Source: ACI-LAC

  • Data show that passenger traffic at Latin American and Caribbean airports will increase 2.4 times in three decades (general)
  • Data show that Brazil will continue to be the region’s main air market in the next two decades (Brazil)

Airports Council International Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) has released airport traffic projections for the region for the period 2023-2052, based on the ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2023-2052 report, and preliminary 2023 traffic data.

Airport traffic projections

In 2052, 1.79 billion passengers are expected to use Latin American and Caribbean airports, compared to 740 million in 2023. In 2052 the region will account for 7.3% of global passenger traffic, down from 8.5% in 2023. This is due to the large growth expected in the Asia-Pacific region, which will increase from 34.5% today to 46.2% in 2052. Total global passengers in 2052 are expected to be 24,487 million, compared to 8,692 million today.

Passenger traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean is estimated to increase 2.4 times by 2052 from current levels. According to the projection, the top five markets will be Mexico (484 million), Brazil (425 million), Colombia (232 million), Argentina (134 million) and Peru (130 million).

According to ACI-LAC traffic projections, the estimate is that passenger traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2032 will exceed one billion people, with Brazil (305 million), Mexico (266 million), Colombia (140 million), Argentina (72 million) and Peru (68 million) being the five countries with the highest air traffic.

By 2024, airport traffic is expected to reach 795 million passengers. The five countries with the highest volume of passengers transported are expected to be Brazil (230 million), Mexico (196 million), Colombia (105 million), Argentina (49 million) and Peru (42.6 million).

This year, international traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to represent 31% of total air traffic in the region. The percentage of international traffic in the five main markets should be as follows: Mexico (32%), Chile (31%), Argentina (26%), Peru (23%), Colombia (21%) and Brazil (10.8%).

“Despite being the region that recovered the fastest after the pandemic, Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to experience growth below the global average in the coming years. Between 2023 and 2032, the cumulative average growth rate (CAGR) is projected to be 4.4% versus an overall global average of 5.8%. One point worth highlighting is the outlook for Brazil. The country is expected to remain the first most important market until 2032, despite having the lowest percentage of international passengers in Latin America and the Caribbean and among the BRIC countries (average of 14%). These data point to the enormous potential of the Brazilian air market for international air traffic,” said Dr. Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC.

Preliminary Results for 2023

Preliminary 2023 traffic data collected by ACI from 217 airports in Latin America and the Caribbean show that total passengers in the region grew 12% from 2022 to 2023. Growth in the extended period, from 2019 to 2023, was 5.9%, demonstrating that LAC was the region in the world with the highest post-pandemic passenger traffic recovery. In fact, our region is the only one worldwide with international and domestic traffic above 2019 levels. Worldwide, 2023 traffic was still 6.2% below 2019, but 27.2% above 2022.

According to data from Brazil’s Ministry of Ports and Airports, the country recorded a reduction in air traffic between 2019 and 2023 of 4.5%, showing however a satisfactory recovery last year, registering growth of 13.4%.

Among the country’s main airports, two already exceeded 2019 levels: the Santos Dumont Airport (+25%) and the Campinas/Viracopos International Airport (+16%). São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, Brazil’s largest, still remained 4% below pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels; Congonhas Airport, the second in terms of air traffic, reached 98% over 2019.

Regarding the results, Rafael Echevarne, Director General of ACI-LAC, stated that “2023 was consolidated as the year of airport traffic recovery in Latin America and the Caribbean, when all countries in the region surpassed the previous year’s levels. Most markets are already above pre-pandemic traffic and all are expected to end 2024 with traffic above 2019 levels.”