Although financially weaker than their competitors to the south, US carriers continue to dominate Latin America’s international market. As a result, US airlines are well positioned to exploit the anticipated growth in the region. Complacency, however, is not an option. US carriers should seriously consider making strategic investments in Latin America’s leading airline groups to ensure their place in this important emerging market.

Latin America is a natural playground for US carriers given the geographic proximity and economic ties between the two regions. US carriers have traditionally accounted for a large majority of capacity between the US and Latin America. This has always been a sore topic for Latin American airlines, who over the years have repeatedly complained about an uneven playing field and how difficult it is to compete against their larger and aggressive competitors to the north.