The event of the International Air Transport Association (IATA)held on 18 November in Guatemala, brought together industry leaders to analyse current challenges and establish strategic priorities to drive the development of the aviation in Guatemala.
The main challenges and priorities of air transport in Guatemala are linked to economic, social and environmental issues. Resolving these problems is crucial to ensuring a competitive, efficient and future-looking sector.
Harris Whitbeck, director of the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (INGUAT), said: “At the moment, Guatemala has only one direct daily flight to Europe. We hope to improve that connectivity not only with Europe, but also especially with Central America.
Whitbeck also announced that a proposal will be presented in December to divide the functions of the General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics into two entities: one focused on airport infrastructure and the other on air safety.
The event began with a forum entitled “Challenge and priorities for air transport in Guatemala,” which was attended by key figures in the sector such as:
- Harris Whitbeck, CEO of INGUAT.
- Frederico Pedreira, CEO of Avianca.
- Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines.
- Marcela Toriello, president of TAG Airlines.
- Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris.
- Enrique Perrella (moderator), director of Aviation, Revista Business Traveler.
Challenges for air transport in Guatemala
The panelists agreed on the three main challenges of air transport in Guatemala:
- Limited airport infrastructure . La Aurora International Airport (AILA), the country’s main air terminal, faces capacity and modernization problems. Despite some progress, the lack of expansion and improvement of terminals generates bottlenecks during high seasons and limits the growth of international flights.
- Insufficient aerial connectivity. Although Guatemala is connected to several international routes, limitations remain on the number of direct destinations and the frequency of flights. The country relies heavily on foreign airlines, affecting its growth potential in tourism and international trade.
- Security challenges and regulatory compliance. It is vital that Guatemala align itself with international aviation safety regulations, established by agencies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and IATA. Compliing these standards requires significant investment, but is key to ensuring travelers’ confidence.
Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris, said: “The issue of corruption is a huge challenge. Although complex, we must look to the future and focus on solutions.
Priorities for air transport in Guatemala
With regard to the priorities of air transport in Guatemala, three key aspects were highlighted:
- Modernization of airport infrastructure. Updating and expanding Airport Aurora and other regional airports is essential to improve passenger and cargo driving capacity. This includes the expansion of terminals, runways and security systems, as well as improving the travelers’ experience.
- Strengthen air connectivity. Promoting strategic alliances with international airlines will allow to open new routes and increase the frequency of flights, positioning Guatemala as a hubhub for regional connectivity. Developing direct flights to North America, Europe and South America will boost tourism and trade.
- Promotion of tourism and international trade. Aviation must be an engine to promote Guatemala as an attractive tourist destination and a commercial ally. Strategic promotional campaigns could highlight the country’s cultural, historical and gastronomic wealth, while strengthening logistics relations with other markets.
Opportunities for the future
Harris Whitbeck concluded the event by mentioning that they are working on a Big Data-based model to position Guatemala as a world-class tourist destination: Guatemala has a cultural and gastronomic wealth that we must highlight. We work with local communities to create authentic products that attract more tourists and diversify our market.
Pedro Heilbron, CEO of Copa Airlines, highlighted an important fact about first-time passengers in Colombia: In 2023, 14% of domestic flights were for people flying for the first time. According to studies, this is due to the growth of the Mipymes. This raises the need to create flights that are adapted to the needs of the middle-class population.
In short, all participants concluded that Guatemala has several opportunities to improve its air transport, but must address important challenges such as airport infrastructure, air connectivity and sustainability. With a proper investment and a strategic approach, Guatemala has the potential to become a key player in the air sector in Central America, strengthening its competitiveness at the regional and global levels.
This article has been translated after appearing in Prensa Libre