ALTA has announced that it will develop a “regional roadmap for Latin America and the Caribbean” in order to support a sustainable transition in the aviation sector, taking into account the opportunities and realities of the region.
Why a roadmap?
ALTA’s goal is for this roadmap to detail how Latin American aviation can achieve a sustainable transition based on the region’s potential, considering the importance of civil aviation in its developing economies.
The roadmap will consist of two main elements:
- From a regional perspective, detail the main pathways, enabling conditions, policy options and frameworks needed to achieve a sustainable aviation sector.
- Explore options for regional cooperation and integration of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon markets, which could reduce the impact of decarbonization measures on aviation growth in the region.
The General Assembly of ALTA, which represents 27 of Latin America and the Caribbean’s leading airlines and close to 90% of the region’s passenger traffic, agreed to fund the development of an evidence-based regional roadmap with the support of a leading academic institution and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Recognizing the importance of public-private collaboration, ALTA also invited the Latin American Civil Aviation Commission (CLAC) to support the initiative in coordination with the civil aviation authorities of the region.
“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face as a sector, especially in developing regions of the world, due to the costs involved. Latin America needs to take advantage of the opportunities available to move towards a sustainable transition without compromising access to air travel and connectivity. The best way to do this is to develop the region’s own path,” said José Ricardo Botelho, Executive Director and CEO of ALTA.
“An evidence-based roadmap not only reiterates our commitment as a sector to work towards a sustainable transition, but will also provide guidance for all actors in Latin America and the Caribbean based on their advantages and limitations. With the support of governments, this initiative has the potential to support the sustainable growth of a sector that performs an essential public service in connecting the region,” said Roberto Alvo, newly elected President of the Executive Committee of ALTA.
According to data from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), aviation contributed approximately 2% to 3% of the global carbon footprint between 2013 and 2023. Within that footprint, domestic flights in Latin America and the Caribbean, along with international departures from the region, accounted for 4.8% of aviation emissions. By comparison, the majority (83.4%) of global aviation emissions originated from flights operating within and from North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Region-specific strategies that address sustainability while keeping air transport accessible and competitive are required to continue contributing to the growth of the region’s developing economies.
