In July 2025, air traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 42.8 million passengers, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.4% compared to July 2024 (approximately 1.8 million additional passengers).
The latest report from the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), highlights that the growth rate exceeded that recorded in June, adding one more percentage point, driven by Latin America-based airlines which, for the second consecutive month, led the global expansion (+7.2%).
Traffic within the region accounted for over 60% of the net increase in July, while passenger flow between Latin America and the United States recorded its best performance of the year (+3.6% year-on-year).
Argentina’s Performance
Argentina, Panama, Peru, and Brazil led the percentage growth in the highest volume markets.
Our country was the market with the highest year-on-year percentage growth in July (+11%), thanks to an 8.3% expansion in the domestic segment and 14% in the international one.
The total number of passengers reached a new all-time high for a month of July: 6% above July 2019.
Between January and July, Argentina has already reached 19 million passengers, 14.7% more than in 2024.
Panama
Panama, for its part, recorded a 9% year-on-year increase in its total passenger traffic in July, driven by growth in intraregional traffic (+10%) and with North America (+5%).
Routes with Central America and the Caribbean were the ones that grew the most to and from Panama during July, notably Panama–San José (+21%); Panama–Punta Cana (+27%); Panama–El Salvador (+22%); and Panama–Guatemala (+15%).
Peru
Peru had a significant increase of 8.6% year-on-year, with the domestic market growing at double digits (+10%) and the international one at 6%.
July set a historical record in domestic traffic (1.5 million passengers), something that has been repeated every month in 2025. In the international segment, the number of flights operated increased by 7% compared to July 2024, with a strong boost in the Peru–Colombia market, which grew 25% year-on-year in frequencies and +17% year-on-year in Colombian tourists visiting Peru.
Brazil
Brazil recorded its fifth consecutive month of historical record in domestic traffic.
In July, 9 million passengers flew within the country, 4.9% more than in July 2024.
Although the total number of domestic flights operated in July decreased by 2% year-on-year, the average seat capacity per flight increased by 3%, going from 153 to 161 seats offered per flight.
In the international segment, Brazil grew 13.6% year-on-year, driven by a 43% increase in arrivals of international tourists by air. In total, passenger traffic in Brazil grew 7.5% compared to July 2024.
Global Leadership
“The fact that Latin American airlines recorded a year-on-year growth of 7.2% in July – the highest globally for the second consecutive month – reflects not only the strength of our industry but also the travelers’ confidence in the connectivity offered by the region.
More than 60% of the year-on-year net increase in passengers in July came from intraregional routes, demonstrating an increasingly dynamic market,” highlighted Peter Cerdá, CEO of ALTA.
ALTA’s report indicates that Mexico and Colombia showed a slight rebound in domestic traffic.
Mexico
In Mexico, 11 million passengers flew in July (+1.8% year-on-year), recovering after the drop in June (–0.4% year-on-year). The domestic segment grew 1.3% year-on-year and the international segment 2.4%.
Traffic with the U.S., which constitutes the third largest country pair in the region after Brazil and domestic Mexico, rebounded 1.3% year-on-year in July, after falling in June (–2.1%), although in the January-July cumulative it remains practically stable (–0.1%, 24,000 fewer passengers).
Colombia
In Colombia, after five months of declines, domestic traffic grew 0.6% year-on-year in July, although in January-July it accumulates a decrease of 1.7%, affected by traffic originating in Bogotá (–4.6% cumulative), which accounts for more than 30% of the total.
In contrast, the international passenger market grew 6.7% year-on-year, driven by an increase with neighboring countries; Ecuador (+12%), Brazil (+27%), Peru (+21%) and Venezuela (+11%).
Chile and Ecuador
Chile and Ecuador showed more moderate growth.
Chile had its worst month so far in 2025, with a marginal increase in total passengers carried of just 0.8% compared to July 2024. Domestic traffic contracted by 2.4% year-on-year, while international traffic grew 4.6%.
In Ecuador, total traffic grew 4.1% year-on-year in July, driven by the increase in the international segment which grew 5.6%. Air arrivals of international tourists residing in the United States to Ecuador had an 11% year-on-year increase, which helped drive the increase in international traffic.
Caribbean and Central America
Traffic to and from the Caribbean grew 6.2% year-on-year in July, driven by the Dominican Republic, the largest market in the subregion, which advanced 5.5%.
Traffic between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. recovered slightly, with a 5.2% year-on-year increase after the June drop (–1.1%).
Jamaica, the second largest market in the Caribbean, recorded its best month of the year in July, growing 13.1% year-on-year with 703,000 passengers in total.
Guyana, a small market, but one of great dynamism in recent years, grew 12% year-on-year in July and accumulates 18% more international arrivals in 2025.
Costa Rica recorded a year-on-year expansion of 7% in July, driven by the arrival of international tourists by air from South America (+17.7%) and Europe (+3.9%). Arrivals from the U.S. rebounded marginally (+0.3%), although in the January-July cumulative they fell 2.3%.
In El Salvador, traffic grew 2.4% year-on-year in July after 5 consecutive months of declines. So far in 2025, the country mobilized a total of 3 million passengers.
In Guatemala, total traffic had a 3.9% year-on-year increase in July, with 453,000 passengers mobilized in total.
Cover image: Ministerio de Transporte
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ALTAAsociación Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Transporte Aéreoair traffic Argentinaair traffic passengers Latin America
