During April 2026, international air cargo traffic reached 345,900 tons to, from and within Latin America and the Caribbean, representing a year-on-year growth of 3.7 percent .

According to the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) , Colombia, Brazil and Mexico were the three largest markets in the region, as they showed year-on-year growth for the second consecutive month.

Colombia moved 82,547 tons, an increase of 3.2% compared to April 2025. Brazil moved 77,678 tons, which meant an increase of 4% annually; while Mexico transported 54,842 tons, 8.4% more than in the same month last year.

“Mexico was the third largest international air cargo market in April and the main contributor to regional growth. The result was driven by the Mexico-United States corridor, which grew 9.1% and accumulated two consecutive months of expansion after the 32.1% drop recorded in February,” the organization emphasized.

ALTA explained that this behavior coincided with a 16.3% increase in air imports from the United States to that country.

Among the main international corridors, Mexico-China registered the highest growth with 28.2%, derived from a 38.8% increase in imports from that Asian country.

Meanwhile, the United States continued to be the main source and destination market for international air cargo in the region, accounting for more than half of the tons transported.

“Traffic between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean grew 2.2% year-on-year in April and marked two consecutive months of growth,” ALTA said.

The market between Spain and Latin America and the Caribbean also maintained a positive trend during April. Air cargo grew 6.2% year-on-year, supported by increased flows between Spain and Mexico, as well as between Brazil and Spain. In the first four months of the year, traffic between the region and Spain accumulated growth of 7%.

ALTA also reported that regional growth was concentrated mainly in Mexico, Panama and Brazil , which showed most of the net increase observed in April.

In the January-April period, the market registered an expansion of 0.3% , driven mainly by growth between the United States and Argentina.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Air cargo grows in Latin America and the Caribbean during April apareció primero en T21.

Aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean requires more action and support to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 , as there are currently several obstacles such as economic and development disparities, limited infrastructure and variable regulatory capacities.

The above was part of the conclusions of the study “Net Zero Aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean: Pathways and Trade-offs” , carried out by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) , with the technical support of ICF as a specialized consultant, which analyzed several alternatives to move towards this goal.

“There is a firm commitment from the industry to achieve Net Zero, but also a recognition that Latin America and the Caribbean face different structural conditions. Therefore, it is essential to rigorously analyze the region’s opportunities and challenges to define a roadmap that is realistic and sustainable over time, bearing in mind that aviation is not a luxury, but an engine of economic development,” stated Peter Cerdá, CEO of ALTA.

As part of the study, existing zero-emission policies and targets were reviewed , and country-by-country data was collected. Technical visits were also conducted to gather the most comprehensive and reliable data. Additionally, meetings were held with all stakeholders: national governments, civil aviation authorities, aircraft manufacturers, suppliers, and other interested parties . This information was used to develop reliable projections and scenarios for 2050.

The analysis highlighted that fleet renewal is one of the most effective measures , enabling significant improvements in fuel efficiency, operating costs, and environmental performance. The study indicated that several airlines in Latin America and the Caribbean have made significant progress in this area, with 38% of their capacity currently operated by new-generation aircraft, surpassing Europe and the United States (34%), and with investments already reaching US$40 billion, representing 1,100 new aircraft.

He explained that operational efficiencies are the most immediate and cost-effective measure, with potential savings of up to 11% in emissions . This includes route optimization, reduced ground time, and the use of digital technologies; however, the success of this pillar depends on coordinated action among governments, airports, and air navigation service providers.

Similarly, he specified that sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) represent the most powerful long-term tool , although their implementation faces significant barriers.

“SAF is between three and 12 times more expensive than conventional fuel, and its widespread adoption without government incentives could increase costs per seat by $43 and reduce air traffic by 30 percent. The region has the potential to be a major player in the global SAF industry thanks to its local raw materials, although scaling up its production will require supportive policies, infrastructure, and mechanisms to minimize the cost impact on passengers,” the analysis stated.

Another finding of the study was the potential of Latin America and the Caribbean in the carbon credit market, thanks to the diversity of its natural ecosystems, many of which are crucial for global environmental well-being. Between 2020 and 2024, the region issued 23% of global carbon credits, despite contributing only 6.7% of emissions. However, further work is needed to ensure that these nature-based solutions meet the international standards required by the aviation industry. “This is a complementary way to address emissions that cannot be directly reduced.”

The analysis also highlighted that the region’s aviation sector has already made concrete progress in fleet modernization ; that operational efficiency, supported by coordinated decisions and articulated regulatory frameworks, is positioned as one of the most immediate and cost-effective tools for reducing emissions, without ignoring the potential of other alternatives that require more time and specific conditions for their implementation.

“The priority is to lay the foundations for a progressive, inclusive and sustainable transition for regional aviation , in a joint effort with all actors in the aviation ecosystem,” he said.

He explained that operational efficiencies are an essential and immediate opportunity; improvements in aircraft, airports, ground operations and optimization of the flight profile alone offer a significant opportunity to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in the region, with potential savings of 3.3% to 11.3% by 2050 .

“Airlines in the Latin America and Caribbean region have already made significant progress in reducing their emissions through improvements in operational efficiency. However, achieving even greater efficiencies depends on greater government and stakeholder engagement, investment by airports and air navigation service providers, and coordinated action across the entire aviation ecosystem,” he concluded.

