Peru is stepping up efforts to expand international air service in 2026 and beyond, positioning Lima as a stronger South American hub despite mounting competitive pressures in the region.

Central to that effort is a co-financing model aimed at reducing risk for airlines launching new services. “[It] promotes a model of strategic partnerships with airlines based on the co-financing of joint promotional campaigns,” a spokesperson for tourism board Promperu tells Routes. “Through this scheme, it can assume up to 70% of the campaign budget, reducing commercial risk in the initial stage of new routes and accelerating their positioning.”

Recent results include the return of Air Canada from Toronto and the planned launch of Level’s Barcelona-Lima route, moves designed to reinforce Lima’s long-haul connectivity to North America and Europe. 

According to Promperu, those wins stem from partnership work across multiple ministries and aviation stakeholders. Chile, the U.S. and Ecuador remain core markets, while Brazil, Colombia, Spain and Mexico are seen as high-growth opportunities. Argentina also offers “additional expansion opportunities, particularly through LCCs.” 

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Longer-haul markets—including Canada, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, China and Australia—are part of the global “Peru Wow” promotional plan and could benefit from additional nonstop lift.

The push comes as Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport enters a new phase with expanded infrastructure, but also faces scrutiny over a recently introduced $11.86 transit fee for connecting passengers. The charge prompted LATAM Airlines Peru to cut six routes and cancel planned launches.

However, looking ahead, “the expansion of airport infrastructure, sustained airline interest in markets across the Americas and Europe and the increased use of public–private partnership schemes in promotion create a favorable scenario for attracting new routes and consolidating existing services,” the spokesperson says.