| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 1.22 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 1.96 Billion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 9.91 % |
| Market Concentration | High |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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Latin America Inflight Services Market Analysis
The Latin America Inflight Catering Market size is estimated at USD 1.22 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 1.96 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 9.91% during the forecast period (2025-2030).
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a full-scale crisis with the imposition of travel restrictions and the suspension of flights in a global effort to contain the spread of the virus. The aviation industry was crippled by the loss of traffic and revenues. Post-COVID-19 pandemic, passenger traffic increased in FY 2021 and 2022, though the sector showed signs of improvement in FY 2021 and 2022.
The primary factor driving this market is the fast-growing aviation sector due to an increase in travel and tourism, both domestic and international. The major restraint on the market is the slump in the Latin American economy, which has been affected by the global commodity price crash. Airport development and expansion plans that are in progress in the region are expected to offer opportunities for inflight catering service providers to expand their presence in the region, which can propel the growth of the market in the coming years.
Latin America Inflight Services Market Trends
Revival in the Passenger Traffic and Growing Aircraft Fleet is Likely to Bolster Demand
An increased number of aircraft deliveries and an increase in the number of passenger traffic are expected to be the main factors that will propel the growth of the market in the coming years. In 2021, around 19.8 million air passengers traveled with LATAM Airlines in Brazil. This country represents the airline's largest segment, surpassing almost 50% of the number of passengers transported in its other domestic markets. In the past, airlines in Latin America, such as Colombia's SCADTA (now Avianca) and Brazil's VARIG, have expanded their routes with Boeing aircraft. The growing aviation industry in Latin America has increased the need for new aircraft in the country. According to Airbus' predictions, there will be deliveries of 2,550 new aircraft in the Latin American region between 2022 and 2041. The new deliveries will lead to commercial airlines operating within Latin America witnessing significant growth in their fleet size. This will lead to an increase from the current 1450 aircraft, which are present in Latin America to 2850 aircraft in the coming years.
Latin America is second to last in terms of projected deliveries for the next two decades, only above Africa, which expects to have 1,230 deliveries and 370 aircraft conversions. In Latin America, around 81% of the fleet consists of narrowbody aircraft. Airbus predicts that 92% of deliveries will consist of narrowbody aircraft. Moreover, narrow-body aircraft have gained more popularity in the Latin American aviation industry owing to the rise of low-cost carriers that deploy such aircraft to drive efficiencies and stimulate traffic. The increase in air traffic and the delivery of all types of commercial aircraft will drive the market in the coming year.
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Brazil to Dominate the Latin America Market During the Forecast Period
The Brazilian aviation industry gradually recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. According to the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), in 2021, domestic passenger traffic accounted for about 62.5 million, witnessing an increase of 20.4% compared to 2020. As a result of restrictions on Brazilian travelers, international passenger traffic is still growing at a slower pace in the country.
LATAM Brasil, GOL Airlines, and Azul Airlines are the major airlines in the country in terms of passenger traffic during 2020-2021. The airlines still reported 70-80% of pre-pandemic level operations in the fourth quarter of 2020, despite the severe impact of COVID-19. As the market is recovering, airlines are reintroducing domestic and international routes.
LATAM Brasil is the flag carrier of Brazil, which operates a fleet of 129 aircraft including a narrow-body fleet of the A320 family of aircraft and wide-body aircraft of Boeing 767, Boeing 777, and Boeing 787 aircraft. The airline also has 6 aircraft on order.
In April 2021, LATAM Airlines awarded a contract to LSG Sky Chefs for its domestic business in Brazil. The agreement will allow the catering company to provide services to carriers at São Paulo (GRU) and Fortaleza (FOR) for additional three years and expand the partnership of airlines in São Paulo (CGH) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG and SDU). Under the agreement, LSG catered to an average of 140 flights per day for the airline in 2021 and additional slots planned for 2022.
GOL Airlines is a low-cost airline in Brazil that has a narrow-body aircraft fleet of 138 Boeing 737 family aircraft, with an order for 101 units. The business aviation industry in the country has steadily grown over the past few years. Business jet operations witnessed growth in 2021. This strong demand for business aviation for business and leisure travel is expected to propel the growth of inflight catering in the country.
