LIMA, PERU — The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) plans to expand air connectivity in Peru as a strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of the tourism sector, open new international markets, and promote greater diversification of destinations. The proposal also seeks to reduce the concentration of air operations in Lima and generate new opportunities for investment and economic development in the regions.
The plan was presented during the 2026 World Annual General Assembly, Conference & Exhibition (WAGA) of ACI Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC) and ACI World, an event gathering over 600 representatives from the airport industry and major airlines in Lima.
During the conference, the Vice Minister of Tourism, Liz Chirinos, highlighted the importance of hosting the gathering in Peru, with representatives participating from more than 60 countries. According to Chirinos, the event represents an opportunity to showcase to the world the diversity of tourist destinations and experiences the country offers.
“Air connectivity is a competitiveness factor for the tourism sector,” Chirinos stated.
Peru seeks to expand its international connections
Mincetur’s strategy aims to increase Peru’s direct access to key source markets and major global airport hubs. Currently, the country has 48 international routes to 20 countries and four airports operating international flights.
Nationally, domestic air traffic has grown by 22.3%, reflecting a rising demand for connections between different regions of the country.
In this context, the government aims to strengthen a network of airport hubs to decentralize tourist flow and make it easier for travelers to access destinations outside of Lima.
Cusco, Arequipa, Iquitos, and Chiclayo as new tourism hubs
Within this strategy, Cusco, Arequipa, Iquitos, and Chiclayo will play a key role as connecting points for domestic and international tourism.
While Lima will continue to function as one of the country’s primary intercontinental hubs, Cusco has been strengthening its international connections with cities such as Bogotá, Santiago, and La Paz, in addition to planning a future connection with São Paulo.
Meanwhile, Chiclayo maintains operations to Panama and is analyzing new connection possibilities with cities like Cuenca and Quito, which could expand international access to northern Peru.
Strengthening these airports aims to make it easier for visitors to combine different regions during a single trip, promoting a more even distribution of tourism’s economic benefits.
New interregional routes among the priorities
In addition to international connections, Mincetur has identified opportunities to expand air routes between Peruvian cities.
Potential connections highlighted include Cusco–Iquitos, Cusco–Trujillo, and Cusco–Piura. New routes are also being evaluated from Arequipa to Piura, Trujillo, Cajamarca, and Tarapoto.
These connections would improve mobility between major tourist destinations and reduce the need for passengers to travel through Lima when moving between certain regions.
For the tourism sector, greater interregional connectivity could facilitate the creation of circuits integrating the country’s diverse cultural, natural, and gastronomic attractions.
Mincetur and PromPerú aim to facilitate new routes
To encourage airlines to evaluate opening new routes or increasing flight frequencies, Mincetur and PromPerú are developing analytical tools designed to reduce risks associated with new operations.
These include business cases tailored to the specific characteristics of each route, incorporating data on passengers, average fares, estimates of unmet demand, and other key indicators to determine the commercial viability of an air connection.
In addition to these initiatives, joint promotional efforts are being carried out with airlines. PromPerú is currently running seven international campaigns in key priority markets, including Brazil, France, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
A strategy to decentralize tourism
Expanding air connectivity is part of a broader strategy aimed at achieving a more balanced distribution of tourism growth across Peru’s regions.
Mincetur asserts that an increased number of routes and flight frequencies will facilitate access to tourist destinations, expand travel possibilities, and encourage longer visitor stays.
“Our strategic vision with airlines is to multiply travel opportunities: we seek to extend length of stay, diversify regional routes, and evenly distribute the economic development of tourism across the entire country,” Vice Minister Liz Chirinos concluded.
