Latin America Under Travel Stress, Hundreds of Passengers Abandoned across Brazil and Colombia as Avianca, LATAM Brasil and others Suspends 29 Flights with over 400 Delays in Bogotá, Medellín and São Paulo, New Update

Published on December 17, 2025

Air travel across Latin America suddenly faced operational crisis today. The core issues emerged in Brazil and Colombia, significantly impacting major carriers. Travelers watched as 29 flights were cancelled and 426 others experienced delays. This massive logistical failure primarily hit key international airports. Specifically, the travel hubs in Bogotá, Medellín and São Paulo became choke points. Airlines like Avianca and LATAM Brasil carried the brunt of this disruption. Operational statistics revealed deep-seated issues that left hundreds of passengers stranded. For instance, Bogotá’s main airport struggled with substantial delays. Simultaneously, São Paulo’s two major facilities recorded the highest cancellation numbers. Ultimately, the cumulative effect of these failures introduced significant stress into the regional travel network, highlighting systemic challenges within the aviation sector of Brazil and Colombia.

Major Airports Affected

The disruption to scheduled air travel was observed across two countries, with four prominent international airports being affected by the cancellations and delays. The capital of Colombia, Bogotá, was the most severely impacted in terms of delays, while the largest city in Brazil, São Paulo, registered the highest number of cancellations.

At El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, a total of 8 cancellations were logged and a substantial 120 flights were subjected to delays. The sheer volume of delayed flights positions this Colombian hub as one of the centers of the day’s operational difficulty. A less intensive but still significant disturbance was registered at Jose Maria Cordova International Airport, the primary gateway serving the Medellín Metropolitan Area. Here, 3 flights were cancelled and 33 flights were delayed, marking a considerable disruption for passengers traveling to and from this vital commercial center in Colombia.

The situation was equally challenging in Brazil. At São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, the busiest international air facility serving São Paulo, 7 cancellations were recorded alongside 143 delays—the highest total number of delays among the four monitored airports. Moreover, São Paulo-Congonhas Airport, which primarily handles domestic traffic in São Paulo, reported the day’s highest number of suspended flights, with 11 cancellations being recorded. An additional 130 flights were delayed at this airport. Across the two key Brazilian hubs, 18 cancellations and 273 delays were collectively processed, confirming the significant operational burden that was carried by the air traffic infrastructure in Brazil.

Impacted Airlines

The widespread operational failures were attributed to four major airlines that operate extensively throughout Latin America: Avianca, LATAM Brasil, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes and Copa Airlines. Each carrier was subjected to varying degrees of disruption across the affected airports in Colombia and Brazil.

Avianca was impacted by a total of 10 cancellations and 63 delays across the two Colombian airports. Specifically, all 8 cancellations at El Dorado Int’l (Bogotá) were attributed to Avianca, along with 48 delays. Additionally, 2 cancellations and 15 delays at Jose Maria Cordova Int’l (Medellín) were also registered under the airline’s operations.

The greatest number of total cancellations and delays were incurred by LATAM Brasil. A total of 17 cancellations and 132 delays were recorded for the airline across the two São Paulo airports. At São Paulo-Congonhas, LATAM Brasil was responsible for all 11 cancellations and 50 delays that were logged. A further 6 cancellations and 82 delays were documented for the carrier at São Paulo-Guarulhos Int’l.

The operational difficulties in Brazil were further compounded by GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes. 1 cancellation and 34 delays were reported for this airline at São Paulo-Guarulhos Int’l. Finally, Copa Airlines was also identified as an affected operator, with 1 cancellation and 0 delays being recorded at Jose Maria Cordova Int’l (Medellín). These figures highlight how the travel environment in key Latin America countries was broadly affected across multiple operators.

Beyond these specific figures, minor delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like LATAM Colombia, Clic Air, Azul Brazilian Airlines and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The number of cancelled and delayed flights in Bogotá, Medellín and São Paulo implies a direct and immediate impact on passenger flow, which subsequently affects local tourism industries. With 29 flights suspended and 426 delayed, thousands of passenger journeys were immediately altered or terminated for the day. Incoming tourists were prevented from reaching their destinations, resulting in foregone revenue for local businesses such as hotels, tour operators and restaurants in Colombia and Brazil. Outgoing passenger schedules were also compromised, delaying departures for travelers whose visits to these crucial Latin America cities were being concluded. The operational data—8 cancellations and 120 delays in Bogotá, 3 cancellations and 33 delays in Medellín and 18 cancellations and 273 delays across São Paulo—demonstrates a clear logistical impediment that was placed on international and domestic tourist movements.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the cancellations and delays in Brazil and Colombia are advised to take immediate and appropriate steps to manage their revised itineraries. The total number of affected flights—29 cancelled and 426 delayed—indicates that airline resources are significantly strained, requiring proactive engagement by travelers. Direct communication with the operating airline—whether Avianca, LATAM Brasil, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, or Copa Airlines—is essential. Flight status updates should be continually monitored through official airline or airport channels. Options for rebooking or rerouting, which are typically managed by the carriers in situations of flight suspension, must be actively explored. All documentation pertaining to the original booking and the subsequent disruption should be retained. Passengers should be prepared for potential extended wait times at the affected airports in Bogotá, Medellín and São Paulo, as the process of accommodating the hundreds of individuals affected by the delays and suspensions is undertaken by the operating staff.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.