After profiling the finalists for the Under 5 Million, 5-20 Million and Over 20 Million airport categories, as well as the Destination Award, today we focus on the shortlists for the Airline Award.
The Airline Award, which has been reviewed and scored by a panel of editorial judges, focuses on the importance of partnership in achieving successful and profitable routes.
The Routes Americas 2026 Awards celebrate the destinations and airports driving air service growth across the region, recognizing standout route development partnerships and marketing initiatives.
Winners will be announced at the Routes Americas Networking Evening on March 4 at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro.
More News And Analysis From Routes Americas 2026
AIRLINE AWARD
American Airlines
American Airlines operates more than 7,000 daily flights to over 360 destinations through nine hubs. In 2025, the carrier added 16 new stations and more than 100 new routes, including new service to Tampico and Puerto Escondido in Mexico, bringing its total to 30 Mexican destinations. New Caribbean routes to South Caicos and Bimini further expanded its regional footprint. Looking ahead to summer 2026, American plans six new long-haul routes, including Dallas/Fort Worth to Athens, Buenos Aires and Zurich, Miami to Milan and Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague. The airline is also restructuring its Dallas/Fort Worth hub from nine to 13 daily banks in April 2026 to improve connectivity and operational resilience.
LATAM Airlines Group
LATAM Airlines Group carried 87.4 million passengers in 2025, up 6.6% year on year. Between 2025 and July 2026, LATAM will have launched more than 30 new domestic and international routes, expanding connectivity across Brazil, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Argentina. In Brazil, the group reached a 41.5% domestic market share—its highest in 12 years. Long-haul expansion includes new services from São Paulo to Amsterdam, Brussels and Cape Town, strengthening links between South America and Europe and Africa. Fleet investment underpins this growth, including the acquisition of 74 Embraer 195-E2 aircraft, alongside the upcoming arrival of the Airbus A321XLR.
WestJet
WestJet has delivered sustained network expansion anchored by the development of Calgary International Airport as its global hub, where 2025 seat capacity was nearly 50% higher than 2022 levels, with service to more than 100 destinations. Recent growth has focused on underserved international leisure markets. For winter 2025-26, WestJet launched new Calgary routes to Guadalajara, Panama City, Cozumel, Puerto Plata, Tepic and Puerto Escondido, alongside increased frequency to Tokyo Narita. Planned 2026 transatlantic service from Halifax will drive a 50% increase in seat capacity year on year at the airport. Following the acquisition of Sunwing Airlines in 2023, WestJet now serves 46 Latin American and Caribbean destinations.
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