Summary
- Bogotá is South America's top airport by flights in August
- The top 10 account for 45% of South America's total
- Bogotá's domestic market remains down by 14% versus 2019, while international is up by 10%
There are more than 34,200 weekly flights to, from, and in South America in August, according to OAG data. The vast continent has 5% of the world's total, against 32% for Asia, 28% for North America, and 24% for Europe. Obviously, Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina are the largest markets, as reflected in the busiest airports list.
South America's busiest airports
OAG indicates that more than 300 South American airports have flights scheduled in August. Of these, the top 10 are so vital, so influential that nearly one in every two flights in the continent is from them (45%). Combining domestic and international services, Bogotá is the most served, with 2,755 weekly departures.
The Colombian capital is the world's 56th busiest airport this month, ahead of Athens but behind Detroit. It would, of course, be different if cities were examined instead, likewise seats for sale and available seat kilometers.
Rank | Airport | Weekly August flights* | Change vs. 2019 | Non-stop passenger destinations** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bogotá | 2,755 | -7% | 95 |
2 | São Paulo GRU | 2,496 | -3% | 96 |
3 | São Paulo Congonhas | 1,899 | +20% | 39 |
4 | Lima | 1,489 | -21% | 57 |
5 | Santiago | 1,302 | -10% | 53 |
6 | Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont | 1,199 | +41% | 19 |
7 | Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery | 1,145 | +8% | 52 |
8 | São Paulo Campinas | 1,069 | +5% | 62 |
9 | Brasília | 1,031 | -6% | 44 |
10 | Belo Horizonte Confins | 900 | -6% | 51 |
* Each way; double for both ways | ** In August 2023, even if just weekly |
Bogotá's domestic market pulls it down
The domestic market accounts for almost seven in ten Bogotá flights (69%). Yet domestic departures are down by 14% – twice as much as the airport (-7%). This is partly due to the exit of Viva Air, which ceased operating earlier in 2023, having taken to the skies in 2012. It was Colombia's third-largest domestic carrier.
While Viva existed in 2019, another A320-operating airline – Ultra Air – did not. It launched in 2022 but also ended earlier in 2023, not helping development. Additionally, domestic flights by the country's leading carrier, Avianca, remain down by more than a quarter (-26%).
Wingo and LATAM capitalize on woes
Trying to capitalize on the gaps are Wingo and LATAM, both of which have grown nicely versus 2019. OAG shows that LATAM has more domestic flights from Bogotá this summer than ever. It has 29% of the total, up by nine percentage points versus 2019, on a network of 16 routes, as shown below:
International flights are up by 10%
While Bogotá's domestic market remains down, international flights are up by 10% versus August 2019. The capital has welcomed the Dominican Republic's Arajet from Santo Domingo and Mexico's Volaris from Mexico City and Cancun.
LATAM, the second-largest international carrier from Bogotá, has more than doubled international flights in this period. Its August network comprises seven destinations.
Other airlines to have grown nicely include Copa, Delta, and Iberia, while Avianca – overwhelmingly the biggest operator – is up by a modest 2% but from an enormous base.
Will you be flying to/from/through any of the 10 airports mentioned in the table this month? If so, let us know in the comments.
Sources of information: OAG, airline websites.