Dominican Republic sets record in international air traffic

Santo Domingo.- The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) reported that regional air traffic in January 2025 reached 42.3 million passengers, marking a 2.4% increase over the same month in 2024. This growth was fueled by revived routes, open-skies agreements, and rising tourism demand.

The Dominican Republic and Brazil set new records in international passenger traffic. The Dominican Republic recorded 1.8 million international travelers—its highest ever for a single month—while Brazil saw notable gains, including a 175% surge in flights between Florianópolis and Buenos Aires. Other highlights include Mexico’s Santa Lucía Airport (up 78%) and Argentina’s Tucumán Airport (up 116%).

ALTA Executive Director José Ricardo Botelho highlighted the industry’s positive outlook, supported by growing connectivity and new routes. However, he noted that high jet fuel costs—US$98.05 per barrel compared to US$208.05 for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—remain a barrier to sustainable fuel adoption, emphasizing the need for supportive policies.

The region also saw strong intraregional growth, particularly on the Lima–Santiago route, now the busiest in Latin America with nearly 156,000 passengers. Total flights increased by 4.8% to 345,331, and the average load factor improved to 84.7%.