RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Peter Cerdá, regional vice president of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) for the Americas, said on April 6 that the recovery of the airline industry is occurring faster in South America. He cited, as an example, the domestic demand in Brazil, which has already reached 90% of the pre-pandemic level.
“In the continent, the recovery is coming faster than in the rest of the world,” he said during the Wings of Change Congress, promoted by Iata in Chile.
However, the leader noted that restrictive measures continue to negatively impact the recovery, as in Chile, for example, where numerous sanitary measures continue to be required for vaccinated travelers. “Brazil and Uruguay have stopped requiring PCR testing for vaccinated travelers, encouraging the resumption. Traveling is safe.”
According to Cerdá, the region has enormous growth potential. In the pre-pandemic, in 2019, Spain recorded 4.45 trips per capita/year, while Brazil marked 0.48 trips per capita/year. Chile and Colombia are ahead of the country in this indicator.
According to Iata, in March 2019, there were 2,075 international and 1,970 domestic routes in the Americas. In March 2022, there were 1,684 international and 1,868 domestic routes, totaling a loss of 493 routes.