Comment and follow us on LinkedIn:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Aviation in Latin America and the Caribbean faces obstacles to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 apareció primero en T21.

Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru circumvented the United States’ tariff policy, as they were the only Latin American countries to register growth in air cargo traffic to the United States last June.

Meanwhile, Colombia, Brazil and Chile saw a decrease in freight transport , reported the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) .

“In such a challenging global environment, the overall growth of air cargo transport in the region demonstrates its essential role and the potential our countries still have. However, the 9% drop in flows with the United States, the region’s main trading partner, underscores the importance of anticipating trends, adjusting capacities, and maintaining the flexibility necessary to respond to sudden changes in demand,” said Peter Cerdá, CEO of ALTA.

Among the markets with the greatest growth during the sixth month of the year, Ecuador stood out with a 21.8% increase, and Argentina with 18.3%. “In Ecuador’s case, the rebound was supported by the increase in traffic with the United States, which exceeded 9,300 tons, a 32.4% year-over-year increase.”

Among this increase was the boost in rose exports, which surpassed four tons in June, representing a year-over-year increase of more than 22 percent.

International freight transport to and from Colombia grew 2.8% in the sixth month of the year. The Colombia-United States corridor, which handles the largest volume of freight in the entire region with more than 25,000 tons per month (mostly perishables exported from Colombia), registered a 4.2% drop .

However, increased volumes with Spain, the Netherlands, and Ecuador offset the decline and resulted in a positive net result.

Mexico, for its part, was one of the few markets, along with Ecuador and Peru, that managed to increase its cargo exchange with the United States . In June, US-Mexico flows grew by 15% and Mexico-US flows by 20%, driving a 5.6% increase in total tons transported to and from the country.

Meanwhile, Brazil recorded a 5.8% drop in transported volume during June. The decrease was primarily due to a 10% contraction in the United States-Brazil flow, and a 6.9% drop in Brazil-United States flow.

In air imports from the United States, the category with the greatest decline was telecommunications and sound recording equipment, down 20 percent. In exports to that market, the largest reduction was seen in leather goods, down 47 percent.

Chile recorded a 9.8% decrease, also attributed to lower activity in Chile-United States flows , which fell 18.3%, and United States-Chile flows, which fell 13.6%. “International volume to and from Chile has seen seven consecutive months of decline, and in the January-June period, it fell 12.3%.”

Comment and follow us on X:  @GrupoT21

El cargo Air cargo from Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru to the U.S. grows in June: HIGH apareció primero en T21.

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.

Comment and follow us on X:@jenna_GH_ / @GrupoT21

El cargo ALTA to create aviation competitiveness index for Latin America apareció primero en T21.

During the first quarter of the year, passenger air traffic to and from Latin America and the Caribbean increased by 9% year-on-year, despite the rise in fuel costs, exerting additional pressure on the industry, which already faces numerous challenges, reported the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA).

During this period, 120,798,765 passengers were transported in the region, 10 million more than in the same period of the previous year.

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), increased by 11%, with the intraregional segment standing out with an increase of 20.6 percent. Supply, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), grew by 8.1%, with the intraregional sector being the most prominent with an increase of 16 percent.

“The data shows that demand continues to rise. And they give us a good growth perspective, especially if we look at the first quarter of the year,” said José Ricardo Botelho, CEO of ALTA.

“As we know, this growth is not without challenges. The increase in air traffic goes hand in hand with higher fuel demand, with the average price reaching $111.13 per barrel in April 2024,” mentioned.

This, he indicated, represents a 9% increase compared to the previous year, which exerts additional pressure.

“It is crucial that governments in the region recognize the strategic importance of aviation as an essential service for the population and collaborate closely with the industry to ensure sustainable growth. Greater investment in infrastructure and efficient regulations is needed,” he stated.

For March, ALTA mentioned that 41.1 million passengers flew in, from, and to the region, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2023, equivalent to an additional 3.05 million travelers.

The domestic market experienced growth of 2.4%, with Colombia setting a significant record, “demonstrating its capacity to drive sector growth.”

In the case of Mexico, it experienced a 7% decrease, totaling 4.9 million passengers, representing 351,900 fewer passengers than in 2023. “This decline was mainly due to reduced operational capacity, caused by engine inspections on some planes and decreased operations at Mexico City International Airport (AICM). Despite these challenges, the route between Santa Lucía and Cancun recorded a 56% growth,” according to ALTA.

Meanwhile, the international market grew by 14%. Within the latter, “Venezuela emerged as a clear leader, registering a surprising 68% increase.”

Mexico experienced a 12% increase in international passengers, reaching 5.6 million. This month highlighted the Guadalajara-Houston route and flights to Cuba and the Dominican Republic, which saw increases of 54%, 56%, and 46%, respectively.

Of the total increase, 1.8 million passengers (59%) belonged to the extraregional segment, totaling 15.8 million, growing by 13% compared to the previous year. This increase was led by Mexico-United States and Dominican Republic-Canada, with growth rates of 13% and 38%, respectively. The intraregional segment showed the highest increase, with almost 20% more passengers than in 2023, highlighting traffic between Brazil and Chile (+86%) and Argentina and Brazil (+31%).

Comment and follow us on X: @GrupoT21.

El cargo Here’s how air traffic closed in Latin America and the Caribbean in the first quarter apareció primero en T21.