that connected Medellín (MDE) and Cartagena (CTG) with Lima (LIM), adding 60 and 52 frequencies, respectively.

Brazil transported 2.1 million international passengers (+11.8%), accompanied by 1,030 additional flights (+10.6%). The Florianópolis (FLN) - Santiago (SCL) route registered a 352% increase in flights. In addition, the Brazil-Spain market grew 37% in frequencies, with the Guarulhos (GRU) - Madrid (MAD) route, operated by four airlines, standing out, adding 261 additional flights.

In the Dominican Republic, international traffic increased by 3%, reaching 1.3 million passengers, although frequencies fell by 6% (9,093 flights). The Punta Cana (PUJ) - Panama (PTY) route grew by 12%, while connections with Brazil rose by 235%, with 53 additional flights on the Santo Domingo (SDQ) - Guarulhos (GRU) route.

Mexico reported 4.1 million international passengers (+2.5%) and a 3.1% increase in international flights. The Mexico City (MEX) - Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) route added 78 frequencies, while Guadalajara (GDL) - Los Angeles (LAX), the main international route, added 90. Connections with Chile increased by 18%, thanks to the expansion of flights on the Mexico City (MEX) - Santiago (SCL) route.

Argentina reached 1.09 million international passengers (+6.3%) and 7,068 flights (+4.1%). The Aeroparque (AEP) - Guarulhos (GRU) route led in frequencies, with 656 flights (+18%), operated by four airlines after the incorporation of a new one.

Chile recorded a 16% growth in international traffic, while connections with Uruguay grew by 88%, with Montevideo (MVD) - Santiago (SCL) standing out, with 56 of the 102 additional frequencies operated by the largest airline in the region, reaching 988,652 passengers and 5,793 flights (+19.4%). The Santiago (SCL) - Guarulhos (GRU) route added 127 frequencies.

Source: ALTA.

 


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