The International Air Transport Association (IATA) hosted Aviation Day El Salvador on 9 December 2025. The event brought together more than 370 participants, including industry leaders and government authorities, to promote a common agenda strengthening air connectivity and aviation’s role as a strategic pillar for the country’s development and growth.
The event reflected the strong support of the Government of El Salvador and the collaboration of key industry partners, highlighting the shared vision of modernizing the sector. Among the priorities agreed are:
- Expanding and modernizing airport infrastructure, including secondary airports.
- Strengthening competitiveness and talent, promoting innovation and sustainability.
- Advancing the implementation of the Central America-4 Free Mobility Agreement (CA-4
Treaty), to facilitate mobility and regional integration.
- Boosting intra-Central American connectivity, reducing costs and improving the passenger experience.
The authorities and leaders present agreed on the importance of working together to achieve these objectives. Peter Cerdá, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas, said that aviation is a key enabler of the country’s economic growth, social inclusion and development. He stressed that, through close collaboration with the government, the objective is to strengthen air connectivity and move towards more accessible transportation, positioning El Salvador as a first-class tourist destination and a relevant connectivity center for the region.
María Luisa Hayem, Minister of Economy of El Salvador, highlighted the Government’s commitment to policies aimed at strengthening competitiveness and positioning the country as a regional benchmark in air transport. For her part, Morena Valdez, Minister of Tourism, emphasized that aviation is a key driver for the growth of tourism and the generation of employment, reaffirming the goal of making El Salvador a fully connected and accessible destination. Similarly, Federico Anliker, president of CEPA (Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma), pointed out the need to work on competitive rates and boost intra-Central American traffic, so that short flights are more accessible and contribute to regional integration.
IATA and its industry partners welcomed these declarations and reiterated their readiness to continue working with the Government and industry in building a more modern, competitive and integrated aviation ecosystem, which boosts tourism, trade and mobility across the region.
Full event materials are available on IATA’s official website:
https://www.iata.org/en/about/worldwide/americas/press-releases/
