ALTA Member Airlines Passenger Traffic Increases 11.3% in 2010

Miami, February 4, 2011 – The Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) announced that its member airlines carried 136.4 million passengers in 2010, up 11.3% from the previous year.

In addition to passengers increasing 11.3%, traffic (RPK) also grew 11.3% and capacity (ASK) increased 6.4%. The load factor climbed to 73.3%, 3.2 percentage points higher than in 2009.

According to ALTA’s Executive Director, Alex de Gunten," Latin America has reemerged dynamically as a success story for efficiency, growth and positive changes in aviation. We have witnessed an industry that’s safer, greener and working progressively towards becoming even more customer focused. We expect this trend in increased passenger demand to continue well into 2011 and beyond."

The number of passengers carried in December increased 2.5% versus December 2009, reaching 12.0 million passengers. During the last month of 2010 traffic (RPK) rose 3.2%, capacity (ASK) increased 0.7%, and the passenger load factor reached 75.5%, 1.8 percentage points higher than in December 2009.

Freight ton kilometers increased 24.2% in 2010 and 2.5% in December.

Reporting airlines: Aerolineas Argentinas (and Austral), Aeromexico, Aires, Avianca, Copa, Gol, LAN Group, Mexicana (until August 2010), Mexicana Click (until August 2010), Pluna, Grupo TACA, TAM, TAM Mercosur, Varig Log, and Volaris.