Latest IATA research data showed traffic carried by North American airlines declined by 0.8% YoY in Q1 2025, marking the first contraction since 2021.
Meisterl will explore the latest indicators in-depth at a presentation at the GHI Americas titled: ‘The Americas market – boom time or a bubble about to burst?’. The session launches the conference programme on 3 June.
Meisterl told GHI that US, Canadian and Mexican markets were “feeling the heat” following a second successive month of contracting year-on year passenger demand for North American operators.
However, the market was contemplating a slowdown in growth rather than entering recession, he advised.
Travel demand had been dented by three factors, he said.
A clampdown on immigration by the Trump administration had fuelled heightened border checks and travel burden on international visitors entering the US.
Trade tariffs had also dented consumer confidence, Meisterl added. And the Americas market was feeling the capacity pinch of a lack of available new aircraft, he stated.
Despite the adverse indicators - the Americas remained in growth, he concluded: “The indicators are showing a slowdown in the rate of growth, but we’re still talking about growth and not a market going into negative territory.”
To the South, demand in Latin America leapt up 6% year-on-year with Argentina showing a 18% uplift in seat capacity after market deregulation in late 2024.
Hear more about the latest data and what it means by registering your place at the GHI Americas in Orlando now by clicking here.
