The Argentine airport system handled a total of 50,611,000 passengers during 2025. This figure represents a 12% growth compared to the previous year and sets a new historical peak, exceeding the 2023 record by 9%, according to the ANAC (National Civil Aviation Administration). The industry reached its highest operational volume in December, concluding a year marked by deregulation and the entry of new global operators.
The international segment totaled 15,911,000 passengers, an 18% increase over 2024. Meanwhile, the domestic market recorded 34,728,000 users, showing a 9% year-on-year improvement. This growth was supported by a high load factor, which averaged 85% for the major domestic carriers by the end of the year.
During December, LATAM held a 17% share, followed by Aerolíneas Argentinas at 16%, and both GOL and JetSMART Group at 8% each . This diversity in carriers highlights the increasing competition within the Argentine skies following the latest deregulation measures.
The implementation of the Open Skies deregulation policy facilitated the launch of 63 new connections throughout 2025. A major highlight occurred on December 4, when China Eastern Airlines started operations in Argentina with the Ezeiza-Auckland-Shanghai route. Recognized as the longest direct flight in the world, it transported 3,061 passengers in its first month with a 61% load factor.
Regional connectivity also expanded significantly. Flybondi inaugurated a new service between Puerto Iguazú and Lima on December 1, while LATAM reactivated the Tucumán-Lima route after a six-year hiatus. Other developments included Arajet launching flights from Córdoba to Punta Cana and JetSMART expanding its network with a new service from Buenos Aires to Natal, Brazil.
Total cargo reached a significant volume. Exports grew by 8% (107,482 tons), led by American Airlines with an 18% share and Aerolíneas Argentinas at 10%. Imports rose by 15% (97,138 tons), with Atlas Air (13%) and Aerolíneas Argentinas (11%) serving as the top operators.
Federal expansion and regional hubs
A key feature of 2025 was the decentralization of the network. International traffic from regional airports outside Buenos Aires grew by 38% compared to 2024. Several provinces established themselves as direct international hubs:
Salta: Recorded a 61% increase in international passengers.
Córdoba: Surged by 54%, consolidating its role as the secondary international gateway.
Bariloche: Grew by 51%, driven by strong seasonal demand from neighboring countries.
In the domestic market, Termas de Río Hondo led the growth with an 82% increase, followed by Santa Fe (+31%) and Neuquén (+22%). However, infrastructure challenges affected some terminals. Rosario and Río Gallegos saw drops in annual traffic due to temporary closures for runway maintenance. Río Gallegos remained closed for 113 days, while Rosario suspended operations for 90 days between September and December.
Domestic market share shift: The rise of JetSMART
The domestic competitive landscape underwent a structural transformation in 2025. The state carrier, Aerolíneas Argentinas, transported 10,042,000 passengers, but its annual market share fell to 58%, down from 64% in the previous year. In December alone, its share dropped further to 54%.
In contrast, JetSMART expanded its presence aggressively, moving 3,921,000 passengers—an 89% year-on-year growth. This performance brought its annual domestic market share to 23%, a 10-point gain compared to 2024. Flybondi captured 18% of the market, a decrease of 4 percentage points as the low-cost segment reconfigured its flight programming.
The cargo sector reported mixed results. Domestic cargo volume fell 22% annually to 3,952 tons, with Aerolíneas Argentinas maintaining 98% of the internal market.
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