The Routes Americas 2026 Awards honor excellence in airport and destination marketing, featuring airports, destinations and airlines from across the region.
The awards encompass six categories.
Three awards are on offer for airports, categorized by passenger volume—Under 5 Million, 5-20 Million and Over 20 Million. There is also the Destination Award, which acknowledges the assistance destinations offer to their airline partners, and the Airline Award, which highlights the collaborative efforts crucial for successful and profitable routes.
Additionally, an Overall Winner will be chosen from the list of winners.
The finalists in the Airport and Destination categories have been evaluated by a panel of airline judges, while the Airline category has been scored by an editorial panel. The 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
UNDER 5 MILLION PASSENGERS
Aruba International Airport, Aruba
Aruba International Airport (AUA) reached a record 28 airline partners over the past year, supported by average load factors of 90% that enabled carriers to achieve peak yields. The airport introduced a newly developed incentive and marketing support program, investing direct funds to stimulate local demand and promote airline services. In 2025, AUA invested more than $100,000 in local media campaigns with Latin American partners including LATAM, GOL, Wingo and Aerolíneas Argentinas to strengthen regional connectivity and diversify its market base. After three years of developing media platforms and targeted campaigns, the airport plans to sign its first cooperative agreement with an airline in 2026.
Curaçao International Airport, Curaçao
Curaçao International Airport (CUR) recorded its best year ever in 2025, with total passenger movements reaching 2.46 million, a 17% increase compared to 2024. The airport’s network includes 22 airline partners and 24 destinations, supporting a diversified traffic base led by Europe (33%), the U.S. (22%) and South America (20%). In 2025, LATAM launched year-round Lima service and seasonal Bogotá flights, American Airlines added seasonal Chicago O’Hare service, Delta Air Lines increased Atlanta flights to daily in winter and Copa Airlines expanded Panama City service to double daily. CUR emphasizes tailored business cases, incentive programs and close public-private collaboration to support long-term profitability.
Halifax International Airport Authority, Canada
Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) served 4.14 million passengers in 2025, a 4.1% increase over 2024, supported by 2.4% capacity growth and 18 airline partners. The airport has added nine new destinations for 2026, expanding its route map to 57 destinations, while projected capacity for 2026 is expected to rise 12% year on year. International growth led performance, with transborder capacity increasing 13% and European capacity rising 25% following the launch of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and Zurich service, including securing new carrier Edelweiss. Europe capacity is now 119% above 2019 levels, with 11 nonstop destinations.
Puerto Escondido International Airport, Mexico
Puerto Escondido International Airport (PXM) surpassed 1 million annual passengers in 2025 for the first time, marking a 174% increase compared to 2019 and transitioning from a domestic-only airport to an emerging international leisure gateway. In a single year, PXM secured four new North American airline partners, connecting Puerto Escondido to major U.S. and Canadian hubs. United Airlines began Houston service in April 2025, followed by American Airlines from Dallas/Fort Worth, Air Canada from Toronto and WestJet from Calgary. Average domestic load factors prior to international service stood at 85%, supporting the business case for expansion.
Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport, Canada
Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport (YQB) ranks first in Canada among the 15 largest airports for percentage growth in available seat miles (22.6%) and number of seats (17.1%) in 2026, and second for flight growth (10.4%). Passenger traffic also increased 5% in 2025. YQB has added new services for winter 2025-26 and summer 2026 while increasing frequencies on key domestic, U.S., Caribbean and European routes. Major partners Air Canada and Air Transat continue to expand capacity, with Air Transat growing ASMs by 24% and representing 44% of total ASMs at YQB in 2026. The growth is supported by incentive programs, waived start-up fees and a provincial air service development fund.
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, U.S.
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) handled 4.3 million passengers in 2025, an 11% increase year on year, and recorded 10% growth in scheduled seat capacity. Airlines launched 10 new routes between 2024 and 2025, with two additional routes already announced for 2026. Serving 7.5 million people within a 90-min. drive, PVD has increased its regional market share by 9 percentage points over the past two years, with share gains on new routes averaging 21 percentage points. The growth has been supported by coordinated airline and destination marketing efforts, which have contributed to a 33% increase in annual visitors to Rhode Island.
Tucson International Airport, U.S.
Tucson International Airport (TUS) is focused on recapturing passenger leakage and strengthening sustainable air service growth in a highly competitive market dominated by nearby Phoenix Sky Harbor. TUS has centered its strategy on retaining and expanding service by changing local customer behavior rather than relying solely on organic demand. Marketing efforts are directly aligned with four objectives: winning new service, retaining existing routes, increasing awareness and reducing leakage. When Frontier Airlines returned in 2024, TUS reallocated advertising resources to support the new service, helping Frontier expand to four routes by early 2026.
5-20 MILLION PASSENGERS
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, Argentina
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (AEP) handled 17.8 million passengers in 2025, representing 37% of total traffic managed by Aeropuertos Argentina and reinforcing its role as a key domestic and regional gateway for Buenos Aires. International capacity increased 41% year on year, while winter 2025-26 international operations rose more than 20% compared to the previous season. AEP now has 56 routes—37 domestic and 19 international—across seven countries. To support sustainable growth, AEP introduced incentive programs totaling more than $5.6 million in fee discounts, complemented by marketing support, media exposure, terminal activations and partnerships with tourism authorities and retail operators.
