Translated by Andrés Martínez Forero
Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) reported that Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport handled 45,802,360 passengers in 2024, securing its position as the busiest airport in South America for the third consecutive year. In a historic milestone, it has also surpassed Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to become the airport with the highest passenger traffic in all of Latin America.
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Historically, AICM had been the busiest airport in the region, driven by high demand in Mexico City—one of the world's seven most populated cities—and the rapid growth of low-cost airlines over the past decade.
However, the Mexican federal government has taken measures to ease congestion at AICM, citing infrastructure limitations that prevent it from handling current passenger volumes. As part of this strategy, the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) was built to help decongest AICM by redistributing flights and relocating airlines looking to expand in Mexico’s capital.
As a result, in 2024, AICM’s passenger traffic decreased by 6.2%, dropping from 48 million in 2023 to 45,359,485 passengers, according to data from Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC).
El Dorado’s Growth: New Routes, Airlines, and Increased Frequencies
El Dorado Airport continues its expansion with new routes, additional airlines, and increased flight frequencies. However, Aerocivil has introduced a biannual slot control system to optimize airport operations.
Following the collapse of Viva Air and Ultra Air in early 2022, their available slots were reallocated to airlines like LATAM and Avianca, which currently dominate the Colombian market. Additionally, in 2024, new airlines such as Emirates, Edelweiss, and JetSMART have begun operations in Bogotá, with JetSMART making its debut in Colombia’s domestic market.
One of El Dorado’s ongoing challenges is the limited availability of time slots, which restricts airline growth and the introduction of new destinations or carriers.
To address increasing demand, in 2024, expansion projects began on the airside, including the construction of 47,139 square meters of tarmac to accommodate seven new parking positions. Additionally, upgrades to Terminal 2 (formerly Puente Aéreo) were implemented, adding 566 square meters of waiting areas, 168 square meters for security screening, and three boarding gates with a total capacity of 180 passengers. These improvements will increase El Dorado’s total aircraft positions from 91 to 98, enhancing operational efficiency.
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El Dorado International Airport continues to strengthen its operations and reinforce its status as a regional leader, contributing to the international promotion of ‘Bogotá, My City, My Home’ and Colombia as a premier global tourist destination.
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