The figures confirm it: Latin America has not only recovered the traffic lost during the pandemic, but is now showing growth above the global average for international flights. The record increase in passengers from Europe and North America is due to several factors, driven by the creation of new routes, increased capacity, and growing demand in certain markets.
A driving force for global aviation
In 2025, Latin America and the Caribbean led global growth in international air traffic, reaching 237 million passengers—3.6% more than in 2024. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines in the region posted the strongest global increase in international demand at the beginning of the year, with revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) up 12.9% in January and 13.9% in April.
Countries driving connectivity
Growth is not uniform: some countries are setting the pace for the recovery of regional air traffic. Brazil is strengthening its role as a South American hub, particularly via São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, which now offer more direct flights to Europe and new connections to the south of the continent.
Similarly, in Colombia, Bogotá is consolidating its position with a growing number of flights from North America. Peru and Chile are also showing a sustained recovery, thanks to the reactivation of intercontinental routes and the arrival of new international airlines that they consider to be strategic points.
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Iberia strengthens its historic commitment
The Spanish airline has scheduled nearly 5.5 million seats between Europe and Latin America, 5.5% more than the previous year: a record. Iberia operates more than 350 weekly flights to the region, with increased frequencies on routes such as Bogotá, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Mexico City.
Optimistic projections for 2025
The growth recorded in the first half of the year has led ACI-LAC (Airports Council International – Latin America and the Caribbean) to forecast a total of up to 789 million passengers for this year in the region, an upward revision of its initial estimates. This would mean ending 2025 with one of the highest levels of international connectivity in Latin America’s history, in a context of intensifying competition between airlines to capture routes to the continent.
With the opening of new direct routes and reduced connection times, Latin America is becoming more accessible than ever before. This increased fluidity allows travelers to reach their final destinations more quickly. In a context of heightened competition between airlines, this dynamic is not limited to numbers: it is redrawing the global map of air transport and placing Latin America at the center of international tourist and economic routes.
Photo: Matt Moloney
