Three topics have dominated ACI-LAC’s agenda over the past month: liberalization, the importance of a state aviation policy, and the development of airport cities.

We will soon publish a study on liberalization in the Caribbean. Air connectivity is vital for the region’s economic and social development, yet faces stark inequality: while international routes grow and sustain tourism, intra-Caribbean links have drastically declined, limiting regional mobility. High travel costs, institutional fragmentation, and ineffective regulatory frameworks have created a “liberalization on paper” that fails to deliver real benefits. The study proposes advancing toward effective liberalization with convergent rules, bilateral incentives, and reduced fiscal burdens, so aviation can truly drive integration, competitiveness, and sustainable progress in the region.

Brazil has taken a historic step by establishing the Connect Agenda as a state policy for civil aviation—an initiative that transcends governments, enjoys broad political and industry support, and includes active participation from ACI-LAC. The plan is structured around three strategic pillars: fostering market contestability to attract new operators and diversify supply; reducing operational costs to democratize access and tackle the “Brazil Cost”; and promoting regulatory stability and legal certainty to ensure predictability and attract long-term investment. With this vision, Brazil consolidates aviation as a driver of territorial integration, economic development, and social progress, ensuring air connectivity remains a strategic pillar beyond political cycles.

The theme of the ACI Airport Day held in Quito revolved around the concept of Airport Cities, understood as applicable to all types of airports, not only major international hubs. The event emphasized the importance of long-term planning, integrating airport infrastructure with the urban and regional environment, and highlighted that an airport’s success depends on its ability to work jointly with the city and surrounding community. The discussion underscored that coordinated urban planning and a shared vision of development are essential for airports to become true engines of economic, social, and territorial growth.

At ACI-LAC, we are working to ensure airport development takes place in a competitive and sustainable environment, driving state policies that endure over time and consolidate as essential pillars of social and economic progress in the region.

Rafael Echevarne
Director General
ACI-LAC