Dear Colleagues,
The power of collaboration was on full display in Santiago, Chile, where government authorities, IATA, airlines, airport operators, and industry stakeholders came together through the Vuelo Limpio initiative over a two-year project to deliver measurable environmental and operational benefits.
A recent study confirmed that new simultaneous approach procedures at Santiago Airport are reducing flight times by an average of 2.5 minutes and saving 37 kilograms of fuel per operation. Collectively, this translates into annual fuel savings of nearly 570,000 kilograms and the avoidance of approximately 1,800 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, while also improving air traffic flow, airport efficiency, and workload management for pilots and controllers.
The success of Vuelo Limpio demonstrates what is possible when regulators and industry work together toward a shared vision. Through the collaborative framework of Chile's Mesa Vuelo Verde, public and private sector partners were able to identify, implement, and validate operational improvements that benefit airlines, passengers, the environment, and the country as a whole.
As our region continues to pursue growth, efficiency, and sustainability, Santiago provides a compelling example of how government-industry collaboration can turn innovative ideas into tangible results. Airports across Latin America, including key hubs such as Bogotá, Mexico City and Lima, have an opportunity to replicate this model and unlock similar benefits for their aviation ecosystems, economies, and communities.
Shifting to IATA’s latest economic analysis, jet fuel prices rose by 12.2% month-on-month in July and were 56.9% higher than a year earlier. However, global air passenger demand increased 0.2% year-on-year in July 2026 (1.2% excluding the Middle East), with capacity up 0.3% and a strong global load factor of 85.2%. North American carriers saw demand decline 2.3%, with transatlantic traffic down 2.2%, but a robust load factor of 88.2% was maintained. Latin American airlines continued to outperform with demand growth of 7.1% and an 85.7% load factor.
Global air cargo demand increased 3.9% year-on-year in July 2026 (4.7% for international operations), reflecting continued resilience in freight markets. North American carriers led all regions with 4.8% demand growth despite a 1.5% reduction in capacity, while Latin American and Caribbean carriers recorded a solid 4.1% increase in demand, supported by a 7.0% expansion in capacity.
Last but not least, I would like to highlight three upcoming events: We will hold an Aviation Day for Canada in Ottawa jointly with NACC on October 8, followed by an Cargo Day for Colombia in Bogotá, and conclude with the Aviation Day Honduras in San Pedro Sula on December 8. If you would like to learn more, please feel free to reach out to my team.
As always, please find below the latest IATA activities and developments across the Americas. Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Peter Cerdá
IATA’s Regional Vice President, The Americas
Americas Focus: Archive
2026: 01-2026 (pdf) 02-2026 (pdf) 03-2026 (pdf) 04-2026 (pdf) 05-2026 (pdf) 06-2026 (pdf) 07-2026 (pdf)
2025: 01-2025 (pdf) 02-2025 (pdf) 03-2025 (pdf) 04-2025 (pdf) 05-2025 (pdf) 06-2025 (pdf) 07-2025 (pdf) 07-2025 Spanish (pdf) 08-2025 (pdf) 08-2025 Spanish (pdf) 09-2025 (pdf) 09-2025 Spanish (pdf) 10-2025 (pdf) 10-2025 Spanish (pdf) 11-2025 (pdf) 11-2025 spanish (pdf)
2024: 01-2024 (pdf) 02-2024 (pdf) 03-2024 (pdf) 04-2024 (pdf) 05-2024 (pdf) 06-2024 (pdf) 07-2024 (pdf) 08-2024 (pdf) 09-2024 (pdf)
2023: 01-2023 (pdf) 02-2023 (pdf) 03-2023 (pdf) 04-2023 (pdf) 05-2023 (pdf) 06-2023 (pdf) 07-2023 (pdf) 08-2023 (pdf)
2022: 01-2022 (pdf) 02-2022 (pdf) 03-22 (pdf) 04-22 (pdf) 05-22 (pdf) 06-22 (pdf)
2021: 01-2021 (pdf) 02-2021 (pdf) 03-2021 (pdf) 04-2021 (pdf) 05-2021 (pdf) 06-2021 (pdf) 07-2021 (pdf)
2020: 01-2020 (pdf) 02-2020 (pdf) 03-2020 (pdf)
2019: Jan 2019 (pdf) Feb 2019 (pdf) May 2019 (pdf) #04 Version (pdf) #05 Version (pdf) #06 Version (pdf)
2018: Jan 2018 (pdf) Feb 2018 (pdf) Mar 2018 (pdf) Apr 2018 (pdf) May 2018 (pdf) Jun 2018 (pdf)
Jul 2018 (pdf) Aug-Sep 2018 (pdf) Oct-Nov 2018 (pdf) Summary 2018 (pdf)
2017: Q4 2017 (pdf) Q3 2017 (pdf) Q2 2017 (pdf) Q1 2017 (pdf)