The number of passengers carried in October in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) grew 4.1% compared to October 2022 and 1.4% vs. October 2019. Specifically, 35.5 million passengers flew in the region, with an increase of 3% compared to the previous month. Domestic traffic increased 0.2% compared to 2022, while international traffic (both intra- and extra-regional) grew 10%.
According to data from the Traffic Report prepared by the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA), between January and October 2023, 371.8 million passengers traveled from, to and in the region, 14.3% more compared to 2022, 3.4% more than 2019.
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International traffic
In October, for the first time, Brazil and Chile exceeded their 2019 international traffic levels by 2.3% and 3%, respectively.
Colombia showed a 26% increase in international passengers compared to 2022. This growth was the result of the increase in the number of flights operated on routes such as Bogotá-Guayaquil (+68% vs. 2022), Bogotá-Orlando (+74%), and Fort Lauderdale-Medellín (+89%) with significant increases in the offer on flights to and from Venezuela and Guatemala (both with +75% vs. 2019) and Ecuador (+54% vs. 2022).
Domestic traffic
In Argentina, the number of domestic passengers grew 17% compared to 2022. The frequencies of the Buenos Aires (AEP)-Mendoza route, the most important in the country, increased 25%, and the Córdoba-Ezeiza route increased 133%. On the other hand, Chile exceeded its 2022 figures by 14%, with a significant growth of 118% on the Concepción-Calama route compared to 2022.
Between January and October 2023, 204.7 million domestic passengers traveled in the region, a 10.1% increase in traffic volume compared to the same period in 2022. During this period, Ecuador stood out with a 42% growth in domestic passengers compared to the accumulated figure for 2022, the 22% increase in the number of flights on the Manta-Quito route being notable.
Although Colombia showed a reduction of 11%, the Bogotá-Medellín route advanced from third to second place at the regional level, in the cumulative measure measured by number of flights, only surpassed by the Congonhas-Santos Dumont route.
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In highlight
Between January and October 2023, 167 million international passengers traveled to and from the region, 20% more compared to 2022. In this accumulated, Venezuela stood out with a 50% growth in passengers compared to 2022, the route Caracas -Lisbon had the highest increase with 190% more than in the accumulated figure for 2022. Argentina and Chile also showed significant progress, with increases of 49% and 52%, respectively.