Calgary International Airport, Canada
Calgary International Airport (YYC) welcomed a record 19.4 million passengers in 2025, marking three consecutive years of growth and surpassing 2019 traffic levels by 5.5%. Serving a catchment area of approximately 6 million people, YYC now offers 110 nonstop destinations. In 2025, YYC launched 15 new routes with four longstanding airline partners, expanding domestic, transborder and international connectivity. International services introduced since 2019 have generated an average 120% market stimulation within one year of launch. Transborder traffic grew 11% year over year, outperforming other major Canadian airports despite broader economic uncertainty.
Charleston International Airport, U.S.
Since 2019, Charleston International Airport (CHS) has increased total flights by 21.9% and seat capacity by 40%, while average seats per departure rose from 108.6 to 136.5. The number of airlines serving the airport grew from nine to 14, and nonstop destinations expanded from 33 to 55, maintaining load factors of approximately 80% alongside rising yields. Growth has been supported by data-driven analysis, including mobile device tracking and second-home ownership insights to identify new residents and evolving travel patterns. The airport’s expansion has fueled higher visitor spending and broader regional economic gains, including aerospace investment.
Floripa International Airport, Brazil
Floripa International Airport (FLN) in Florianópolis, operated by Zurich Airport Brasil, surpassed 1 million international passengers for the first time in 2025, closing the year with approximately 1.3 million international travelers—a 373% increase compared to 2019 and 37% growth year on year. The airport expanded its global network with services to Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal and Panama City on Copa Airlines, alongside regular Lima flights operated by LATAM and seasonal service to Tucumán and Salta by Aerolíneas Argentinas. The airport’s growth is supported by structured incentive programs, detailed route analysis and coordinated international outreach, including engagement with 168 travel agents and 10 tour operators.
Punta Cana Airport, Dominican Republic
Punta Cana Airport (PUJ) surpassed 11 million passengers and 35,000 flights in 2025, reflecting year-on-year growth of 9.9% in passengers and 15.6% in operations. Traffic has increased consistently since 2022, when the airport handled 8 million passengers and 24,000 flights, underscoring sustained post-pandemic recovery. Network growth has included new and expanded services with carriers such as American Airlines, Arajet, Avelo Airlines, JetSMART, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. PUJ’s strategy focuses on diversifying source markets, reinforcing its route network and positioning the airport as a regional hub. This approach is supported by tailored airline incentive programs and joint promotional initiatives.
Sacramento International Airport, U.S.
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) has recorded 23 consecutive months of year-on-year passenger growth, reaching a record 13.9 million passengers in 2025. Since June 2021, SMF has added 19 new routes, including six nonstop services launched in 2025 to Puerto Vallarta, Morelia, Anchorage, Baltimore, Orlando and Tucson. New routes are averaging 84% load factors, exceeding forecasts. A data-driven air service strategy has reduced passenger leakage to San Francisco’s Bay Area airports by 12%, retaining more than 400,000 travelers. The airport supports growth through landing fee waivers, international marketing funds and a Regional Air Alliance.
OVER 20 MILLION PASSENGERS
Miami International Airport, U.S.
Miami International Airport (MIA) handled more than 55 million passengers and 3.4 million tons of cargo in 2025, up 20% and 48%, respectively, compared with 2019. More than 90 airlines serve over 190 nonstop destinations from MIA. In the past year, the airport supported more than 30 new routes and expansions, including services by Arajet, Icelandair, American Airlines, LATAM and GOL. The MIADiscover platform promotes nonstop destinations through terminal displays and targeted digital campaigns, while growth is further supported by MIA’s Air Service Incentive Program, which offers landing fee abatements and customized marketing packages for passenger and cargo airlines to reduce start-up risk.
Montréal–Trudeau International Airport, Canada
Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) continues to expand its network, serving 159 destinations in 2025 with passenger traffic 9.4% above 2019 levels. Since 2024, the airport has added 28 new international destinations, including 11 in 2026. Recent growth spans the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, with new airline partners French bee and BermudAir joining the network. Capacity increases on key routes to Paris, Madrid and Chicago O’Hare have strengthened transatlantic and transborder connectivity, while Air Canada Cargo introduced freighter flights to four North American gateways. YUL supports expansion through tailored incentive programs, landing fee rebates and coordinated marketing initiatives.
Orlando International Airport, U.S.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) handled 57.7 million passengers in 2025, surpassing 2019 levels by 13% and maintaining its position as the fifth-busiest U.S. airport by TSA throughput with 28.4 million screenings. The airport added 45 new and expanded routes during the year, including five new international markets: Hamilton, Lima, Paris, Munich and Madrid, expanding its network to more than 160 nonstop destinations. International departures increased 8.7% year on year, led by growth to South America, Central America and Europe. MCO supported expansion with approximately $2.3 million in air service incentives in 2025, along with more than $1 million in promotional investment.
Santiago International Airport, Chile
Santiago International Airport (SCL) handled a record 26.5 million passengers in 2025, up 1% from 2024 and 7.7% above 2019 levels, driven by 4.6% year-over-year growth in international demand. The airport serves 66 destinations, with 21 airlines operating at Chile’s primary gateway. Since 2023, SCL has secured three new international carriers—Arajet, Turkish Airlines and Boliviana de Aviación—and added 15 new routes, including Cartagena, Santo Domingo, Brasília, Orlando, Istanbul and Montréal. Airlines have also increased frequencies on key long-haul services, including Madrid, Paris, Sydney and Istanbul, strengthening connectivity to Europe, North America and Oceania.
Related Content