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Latin America Inflight Services Industry Overview
GCG Catering, Gate Gourmet, LSG Sky Chefs, Air Culinaire Worldwide LLC, and Newrest Group are some of the prominent players in the market. Latin American consumers show a preference for sustainable packaging and healthy food products, which the caterers, as well as carriers, take care of while planning value addition and service differentiation. Catering providers can also keep in mind the preferences of economy class passengers while designing the menus, as economy class flights are increasingly becoming the most preferred among the people in the region. Catering providers in the region are incorporating concepts, like a restaurant in the sky, onboard chefs, and collaborations with star chefs, to enhance the inflight dining experience of passengers. This is also expected to open opportunities for reputed restaurants to penetrate the inflight catering market, increasing competition.
Latin America Inflight Services Market Leaders
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LSG Sky Chefs
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GCG Catering
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Air Culinaire Worldwide LLC
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Newrest Group
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Gategroup
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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Latin America Inflight Services Market News
- In February 2021, LATAM Airlines has awarded its domestic catering business in Brazil to LSG Sky Chefs. This means that the catering company was not only able to retain its existing business with the carrier in São Paulo (GRU) and Fortaleza (FOR) for another three years, but that it expanded the partnership by acquiring LATAM's additional operations in São Paulo (CGH), as well as both of its stations in Rio de Janeiro (GIG and SDU). In total, this represents an average of 140 daily flights catered for 2021, with additional slots planned for 2022.
- In July 2021, Gategroup, the leading global airline catering and food services provider, today announced the signing of a five-year agreement with LATAM Airlines covering multiple airports. The agreement includes 14 locations where gategroup has been proud to serve LATAM Airlines for more than 20 years, and two new strategic domestic locations: Bogotá, Colombia and Santiago, Chile. This partnership consolidates gategroup's position as the market leader in Latin America.
Latin America Inflight Services Industry Segmentation
An airline food, inflight meal, or airline meal is a meal served to passengers onboard a commercial airliner. Specialist airline catering services prepare these meals and usually serve passengers using an airline service trolley.
The Latin American inflight catering market is segmented by aircraft seating class, flight service type, food type, and geography. By aircraft seating class, the market is segmented into economy class, business class, and first class. By flight service type, the market is segmented into full-service carriers, low-cost carriers, hybrid carriers, and other service types. By food type, the market is segmented into meals, bakery, confectionery, beverages, and other food types. By geography, the market is segmented into Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, and the Rest of Latin America.
| Food Type | Meals | ||
| Bakery and Confectionary | |||
| Beverages | |||
| Other Food Types | |||
| Flight Service Type | Full Service Carriers | ||
| Low-Cost Carriers | |||
| Hybrid and Other Service Types | |||
| Aircraft Seating Class | Economy Class | ||
| Business Class | |||
| First Class | |||
| Geography | Latin America | Mexico | |
| Brazil | |||
| Colombia | |||
| Argentina | |||
| Venezula | |||
| Chile | |||
| Peru | |||
| Bolivia | |||
| Rest of Latin America | |||
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Latin America Inflight Services Market Research FAQs
How big is the Latin America Inflight Catering Market?
The Latin America Inflight Catering Market size is expected to reach USD 1.22 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 9.91% to reach USD 1.96 billion by 2030.
What is the current Latin America Inflight Catering Market size?
In 2025, the Latin America Inflight Catering Market size is expected to reach USD 1.22 billion.
Who are the key players in Latin America Inflight Catering Market?
LSG Sky Chefs, GCG Catering, Air Culinaire Worldwide LLC, Newrest Group and Gategroup are the major companies operating in the Latin America Inflight Catering Market.
What years does this Latin America Inflight Catering Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the Latin America Inflight Catering Market size was estimated at USD 1.10 billion. The report covers the Latin America Inflight Catering Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the Latin America Inflight Catering Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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Latin America Inflight Services Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 Latin America Inflight Catering market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Latin America Inflight Catering analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
