Latin America Hits 477 Million Air Passengers as Brazil and Argentina Soar
- ▸ Air traffic across Latin America and the Caribbean reached 477.3 million passengers in 2025, up 3.8% — with 84% of growth coming from intraregional routes
- ▸ Brazil broke its all-time record at 129.6 million passengers, surpassing 100 million domestic travelers for the first time in history
- ▸ Argentina led growth at 13.2%, driven by market deregulation, while Mexico and Colombia showed signs of domestic weakness
Latin America’s aviation market closed 2025 with 477.3 million passengers, a 3.8 percent increase over the previous year that added 17.5 million travelers, according to data released Monday by ALTA, the region’s airline trade association. The headline number masks a sharply uneven picture: two countries drove the expansion while others stalled. This is part of The Rio Times’ daily coverage of Argentina affairs and Latin American financial news.
Brazil cemented its dominance as the region’s largest air market with 129.6 million passengers, a 9.4 percent jump that contributed 11.2 million of those additional travelers. The country crossed two historic thresholds — surpassing 100 million domestic passengers for the first time and posting a record 28.4 million on international routes. Arrivals from Argentina alone surged 77 percent, reflecting a bilateral traffic boom of nearly 30 percent between the two countries. Latam Airlines accounted for 42 percent of Brazil’s domestic growth, launching a record 20 new routes during the year.
Argentina was the region’s fastest grower, up 13.2 percent to 33.3 million passengers. International traffic jumped 18.2 percent as routes to Brazil expanded 38 percent and flights to the Dominican Republic nearly doubled. The surge coincided with the Milei government’s market deregulation push. Panama rounded out the top three with a 9 percent increase to nearly 21 million passengers, its corridor to the United States growing 8.1 percent even as the broader Latin America–U.S. market contracted slightly.
Winners and Laggards
Not every market shared the momentum. Mexico, the region’s second-largest with 122.4 million passengers, grew just 2.4 percent. Its traffic with the United States — 40 million passengers — slipped 0.2 percent, while the Canada corridor surged 16.4 percent. Colombia, third at 57.5 million, managed only 1.7 percent growth as domestic traffic fell 1.2 percent, dragged down by a 3.8 percent decline in Bogotá-origin routes that account for 70 percent of domestic volume. Chile was nearly flat at 0.8 percent.
Peru stood out among the mid-sized markets, up 5.9 percent to 28.5 million passengers, buoyed by the opening of Lima’s new international airport. ALTA’s CEO Peter Cerdá said the results confirm sustained momentum that could accelerate further if governments streamline regulatory frameworks and reduce barriers to competition — a pointed message in a region where protectionist instincts still shape aviation policy.
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