Airbus forecasts need for 2,720 new passenger aircraft in Latin America

Airbus forecasts need for 2,720 new passenger aircraft in Latin America 

Mexico City, 19 October 2026 – Latin America’s commercial passenger fleet will expand from 1,550 to 2,770 aircraft by 2045 according to the Airbus Global Market Forecast (GMF) 2026 to 2045. The main drivers behind the acceleration of air travel across the region will be the economic development, high urbanisation rates and a growing middle class population. A fragmentation of populations is leading to an increased number of urban centres, and this in turn will lead to new routes made possible by the latest generation aircraft, resulting in an expansion of the continent’s aviation network.

Demand for single-aisle aircraft will dominate the regional requirements, accounting for 2,520 new deliveries, while widebody aircraft will represent 200 deliveries. 1,220 aircraft will directly support fleet expansion, while 1,500 will replace older generation aircraft.

Boosted by increasing regional passenger demand, the transition toward latest-generation aircraft continues to accelerate. Today, 44 percent of Latin America’s in-service fleet consists of latest generation aircraft. This share is expected to reach 94 percent by 2035, helping airlines optimise costs and reduce CO₂ emissions.

The propensity of people to travel by air is set to surge in the region. Trips per person in Chile, Mexico, and Brazil are projected to double or more, while Colombia and Argentina will follow closely behind. Overall, Origin and Destination traffic in Latin America is expected to grow by 3.7 percent annually over the next two decades, led by domestic traffic at 4.0 percent per year, alongside a 3.3 percent annual rise within intra-Latin America and Caribbean. 

Airbus has sold more than 1,400 aircraft across Latin America and the Caribbean, maintaining a leading market share of in-service passenger aircraft. Today, over 900 Airbus aircraft are in operation across the region, with 450 in the order backlog. 

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