The aviation industry in Latin America and the Caribbean continues its upward trajectory at the close of the first two months of 2026. During February, the region transported a total of 39.4 million passengers, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.6% compared to the same month last year. This growth not only equates to 2.44 million additional travelers but also surpasses the pace recorded in January, which stood at 6.2%.
Strengthening Demand and Operational Efficiency
February’s performance stands out due to demand significantly outstripping the increase in supply. While capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometers (ASK), grew by 5.8%, demand, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK), increased by 8.8%.
This operational efficiency translated into an average load factor of 85.3%, representing an improvement of 2.4 percentage points compared to February 2025. Other key indicators for the period include:
- Total flight supply: 3.4% year-on-year increase.
- Seat capacity: 4.3% growth.
- Domestic Traffic: Accounted for 52.8% of total volume.
- International Traffic: Accounted for the remaining 47.2%.
Growth Drivers: The Intra-regional Market and Brazil
Data analysis reveals that the primary driver of expansion is found within the region itself. Two out of every three additional passengers opted for domestic or intra-regional routes. In particular, international intra-regional traffic (flights between countries within the region) showed exceptional dynamism with 12.8% growth, a figure that doubles the domestic market rate.
Brazil consolidated its position as the fundamental pillar of net growth in the region, accounting for nearly 39% of the total passenger increase. The South American giant transported 10.5 million travelers, marking a 9.9% increase and accumulating 18 consecutive months of expansion in its domestic market.
For its part, Panama led growth in percentage terms among the major markets, recording a 15.5% rise. This result was largely driven by the dynamism in connectivity with the United States, which grew by 8.3%.
Recovery of the U.S. Market
One of the most relevant developments for the region is the consolidation of recovery on routes to North America. After closing 2025 with a slight contraction of 0.3%, traffic between Latin America and the United States has now seen two consecutive months of growth.
In February 2026, this flow increased by 1.6% year-on-year, improving upon the 0.6% recorded in January. This market is critical for the financial stability of the regional industry, as it concentrates approximately one in every five passengers.
Industry Perspective
Peter Cerdá, CEO of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), highlighted the sector’s solidity based on the strengthening of the internal route network.
“Aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean continues to show solid growth, driven mainly by the strengthening of connectivity and demand within the region,” Cerdá stated.
The executive underscored that the fact that most new passengers are traveling on regional routes, combined with the recovery of the U.S. market, positions aviation as a strategic axis for the integration and economic development of the continent.
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Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.