Industry Insights

A4A’s Keith Glatz Highlights Growth and Calls for Fair Competition in Latin America

October 27, 2025

Airlines for America’s (A4A) Senior Vice President of International Affairs Keith Glatz joined global aviation leaders at the ALTA AGM & Airline Leaders Forum, held October 19-21, 2025, in Lima, Peru. The event brought together airline executives, regulators and policymakers from across the Americas to discuss the future of connectivity, competitiveness and growth.

During his remarks, Glatz pointed to impressive gains for U.S. carriers in Latin America over the past several years. Since 2019, air service between the U.S. and key markets such as Colombia, Brazil and El Salvador has surged, with some routes growing more than 50 percent. A4A’s cargo carriers transported more than 300,000 tons to and from Colombia, Brazil and Argentina in the last year. “These are truly impressive numbers,” he said. “They underscore the value and importance we as an industry place in the region.”

At the same time, Glatz cautioned that continued growth depends on addressing a number of consistent challenges. He cited discriminatory air navigation fees, excessive taxes and market-distorting consumer rules that create an uneven playing field for airlines operating international flights. “These policies don’t do much to protect consumers,” he explained, “but they do a whole lot to interrupt the efficient delivery of the services we provide.”

Glatz specifically raised concerns about fee structures and tax proposals in countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Colombia that he described as “anti-competitive” and inconsistent with Open Skies agreements. He noted that such measures can ultimately harm connectivity and limit travel options for consumers.

To tackle these barriers, Glatz announced that A4A has “redoubled” its advocacy efforts across Latin America. “We want transparency, fair regulation and full compliance with international obligations,” he said. As Latin America prepares to host major global events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Glatz emphasized that cooperation between governments and industry will be critical to supporting reliable and affordable air travel.