The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) published the region's traffic data for January 2025, which recorded a total of 42.3 million passengers, a 2.4% growth compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was driven by route reactivation, the adoption of open skies policies, and increased demand for tourist travel. The Brazilian domestic market played a key role in this growth, adding 438,000 passengers, representing 44% of the region's total growth. Intraregional traffic also registered a significant increase, reaching 5.3 million passengers, with particular emphasis on the Lima-Santiago route, which consolidated its position as the busiest in Latin America, with nearly 156,000 passengers.
The international market maintained its growth trajectory, totaling 15.6 million passengers, an increase of 0.7% year-over-year. Traffic between Brazil and France was one of the major highlights, with a 33.5% increase, driven by the addition of the Paris-Salvador route. Connections between Panama and the United States also performed positively, adding more than 2,500 frequencies, a 12% increase year-over-year. Furthermore, the total number of flights in the region grew by 4.8%, reaching 345,331 operations, while the average load factor reached 84.7%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points compared to 2024.
Among the markets that stood out the most, Brazil and the Dominican Republic reached historic records in international traffic. Florianópolis registered a 175% increase in connections with Buenos Aires, as a result of the arrival of a new airline. The Dominican Republic reached its highest international passenger volume ever, adding 1.8 million in January, a 3% increase compared to the previous year. In Mexico, airports such as Santa Lucía showed strong growth, increasing by 78%, while in Argentina, Tucumán experienced 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, increased connectivity, and the industry's commitment to sustainable development will continue to be key to maintaining this positive trajectory," said 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 $98.05 per barrel, while sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) remained approximately 2.1 times more expensive, averaging $208.05 per barrel. This cost differential remains a major challenge for the large-scale adoption of SAF in the region, making it essential to develop policies that encourage its production and enable its competitiveness against conventional aviation kerosene.
The data reinforces the resilience of the airline sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting a continued recovery in demand and the fundamental role of aviation in the region's connectivity. Significant growth in domestic and international markets, coupled with increased flight supply and the expansion of the airline network, demonstrates a positive outlook for the sector. However, challenges such as fuel costs and the need for policies that promote the modernization of airport infrastructure remain on the industry's radar to ensure sustainable and efficient development.
Source: ALTA.