ACI-LAC Reveals Airport Traffic Forecasts for Latin America, the Caribbean

The Airports Council International of Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) has released airport traffic projections for the region spanning from 2023 to 2052, derived from the ACI World Airport Traffic Forecasts 2023-2052 report and preliminary 2023 traffic data.

By 2052, it is anticipated that 1.79 billion passengers will utilize Latin American and Caribbean airports, a significant increase from the 740 million recorded in 2023. However, the region's share of global passenger traffic is expected to decrease slightly, from 8.5% in 2023 to 7.3% in 2052. This shift is attributed to substantial growth forecasted in the Asia-Pacific region, which is projected to rise from 34.5% to 46.2% by 2052. The total global passenger count in 2052 is forecasted to reach 24,487 million, compared to the current 8,692 million.

Passenger traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean is predicted to surge 2.4 times by 2052 relative to present levels. According to these projections, the top five markets will be Mexico (484 million), Brazil (425 million), Colombia (232 million), Argentina (134 million), and Peru (130 million).

ACI-LAC traffic projections indicate that by 2032, passenger traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean will surpass one billion individuals. The five countries projected to have the highest air traffic volumes in 2032 are Brazil (305 million), Mexico (266 million), Colombia (140 million), Argentina (72 million), and Peru (68 million).

For 2024, it is forecasted that airport traffic will reach 795 million passengers. The top five countries in terms of passenger volume are expected to be Brazil (230 million), Mexico (196 million), Colombia (105 million), Argentina (49 million), and Peru (42.6 million).

In the current year, international traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean is anticipated to constitute 31% of the total air traffic in the region. The breakdown of international traffic percentages in the top five markets is projected as follows: Mexico (32%), Chile (31%), Argentina (26%), Peru (23%), Colombia (21%), and Brazil (10.8%).

"Despite being the region that rebounded the fastest post-pandemic, Latin America and the Caribbean are poised to experience growth rates below the global average in the upcoming years. From 2023 to 2032, the cumulative average growth rate (CAGR) is expected to be 4.4%, compared to the overall global average of 5.8%. Notably, Brazil is expected to retain its position as the largest market until 2032, despite having the lowest percentage of international passengers in Latin America and the Caribbean and among the BRIC countries (with an average of 14%). These figures underscore the immense potential of the Brazilian air market for international air traffic," stated Dr. Rafael Echevarne, General Director of ACI-LAC.