A strategic conference in Trinidad and Tobago
The press conference held in Trinidad and Tobago on October 6, 2025, as part of the ACI-LAC 2025 ANNUAL ASSEMBLY – CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION, brought together the region’s leading airport industry executives. Around Mónica Infante (President of ACI-LAC and CEO of Aerodom), from the Dr. Rafael Echevarne (Managing Director, ACI-LAC) and Hayden Newton (Managing Director, Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago), discussions focused on traffic growth, sustainability and the investments needed to support the growth of air transport in the Caribbean and Latin America.
ACI-LAC which stands for Airports Council International – Latin America & Caribbean, is the regional branch of the worldwide airport organization. It represents the interests of 91 members operating over 360 airports in 42 countries and territories in the region.
ACI World confirms record figures
Data released during the ACI-LAC 2025 Annual Meeting show that passenger traffic in Latin America and the Caribbean will reach 789 million passengers by the end of 2025.
The best-performing countries will be :
- – Colombia 105 million (+5.6%)
- – Mexico 191 million (+4.5%)
- – Brazil: 221 million (+2.1%)
The region (Latin America and the Caribbean) is expected to handle nearly 821 million passengers in 2026 according to official ACI World projections. These figures reflect the strength of the post-pandemic recovery and the Caribbean’s growing place in international connectivity.
Long-term forecasts and a global pace
Regional air traffic is expected to reach 1.725 billion passengers by 2053, with an average annual growth rate (CAGR – Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 2.9% over the next thirty years, a rate similar to the global average.
The ACI World report also states that traffic will double between 2024 and 2047, from 758 million to 1.482 billion passengers.
Annual growth projections by sub-region confirm :
- – Mexico: +3.4%, driven by the expansion of its international hubs ;
- – Brazil: +2.4%, sustained by growth in domestic traffic ;
- – Caribbean: +2%, more moderate growth, due to the small size of island markets, their dependence on tourism and the current limitations of inter-island connectivity;
- – Other Latin American countries (excluding Mexico and Brazil) : +3%, thanks to economic diversification and new regional air corridors.
Colossal investments for sustainable growth
Capital expenditure requirements (CAPEX) for the period 2026-2040 amount to US$82.6 billion, of which over US$30 billion will be devoted to the construction of new greenfield airports.
According to data from the ACI-LAC 2025 Annual Meeting, every million additional passengers generates 9,500 jobs and $25 million in GDP, demonstrating the direct economic impact of air transport on the region.
Carbon neutrality and accessibility: regional leadership
On the environmental front, speakers highlighted the results of the Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) program at the ACI-LAC 2025 ANNUAL ASSEMBLY.
By September 2025, 621 airports worldwide were certified, including 104 in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region thus ranks second in the world for the number of airports committed to this approach.
This internationally recognized program assesses and rewards airports’ efforts to reduce their carbon emissions, in line with ACI World’s Net Zero 2050 objective.
The other indicator of progress concerns Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (AEA): of the 47 airports certified worldwide, 17 are in the LAC region. This distinction confirms the role of the Caribbean and Latin America as world leaders in air accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
Connectivity and liberalization: the pillars of the future
Looking beyond the figures, Mónica Infante and Rafael Echevarne stressed the urgent need to strengthen intra-Caribbean connectivity.
For Mónica Infante, the priority is to break down regulatory barriers and create a framework enabling new regional airlines to operate freely.
For his part, Rafael Echevarne reiterated that air transport liberalization is essential to boost competition and reduce costs for passengers.
“Aviation is not just an economic sector, it’s a vital infrastructure for the integration and sustainable development of our territories,” he declared.
Finally, Hayden Newton underlined the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure through biometrics, automated systems and digital innovations.
The ACI-LAC 2025 ANNUAL ASSEMBLY confirmed the dynamic growth, innovation and sustainability of the airport sector in Latin America and the Caribbean.
With solid forecasts, massive investment and a vision focused on carbon neutrality, the region is establishing itself as a model of resilience and transformation in global air transport.
