The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announced that Peter Cerdá, current vice president for the Americas of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), will assume the position of executive director and CEO of the organization as of March 15.

This is because José Ricardo Botelho, who joined ALTA in June 2020, will conclude his term in office amid a challenging period. Under his leadership, ALTA experienced significant growth, skillfully navigating the turbulence of the pandemic and achieving a series of milestones that have elevated commercial aviation in the region.

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ALTA said in a statement that IATA has agreed that Cerdá will continue in his current position and consolidate both positions to strengthen the management and work of both organizations in the region.

Under her leadership , a new era of collaboration and engagement with governments in the region will begin . Her focus will be on highlighting the benefits of air transport for Latin America and the Caribbean, ensuring that airlines are recognized as partners for governments.

“We wish Peter Cerdá the best of luck in this new challenge, where we are sure that, from his new responsibilities, he will continue to contribute to the development of aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean,” he said.

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From January to October of this year, passenger air traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean was 394 million 538 thousand 684 passengers, which meant an increase of 5.7% year-on-year .

The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA)  reported that domestic traffic grew by 2.5%, from 205 million 589 thousand 163 passengers to 210 million 761 thousand 721. International traffic was the fastest growing segment, with 12.8% year-on-year, from 40 million 620 thousand 985 to 45 million 816 thousand 831 passengers.

While in October, air passenger traffic reached 38.7 million, a growth of 4.6% (+1.7 million passengers vs. October 2023), 45% of this increase was driven by the Colombian domestic market, which added 524,624 additional passengers (+16.2%).

The domestic segment accounted for 60% of total growth , handling 22.3 million passengers, achieving its second best performance of the year, after February. In total, 190,406 flights were operated, with the Bogotá – Medellín route being the busiest, with 422,318 passengers.

Intraregional traffic grew by 9.1%, reaching 4.7 million passengers and 43,147 flights. This growth was led by the Brazil-Chile market, which added 103,000 additional passengers thanks to new frequencies. Also notable was the 21.7% increase in passengers between Colombia and Panama.

Meanwhile, extra-LAC traffic grew 2.5%, totaling 11.7 million passengers on 72,257 flights. Routes to North America registered the largest absolute increase, with 941,185 additional passengers (+0.9%) and 398 additional flights, 108 of them on the Orlando-Punta Cana route. Connections to Europe grew 6.3%, totaling 9,808 flights, with Caracas-Madrid as the leading route.

Demand (RPK) grew 3.8% and supply (ASK) increased 3.3%, with an occupancy factor of 84.9%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared to 2023.

ALTA stated that in Mexico, domestic traffic totaled 5.2 million passengers, reflecting a decrease of 4.2% compared to 2023. 35,797 flights were operated. However, the Guadalajara – Monterrey route grew by 6% in frequencies, moving 86,291 passengers. The Mérida airport increased its flights by 8.2%, while Puerto Vallarta (PVR) reported an increase of 9 percent.

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NASSAU, BHS. – The growth of aviation has had a direct impact on Latin America’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) , which is why Roberto Alvo, CEO of LATAM Airlines  and now President of the Executive Committee of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) , highlighted the fact that aviation grew 3.6 times in the region, thanks to a collective effort by all stakeholders.

However, Alvo stressed that there are still structural challenges that hinder the development of activity in the region. These include insufficient infrastructure, with almost 54% of airports in congested conditions , as well as the high cost of fuel in Latin America, surpassed only by India at a global level.

“In countries like Colombia, more than 60% of the cost of an airline ticket goes to taxes, which limits access to a means of transportation that, in a region of long distances and geographical barriers, is essential for the population,” Alvo added.

José Ricardo Botelho, CEO of ALTA, highlighted the urgency of improving airport infrastructure and the need to reduce operating costs , which in Latin America and the Caribbean are among the highest in the world.

In this context, the launch of the Competitiveness Index was announced , a tool designed to analyse and compare the conditions that impact the costs of flying in the region.

“This index will help us identify key areas for progress and improvement,” Botelho said.

In this regard, during the formal inauguration of the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum 2024 , Kenneth Romer, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation of the Bahamas, underlined the importance of this location as a strategic hub for connectivity in the Caribbean and highlighted the country’s commitment to being a model of sustainability and environmental responsibility in the region.

For this reason, as previously mentioned, the representative explained that the Bahamas launched its Strategic Aviation Plan , an initiative that aims to build a sustainable, efficient sector aligned with the highest international standards.

This plan, which includes investment in infrastructure and training of aviation professionals , reinforces the country’s commitment to remain at the forefront of the industry, ensuring that all its airports, from the center of Nassau to the smallest airport complexes on remote islands, meet international standards of safety, efficiency and sustainability.

For his part, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Philip Edward Davis, highlighted the importance of this forum, which coincides with Aviation Week in the Bahamas, since “ connectivity is the engine of our economy and fundamental to daily life in the Bahamas ,” he said.

“From the smallest islands to our international airports, every connection ensures that our population can access essential services and opportunities,” he added.

Davis also stressed the region’s responsibility in terms of sustainability, highlighting the Bahamas’ rich biodiversity and its commitment to sustainable aviation practices that preserve the environment for future generations.

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Panama, Chile and Brazil lead the Air Transport Competitiveness Index for Latin America and the Caribbean; Mexico was positioned in twelfth place, although standing out mainly in international connectivity.

According to the third edition of this study prepared by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) and Amadeus , Mexico is the best connected country in the region with a score of 0.94 , surpassing others. Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago and Bolivia are the least connected countries in the region with a score of 0.04.

Panama leads the infrastructure pillar with a score of 0.904, reflecting its solid aviation infrastructure. Chile follows with a score of 0.898, demonstrating comparable commitment and development in its airport sector. Ecuador, with a score of 0.862, also stands out for its airport infrastructure.

While Mexico and Colombia recorded scores of 0.609 and 0.611, and Brazil with 0.441, further down the ranking, suggesting that a larger market size does not necessarily guarantee high-quality airport infrastructure.

“These results indicate a variety of approaches and levels of investment in aviation infrastructure in Latin America, highlighting growth opportunities in various economies in the region,” the document states.

In this sense, he states that more important markets (in terms of passenger demand) such as Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Brazil show signs of growing congestion , which highlights the need to develop airport infrastructure and relevant investments.

In terms of punctuality, Mexico obtained a score of 0.85, placing 13th, in airport quality with 0.66 and position nine, in taxes and fees with 0.55 and place 18, in sustainability, place eight.

It is worth mentioning that the study analyzes the competitiveness of the airline industry in 20 countries in the region , focusing on seven fundamental pillars: operating costs, quality of infrastructure, taxes and fees on passengers, sustainability, propensity to travel, international openness and liberalization, and international connectivity.

“This study identifies key areas of excellence and improvement in aviation in the region. Its objective is to provide relevant data and analysis so that stakeholders, policy makers and industry leaders can design strategies for the sustainable growth of an essential sector for the population in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are convinced that data and collaboration are the basis for improving the competitiveness of an industry as fundamental and promising as aviation,” commented José Ricardo Botelho, Executive Director & CEO of ALTA.

Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the regions in the world with the greatest growth in air transport. More than 70% of tourists who arrive in the region do so by air; In 2023 the region exceeded 324 million passengers and by 2024 the main markets already show growth compared to pre-pandemic figures.

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