Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport, in Colombia’s capital, has become one of the biggest stories in Latin American airport infrastructure by closing 2025 with figures that mark a before and after in its recent history. After a year of intensive operations, the air terminal not only recorded a record number of passengers handled, but also consolidated its position as a strategic hub for regional and global connectivity.
This achievement comes amid a broader recovery of air transport in Colombia and across the region, where demand for domestic and international flights has been steadily growing since the post-pandemic period, driven by both tourism and business, as well as logistics expansion.
The passenger figures reached reflect not only a statistical peak, but also a shift in El Dorado’s role as an entry and exit point for millions of travelers transiting through Colombia. In a country whose air connectivity has expanded in recent years, Bogotá is emerging as a nerve center for flights linking the continent and the world, becoming the busiest airport in South America according to specialized industry reports.
The combination of new routes, international recognitions, and operational improvements was decisive in making this milestone a reality at the end of 2025, a year in which air transport played a key role in the post-pandemic economic recovery and in projecting the country as a competitive destination.
Bogotá’s El Dorado airport in Colombia sets passenger record in 2025
El Dorado Airport’s 2025 results reveal—once again—a notable expansion on several fronts. Official figures show that the air terminal surpassed all previous records for passengers handled, consolidating itself as Colombia’s main air gateway and one of the busiest in the entire region. This increase was reflected not only in passenger traffic, but also in cargo movement, reaffirming El Dorado’s role as a fundamental node in regional logistics chains.
Growth in passenger numbers was accompanied by a significant expansion of air connectivity. Throughout the year, new routes were opened that broadened travel options both within Colombian territory and abroad.
Eight domestic routes connected Bogotá with destinations such as Cartagena and Medellín, while twelve new international connections linked the Colombian capital with cities such as Dallas, Brasília, and Guatemala City, among others. These new routes responded to growing traveler demand and airlines’ interest in consolidating El Dorado as a strategic hub within their networks.
These advances in connectivity were a key ingredient in attracting a greater number of passengers. Destination diversification allowed more travelers to find direct options to enter or leave Colombia, which not only facilitated tourism and business travel but also strengthened commercial and cultural ties between regions. In addition, these new routes expanded Colombia’s accessibility in traditional and emerging markets, contributing to a stronger international presence for the country.
Even before the year closes with final figures, the 2024 record—when 45.8 million travelers used Bogotá’s airport—has already been surpassed. Added to this was the transport of more than 800,000 tons of cargo, the highest figure in the airport’s history, further reinforcing its role in regional logistics chains.
International recognitions and certifications
El Dorado’s passenger record in 2025—when it marks 65 years since entering service—did not go unnoticed by the global aviation community. The airport received significant recognitions that position it as a regional benchmark.
For the seventh time, and for the fourth consecutive year, it was chosen as the Best Airport in South America according to Skytrax, one of the most prestigious indices in airport quality assessment. Meanwhile, at the World Travel Awards—often referred to as the “Oscars of Tourism”—El Dorado was distinguished as South America’s leading airport, a recognition that underscores its ability to offer a positive passenger experience despite rising demand.
In addition to traveler experience evaluations, the country’s aviation authorities granted the airport aerodrome certification, recognizing that it meets international standards for infrastructure, services, and operational safety.
This certification serves as an endorsement of the airport’s quality and its ability to operate under global requirements, adding to industry recognition for its operational excellence and impact on passenger flows.
There is no doubt that 2025 was a year of achievements for El Dorado, but it also highlighted the challenges involved in managing such accelerated growth. Increased passenger flows and operations require robust infrastructure and efficient processes to avoid congestion and delays, especially during peak seasons. The implementation of collaborative management systems such as Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) sought precisely to improve the airport’s operational capacity and make operating times more predictable, thereby reducing delays and enhancing the overall terminal experience.
Looking ahead, El Dorado’s expansion and modernization projects aim to prepare the terminal to handle even greater volumes of passengers and cargo in the coming years. Plans include expanding service areas, improving internal mobility, and increasing operational capacity, with the goal of enabling the airport to sustain and surpass the milestones achieved in 2025.
These developments will be decisive in ensuring that Bogotá continues to consolidate itself as an international reference hub in a sector as competitive as air transport.
El Dorado Airport turns 65
Colombia’s main airport is also a reflection of the country’s modern history. Bogotá’s El Dorado Airport was born in response to the rapid growth of commercial aviation in the mid-20th century and the need to replace infrastructure that had become obsolete.
Until the late 1950s, the capital operated out of Techo Airport, located in the southwestern part of the city. Although it was key to the early development of air transport, its limited capacity and urban expansion made the urgency of a new terminal evident. In 1959, construction of El Dorado began on a larger site west of Bogotá, and a year later, in 1960, it was officially put into service.
From its early years, El Dorado established itself as the country’s main air hub and as Colombia’s gateway to the world. For decades, its infrastructure was gradually expanded to accommodate the sustained increase in passengers, the growth of airlines such as Avianca, and the expansion of cargo transport, a strategic segment for the national economy.
The most significant leap came with the major renovation inaugurated in 2012. The project completely transformed the terminal, incorporating modern architecture, greater operational capacity, cutting-edge technology, and a clear separation between domestic and international flights. This renewal positioned El Dorado among the most important airports in Latin America, especially in air cargo handling.
Today, more than six decades after its opening, El Dorado has become Latin America’s leading air terminal, a symbol of connectivity and development. From the modest days of Techo to its current role as a regional hub, the airport encapsulates the evolution of Colombian aviation and the capital’s growth toward the future.