El Salvador’s international aviation sector is off to a flying start in 2026. According to the Autonomous Port Executive Commission (CEPA), over 2.2 million passengers traveled through El Salvador International Airport San Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez during the first five months of the year. This represents a robust 6.5% year-over-year increase, translating to 135,937 additional travelers compared to the same period in 2025.

January emerged as the busiest month of the period, registering 521,038 passengers, closely followed by March with 453,577. The surge was significantly fueled by connecting travelers, as the airport establishes itself as a key regional hub. CEPA reported that layover passengers experienced the sharpest growth rate at 9.4%, climbing to 427,637 users. Meanwhile, arriving passengers saw the largest absolute expansion, adding 52,813 new visitors for a total of 848,876.

Outbound traffic also showed steady momentum, with departing passengers reaching 904,639—a 5.2% increase compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the slowest-growing segment belonged to pure transit passengers who remained on board during stops, totaling 23,476 users, which represents a modest 3.1% rise.

While passenger travel boomed, the airport’s cargo terminal experienced a minor dip, handling 16.12 million kilograms, down 0.63%. This shift was characterized by an 11.8% surge in imports, which reached 9.8 million kilograms, offset by a 15.3% decline in exports, which dropped to 6.32 million kilograms.