Award winners at Routes Americas 2025.
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.
The Destination Award spotlights the support and collaboration destinations provide to airline partners to help secure and grow services, while the Airline Award recognizes carrier-led partnership efforts.
Airports are honored across three passenger-volume bands—Under 5 Million, 5–20 Million and Over 20 Million—and an Overall Winner will be selected from this year’s category winners.
Finalists in the Airport and Destination categories have been assessed by a panel of airline judges, with the Airline category evaluated by an editorial panel. 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
DESTINATION AWARD
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., Barbados
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) has implemented a demand-led air service strategy that prioritizes long-term sustainability over short-term capacity growth. The island has expanded and diversified its network through a hub-first model, deepening connectivity across major North American gateways while reducing seasonality through targeted trade incentives and co-op marketing programs. Longstanding partnerships with carriers including Air Canada and JetBlue have been reinforced through airline partnership campaigns, trade engagement and integrated consumer initiatives. BTMI supports airline partners with data-driven route assessments.
Belize Tourism Board, Belize
The Belize Tourism Board has implemented a coordinated, data-driven air service strategy anchored by its national Airlift Committee, aligning government, airport and private-sector stakeholders behind a unified connectivity plan. In recent years, Belize secured new service from Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines, while expanding gateways to Seattle, San Francisco, New York John F. Kennedy, Baltimore and Montreal. Capacity growth has been significant, including a 476% increase from Los Angeles compared with pre-pandemic levels, gains of 150% from Calgary and 143% from Minneapolis, and a 54% expansion in Copa Airlines service via Panama City, strengthening access to South America.
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism (CIDOT) has strengthened year-round air connectivity through a partnership-first strategy built on targeted marketing, data analysis and close airline collaboration. In December 2025 alone, the destination welcomed six new nonstop North American services, including JetBlue and Spirit Airlines from Fort Lauderdale, Delta Air Lines from New York-JFK and Detroit, and Porter Airlines from Toronto and Ottawa. Capacity has continued to grow into 2026, with seat capacity up 18% in the first quarter. CIDOT backs each route with airline-specific marketing plans and coordinated trade and media engagement.
Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Board, The Bahamas
Nassau & Paradise Island has reinforced its role as the gateway to the Bahamas through a measured, demand-led air service strategy centered on long-term sustainability. Lynden Pindling International Airport now offers nonstop service from 48 markets across the U.S., Canada, Europe and South America, with average inbound capacity exceeding 6,200 seats per day. Recent growth has delivered more than 73,000 additional seats through expanded services by Air Canada, American Airlines, Bahamasair, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and WestJet. Canada has been a particular area of focus, with passenger numbers up 7% year on year and capacity increasing 15%.
ProColombia, Colombia
ProColombia reported Colombia’s strongest year on record for international air connectivity in 2025, with 30 international airlines serving 31 countries and 60 international destinations through direct services to 11 Colombian cities. International capacity exceeded 14.9 million seats and 78,756 frequencies, up 11.9% and 10.2%, respectively, compared with 2024. During the year, 22 new international routes were launched across the Americas and the Caribbean, including new links from Brasilia and Manaus to Bogota with GOL and additional services by Avianca, JetSMART, LATAM and Wingo. ProColombia invested more than $854,000 in 43 joint marketing activities with 15 airlines across 17 markets.
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