Flying High? Colombia Wants to More than Double the Size of Its Aviation Industry by 2030

If the country continues to strengthen its aviation sector, Colombian airports could service more than 94 million passengers per year by 2030, according to newly released estimates from the industry’s national regulator.

Though a seemingly ambitious assessment for a nation that transported just over 35 million people through its airports in 2017, the Bogotá-based public agency Aerocivil believes the aviation investments made thus far, combined with more to come, will allow the industry to more than double its numbers during the next three years.

The goal of 94 million is above and beyond the 54 million passengers that Colombia would service in 2030 under the organization’s organic, status-quo growth assessment that includes no further investment.

“To reach 94 million, it is necessary to continue strengthening the airport infrastructure, especially at the regional level,” said Juan Carlos Salazar, director of Aerocivil, in recent public comments.

As is currently the case, this would include the bulk of traffic moving through the capital at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport, which would welcome nearly 68 million people per year by 2030, stated Aerocivil.

Under this scenario, the second largest hub in Colombia, José María Córdova International Airport in Rionegro just outside of Medellín, would see more than 17 million passengers per year by 2030.

Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport in Cali and Rafael Núñez International Airport in Cartagena would continue to be the third and fourth largest in the country, respectively.

Photo: LATAM Airlines, seen flying one of its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, is one of the biggest airlines operating in Colombia. (Credit: LATAM Airlines)