International cooperation critical to economic recovery of Central American and Caribbean aviation-centric national economies

Addressing North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACC) Directors General of Civil Aviation by videoconference, ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu stressed the pivotal role of international cooperation, including through ICAO, to the success of their COVID-19 recovery plans. “For cooperation to do its part, all parties must be involved on a clear and coordinated […]

IATA: Local issues in Latin America hinder air travel growth

The Latin America-Caribbean region is clearly seeing growth but is hamstrung by insufficient infrastructure and air traffic management, excessive costs and taxation. Briefing media at its Geneva headquarters, IATA executives said Latin American passenger levels were expected to double by 2034 and the air transport industry’s contribution to regional GDP has the potential to rise […]

Latin America and Caribbean airlines carried 22.8 million passengers in October

The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announced today that Latin America and Caribbean airlines carried 22.8 million passengers in October, and up 9% – or 1,884,258 more passengers – from the previous year. Traffic (RPK) grew 7.8% and capacity (ASK) increased 11.9%, bringing up the load factor to 82.6%, 3.1 percentage points […]

Latin America Air Travel Set to Double in Next 20 Years

Latin American air travel is expected to double in the next two decades thanks to anticipated growth of the region’s middle class from 350 million people to 520 million by 2037, and evolving airline business models making travel more accessible. Passenger traffic in the region has more than doubled since 2002 and is expected to […]

Latin America-Caribbean airports face capacity challenges

The Latin America-Caribbean region experienced an economic recovery in 2017 after several years of weak performance. While passenger traffic growth rates showed resilience during this time – with results over 5% every year from 2010 – they moderated in 2016. Since then, there has been a return to strong growth with a year-over-year passenger traffic […]

Latin America and Caribbean airlines passenger traffic up 7% in September: ALTA

The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announced today that Latin America and Caribbean airlines carried 21.5 million passengers in September, and up 7% (or 1,398,831 additional passengers) from the previous year. Traffic (RPK) grew 9.6% and capacity (ASK) increased 12%, bringing up the load factor to 80.5% (1.7 percentage points lower than […]

Spirit Launching Two New Nonstop Routes to Jamaica

Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines is planning a big expansion to the Caribbean island of Jamaica, Caribbean Journal has learned. The carrier, which has been significantly ramping up its flight network in the Caribbean, will be adding new routes to both Kingston and Montego Bay out of Orlando. Beginning Feb. 28, 2019, Spirit will launch nonstop […]

More Dreamliners ordered by Air Europa

Spanish carrier Air Europa has raised an order for Boeing 787 Dreamliners to 27 aircraft by 2022. An original order for 22 of the long-haul twinjets worth $3.5 billion was placed in 2015. Five additional aircraft have now been added as part of a fleet revamp by the Latin America specialist airline. Eight 787-8 aircraft […]

Copa Airlines’ Rebound May Depend on a Latin American Turnaround

When major Latin American economies turn around, Copa Airlines again likely will be a major beneficiary, capitalizing on its well-placed hub on the Isthmus of Panama to shuttle high-margin passengers between North and South America. But for now, the airline’s business is choppy, Copa executives warned investors earlier this month as they shared second quarter […]

Spirit Orlando expansion includes 11 Latin American, Caribbean destinations

Fort Lauderdale-based Spirit Airlines plans to launch 14 new destinations out of its Orlando International Airport (MCO) focus city this fall, including 11 new markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, as the ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) continues its strategy to focus on core large-US and leisure markets. The new international routes, most of which start […]