Based on the latest aviation data and analysis from OAG, the Latin American aviation market is experiencing a period of robust growth and structural transformation.
Market Overview
The Latin American aviation market has shown remarkable resilience, with capacity in late 2024 and 2025 consistently exceeding pre-pandemic (2019) levels. As of December 2025, Latin America remains the fastest-growing aviation region globally, with a year-on-year capacity increase of approximately 9%.
Top 5 Airports by Seat Capacity (December 2025 Forecast)
| Rank | Airport Code | Airport Name | Country | Dec 2025 Seats | Variance (YoY) |
| 1 | BOG | Bogota El Dorado | Colombia | 2,526,234 | +2.9% |
| 2 | GRU | Sao Paulo Guarulhos | Brazil | 2,329,006 | +7.1% |
| 3 | MEX | Mexico City Juarez | Mexico | 2,176,182 | +2.9% |
| 4 | CUN | Cancun | Mexico | 1,402,627 | -2.0% |
| 5 | LIM | Lima | Peru | 1,301,390 | +2.4% |
Key Market Dynamics
- The Rise of LCCs: Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) have increased their market share from 32% to 38% over the last decade. Airlines like Vivaaerobus (+51% growth over 5 years) and Volaris are driving fresh competition, particularly in Mexico and Colombia.
- Dominant Carriers: LATAM Airline Group remains the largest player, operating 21% of all regional capacity. Their capacity in late 2024 was 14% higher than 2019 levels.
- Domestic vs. International: The market is heavily domestic-centric. In 2025, 59% of all capacity is operated on domestic services. For some carriers, like Azul, domestic routes account for up to 97% of their total network.
- Growth Hotspots: Colombia has emerged as a primary growth leader. Its international market has grown sevenfold since 2000, and domestic capacity expanded by 39% between 2019 and 2024.
Leading Airlines by Seat Capacity (December 2025)
| Airline | Seats (Dec 2025) | YoY Variance (%) |
| LATAM Airlines Group | 9,201,175 | +7.7% |
| GOL Linhas Aereas | 4,051,705 | +16.1% |
| Avianca | 3,938,664 | +1.9% |
| Azul Airlines | 3,211,917 | -5.2% |
| Vivaaerobus | 3,142,676 | +17.7% |
Operational Efficiency (On-Time Performance)
Latin American carriers continue to lead globally in punctuality. In late 2025, Aeromexico and Copa Airlines were ranked among the top large airlines worldwide for On-Time Performance (OTP), with Aeromexico reaching an OTP of 91.67%.
Future Outlook
The introduction of the Airbus A321XLR is expected to be a “game-changer” for the region starting in late 2025. This aircraft’s range will allow airlines to connect underserved “white space” markets and launch long-haul routes that were previously not viable for wide-body aircraft. LATAM, JetSMART, and Sky Airline have already placed significant orders for this model.
