The Argentine commercial air sector ended September with a movement of over four million passengers, consolidating an expansion trend in both domestic flights and international routes, something that began to occur after the deregulation of the sector carried out by the Government of Javier Milei.
According to the monthly report released by the national aeronautical authorities, the country's airport network recorded a total of 32,888 air operations during the month, with an almost balanced participation between domestic and international services.
Official data show that Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Ezeiza ranked at the top of the national ranking by passenger volume. Aeroparque concentrated 1,462,000 travelers, while Ezeiza recorded 948,000, counting both arrivals and departures on each route.
Aerolíneas Argentinas.
Regarding domestic activity, the study specified that during September 2,864,880 passengers were transported on flights within the country, with a total of 24,666 operations. In the year-on-year comparison, the sector showed a 12% growth compared to September 2023, and a cumulative increase of 11% in the first nine months of the year.
Report details
A highlight of the official report was the performance of the routes with the highest occupancy levels. Córdoba, Mendoza, and Bariloche were among the most in-demand destinations, with Córdoba leading the ranking by number of passengers transported.
The Aeroparque–Bariloche connection was among the busiest in the country, with 118 flights and 107,000 passengers during September. The Bariloche–Ezeiza, Iguazú, and Neuquén routes also stood out, both for passenger volume and frequency of operations.
As for the occupancy factor of domestic flights, the Aeroparque–Bariloche route reached 91%, while the connections with Mendoza, Córdoba, and Iguazú remained above 85%. Neuquén, Salta, and Ushuaia recorded similar percentages, according to official figures.
Aerolíneas Argentinas.
By airline, participation within the domestic market reflected a clear concentration: Aerolíneas Argentinas maintained its leadership with 84% occupancy and the highest number of flights. JetSMART and Flybondi followed, with rates of 82% and 77%, respectively. Meanwhile, Andes, American Jet, and other operators completed the picture, although with a considerably lower impact.
The study also listed the routes with the most flights and passengers in the month. Córdoba recorded 877 operations and 118,000 passengers, followed by Mendoza with 765 flights and Bariloche with 684. Iguazú, Neuquén, and Salta completed the group of routes with the highest air traffic.
Among the regional airports, Neuquén showed a year-on-year growth of 26% in passenger movement, while Santa Fe, Catamarca, and Trelew ranked within the top ten terminals with the highest increases compared to the previous year. At the other end, Rosario was the airport with the sharpest decline, recording a 40% decrease in passenger flow compared to September 2023.
