Latin American airports will need US$178 billion to nearly double their traffic
Airports in Latin America and the Caribbean will require investment of around US$178 billion over the next thirty years to handle demand that would rise from 809 million passengers this year to around 1.5 billion in 2045, according to projections presented in Lima at the annual assembly of Airports Council International.
Latin American airports will need US$178 billion in investments over the next three decades to accommodate a surge in passenger traffic, according to forecasts presented in Lima. The number of passengers is projected to increase from 809 million in 2025 to around 1.5 billion by 2045, a 3.1% annual growth rate. Current annual infrastructure spending must rise from US$3.4 billion to between US$8.6 billion and 8.7 billion by mid-century.
Regional passenger traffic grew by 1.9% in the first half of 2026, while cargo rose by 3.6%. The conference, attended by over 600 industry professionals, aims to ensure the industry is prepared for this growth. However, ACI warns that connectivity within the region has not recovered from pandemic losses, with 20% of city pairs lost, mainly at regional airports in Peru, Ecuador, and Chile.
The organization suggests liberalization of air transport and a reduction in airport charges as key strategies to boost connectivity. Airport charges, set by each country's regulators, account for 4.3% of global airline costs and 5.5% in the region. Brazil leads Latin American traffic with 235 million passengers in 2025, followed by Mexico and Colombia.
Argentina formalized the extension of airport concessions to 2049, with Aeropuertos Argentina investing US$600 million in airport upgrades over the next decade.
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