June highlights two complementary movements in air connectivity to Latin America. On the one hand, major long-haul routes continue to strengthen, with particular attention given to Brazil, Panama, Peru and Central America. On the other, several targeted announcements confirm the importance of more specific markets, such as Guatemala, now better connected to the United States for the 2026 season.
These announcements illustrate an evolution already visible for several months: airlines are no longer limiting themselves to the major historic routes. They are adding capacity, reactivating certain routes and building new balances between international hubs, seasonal services and high-potential markets.
Europe consolidates its routes to Latin America
The main new development of the month concerns Brazil. LATAM Airlines inaugurated its direct service between São Paulo/Guarulhos and Brussels in early June, marking the return of a direct passenger connection between Brussels Airport and Latin America after more than twenty-five years of absence.
The route is operated three times a week with a Boeing 787-9, configured with 300 seats, including 30 in Premium Business and 270 in Economy Class. Beyond the connection between Belgium and Brazil, this flight strengthens the role of São Paulo as a connecting point to the rest of South America, with possible connections to many destinations across the LATAM network.
São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) – Brussels (BRU) – Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays:
• Flight LA8088: GRU 18:10 – BRU 10:50 (+1)
Brussels (BRU) – São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays:
• Flight LA8089: BRU 13:10 – GRU 20:10
Central America is also benefiting from a transatlantic boost. Avianca is reactivating its direct route between San Salvador and Madrid for the 2026 summer season. The service will operate from June 15 to September 15, with four weekly frequencies, in partnership with Wamos Air and using Airbus A330 aircraft.
This operation gives El Salvador a direct connection with Spain during the high season, while expanding access options to Central America from Europe. For itineraries combining El Salvador with Guatemala, Honduras or other destinations in the region, the route may offer an alternative to traditional connections via major Latin American hubs.
San Salvador (SAL) – Madrid (MAD) – four weekly frequencies:
• Flight AV 300: SAL 05:10 – MAD 00:10 (+1) – Mondays
• Flight AV 300: SAL 23:05 – MAD 18:05 – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Madrid (MAD) – San Salvador (SAL) – four weekly frequencies:
• Flight AV 301: MAD 02:10 – SAL 05:30 – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays
Iberia , for its part, is strengthening its route between Madrid and Panama. Between July 20 and September 28, the airline will add a fourth weekly frequency, with an additional flight on Mondays. The route will therefore increase from three to four flights per week during this period.
This increase represents nearly 8,000 additional seats and reflects sustained demand on the Madrid–Panama axis. It also reinforces Madrid’s role as a European hub to Latin America, while Panama maintains its function as a regional platform thanks to the connections offered from Tocumen International Airport.
Madrid (MAD) – Panama City/Tocumen (PTY) – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, from July 20 to September 28, 2026:
• Flight IB257: MAD 15:55 – PTY 19:35
• Flight IB258: PTY 21:05 – MAD 14:10 (+1)
In the same movement, Turkish Airlines has taken a new step in its South American development. The airline’s board of directors has approved the launch of scheduled flights to Lima.
At this stage, no launch schedule has been announced. The announcement should therefore be treated as a prospect, but it confirms the growing interest of major long-haul carriers in Peru. A future route to Lima would strengthen Istanbul’s role as a hub to South America. It would also become Turkish Airlines’ tenth destination in the Latin America-Caribbean region.
Air China is also strengthening its offer to Brazil via Spain. From July, the Chinese airline will increase its schedule to four weekly frequencies between Beijing, Madrid and São Paulo/Guarulhos.
Beijing/Capital (PEK) – Madrid (MAD) – São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) – Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays:
• Flight CA897: PEK 15:00 – MAD 21:00 / MAD 23:15 – GRU 05:00 (+1)
São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) – Madrid (MAD) – Beijing/Capital (PEK) – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays:
• Flight CA898: GRU 09:25 – MAD 00:55 (+1) / MAD 02:40 – PEK 19:30
Guatemala gains air visibility
Guatemala brings together two important announcements this month, making it one of the most visible markets in this aviation sequence. Avianca launched a seasonal route between Guatemala City and San Francisco on June 1, operated until August 31, 2026. The flight is part of the San Salvador – Guatemala – San Francisco itinerary, but the segment between the Guatemalan capital and the west coast of the United States is marketed as a direct connection.
The route is operated with a 180-seat Airbus A320, with four weekly frequencies. It allows Avianca to strengthen its offer between Central America and the US West Coast, in a context of strong visibility for travel to the United States with the 2026 World Cup. For Guatemala, this service adds a direct option from a strategic US market, complementing existing connections via other regional hubs.
San Salvador (SAL) – Guatemala City (GUA) – San Francisco (SFO) – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays:
- Flight AV552: SAL 23:20 – GUA 00:10 (+1)
- Flight AV552: GUA 01:20 – SFO 06:25
San Francisco (SFO) – Guatemala City (GUA) – San Salvador (SAL) – Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays:
- Flight AV553: SFO 07:45 – GUA 14:15
- Flight AV553: GUA 15:20 – SAL 16:10
The second announcement concerns BermudAir, which will add the Boston–Guatemala City route to its winter 2026-2027 network, with a stop in Belize, from December 19, 2026 to May 1, 2027.
The flight will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Detailed schedules have not yet been published. For Guatemala, this service broadens access from the northeastern United States, an important source market for the region. The stop in Belize may also open possibilities for combined itineraries between two Central American destinations.
This month of June confirms a gradual evolution in air connectivity to Latin America. Major hubs remain essential, but announcements are now spread between intercontinental routes, seasonal reinforcements and more direct access to targeted markets. Brazil benefits from a dual movement from Europe and Asia, Panama gains capacity, El Salvador regains a seasonal transatlantic connection and Guatemala strengthens its links with the United States. For the construction of regional itineraries, this diversification makes it possible to expand the range of combinations and better distribute access points to the continent.
Photos: Brussels Airport | Iberia | Turkish Airlines | BermudAir
