The international flight connections in Argentina recorded sustained growth in 2025 on the back of the recovery in air traffic and the expansion of flight offerings. More than 9.3 million international airline seats were available in the country during the year, an increase of 18.5% compared to 2024, according to an analysis by Mabrian, a global tourism information company.
The forecasts for the first quarter of 2026 They expect a further increase of 22.4% compared to the previous year, reinforcing the expansion trend of the airlines’ commercial system.
The report notes that the increase in capacity occurred in both regional and long-distance markets. This behavior is part of the implementation of the policy of “open sky” Program promoted by the Argentine government with the aim of facilitating the entry of new airlines, expanding frequencies and diversifying international routes. According to Mabrian, the available data shows an improvement in the competitiveness of the Argentine destination within the regional and global air map.
Growth of regional connectivity in Latin America
All major markets in 2025 Latin America They have expanded their flight connections with Argentina. At the forefront of growth was Brazil, with a 36.8% increase in the number of places on offer. Colombia followed with an increase of 36.5%; Peru with 23.4%; Panama with 22.2%; and the Dominican Republic, which recorded a 71.7% expansion, the largest percentage increase of the year.
This performance is partly due to the recovery of the regional demand and by integrating new frequencies onto existing routes and opening direct connections. Mabrian stated that this trend will continue in the first quarter of 2026, a period that coincides with the peak season of the southern summer. In some Caribbean markets, forecasts indicate an increase in flight capacity to Argentina of up to 60% compared to last year.
In this context, additional measures on migration issues that accompanied the increase in connectivity were also recorded. Including the extension of the visa for citizens of Dominican Republic to travel to the country, a decision aimed at facilitating the flow of tourists and passengers from this market.
The United States is consolidating its role as a strategic market
In 2025, the United States remained the third largest market for international airline seats Argentina. According to Mabrian’s analysis, capacity from this country grew by 6.5% over the year. A more significant increase of 21.6% year-on-year is forecast for the first quarter of 2026, cementing its role as a strategic market in long-distance connections.
The expected growth responds to both the Increasing frequencies on routes already in operation as well as the planning of new seasonal and regular operations. Demand from the United States is mainly concentrated in the country’s main international airports and has a direct impact on tourist, business and connection flows to other destinations in the region.
Development of routes with Europe
Spain was the leader in the European marketThe growth of air connectivity with Argentina in 2025, with an increase of 8.9% in the number of places available. Italy and France also recorded increases, which coincides with the gradual recovery of traffic between the two continents.
Looking ahead to 2026, Mabrian expected the market to recover significantly Netherlandswhich will show higher growth than in 2025. This behavior is linked to the reactivation of long-haul routes and the interest of airlines in strengthening connectivity between South America and the main European hubs.
The report highlighted that, in general, connectivity with Europe is pursuing a moderate but sustained growth trend, with a focus on consolidating frequencies and stability of operations rather than massively opening new routes.
Impact of the Open Skies policy
Mabrian emphasized that the policy of “open sky” It played a central role in expanding Argentina’s international air connectivity. This regulatory approach allowed greater flexibility for foreign and regional airlines and encouraged the entry of new operators and the increase of frequencies on existing routes.
Accordingly Carlos Cendra, Partner and Director of Marketing and Communications at Mabrian, the available data suggests that this policy contributes to improving the competitiveness of the destination. In this sense, the report emphasized that expanding air supply is a key factor in sustaining the growth of inbound tourism and strengthening the country’s integration with key source markets.
Domestic market growth and its relationship to international connectivity
The strengthening of the international connectivityThis was accompanied by an expansion of the domestic flight market. In 2025, internal flight capacity grew by 13.4%, while a further increase of 10% is forecast for the first quarter of 2026.
This growth of the domestic market plays a complementary role in the sustainability of the air network, as it facilitates the distribution of international passengers to various destinations within the country. Greater availability of domestic flights will allow us to improve connections between airports and optimize transfer times, impacting both tourism and business travel.
Mabrian pointed out that the combination of a expanding international market and a growing domestic system strengthens the overall structure of Argentina’s air connectivity. In this system, the main airport hubs focus on the arrival of long-haul flights, while internal routes allow greater territorial capillarity.
Predictions for 2026
Forecasts for 2026 show a scenario of continuity in the expansion of the Air connectivity. The 22.4% year-over-year increase expected for the first quarter reflects a broader growth base than in previous years. According to the report, this behavior is driven by peak season, consolidation of regional routes and increase in frequencies from long-distance markets.
In this context, the development of air connectivity is positioned as a relevant indicator to measure the recovery of transport and the integration of Argentina with the world international flows. Mabrian concluded that the trend observed in 2025 lays the foundation for a new phase of expansion, with a direct impact on tourism, transport and economic activity related to the aviation sector.
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