Argentina is currently grappling with a severe recession that has affected various sectors, with air travel being one of the hardest hit. According to data released by the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), there was a significant decline in both traveler movement and the issuance of domestic flight tickets during the first half of 2024.
The Argentine aviation authority, tasked with overseeing the country’s air transport activities, compiled a detailed report highlighting this downturn. Notably, the domestic travel sector faced a stark impact, especially in smaller provincial airports, where there were 643,000 fewer passengers in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.
The government’s initiative to “modernize and deregulate” the air transport sector has stirred controversy, particularly among those who prefer to control the narrative. Professional, critical journalism plays a vital role in democracy, often clashing with those who claim to hold the truth.
In the early part of 2024, the statistical report on domestic flights indicated some positive trends, showing a year-on-year increase in passengers during the first three months. January saw a 2% increase, translating to an additional 27,000 tickets sold compared to January 2023. February followed with an even more significant rise of 5.1%, while March experienced a milder growth of 1.4%. Despite signs of a slowdown in March, the overall trend for the first quarter was one of growth.
However, the situation shifted dramatically in the subsequent months. Official data revealed a sharp drop in the number of passengers, largely attributed to rising ticket prices. In April, passenger numbers fell by 10.01%, resulting in about 135,000 fewer tickets sold. May saw a more alarming decline of 22.9%, while June recorded a 21.7% drop. This decline was particularly pronounced in the latter months, totaling a loss of over 300,000 travelers.
To put this drop into perspective, June 2024 recorded a 21.7% decrease in domestic passengers compared to June 2023, amounting to approximately 300,000 fewer travelers. Overall, from January to June 2024, there were 7,456,000 domestic passengers, which is 7.9% lower than the 8,099,000 recorded during the same period in 2023.
Several factors contributed to this decline, including the temporary closure of some airports and the discontinuation of the government’s Previaje program, which previously incentivized domestic travel. For instance, Termas de RÃo Hondo Airport has been closed since May 13, 2024, and San Luis Airport was non-operational from June 5 to June 11 due to equipment failure.
The impact of the downturn varied by airport. ANAC’s report noted a significant reduction in passenger flow at key airports nationwide. Aeroparque experienced a 10% decline in passenger numbers during the first half of 2024, which translated into a loss of 610,000 travelers. Ezeiza also showed declining trends, as did other major airports, including Córdoba, Bariloche, Mendoza, Iguazú, and Salta.
Notably, the worst performance was recorded at Paraná Airport, which saw a staggering 51% drop in passenger numbers from June 2023 to June 2024, followed by San Luis and Santa Fe, both at 44%.
On a regional scale, the air travel market in Latin America has shown consistent recovery in the post-pandemic phase. Despite the significant setbacks experienced during the height of lockdowns, many countries have begun to bounce back. The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) reported a 9% increase in passenger traffic for the first quarter of 2024, adding 10 million travelers compared to 2023.
In March 2024, Argentina reported a 1% growth in its domestic air travel market, which, although lower than some neighboring countries, signals signs of recovery. Chile recorded a 6% increase, particularly benefiting from routes such as Calama to La Serena. Countries including Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Brazil collectively added 4.6 million new passengers during the first three months of 2024.
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/modo-fontevecchia/turismo-aereo-en-caida-este-ano-se-registraron-640000-viajeros-menos-que-el-primer-semestre-2023-modof.phtml
