The Longest Air Routes Between The US & South America

The United States is connected to eight South American countries via commercial airline service: Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Guyana, and Bolivia. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, there are 7,944 roundtrip flights between the US and these eight countries in August. Fifteen airlines operate routes to/from the US, and Texas-based American Airlines has the largest market share of any airline, with 1,968 flights. Colombian carrier avianca has the next largest market share, with 1,601 flights.

Here is the breakdown:

1. American Airlines

   – 1,968

2. avianca

   – 1,601

3. LATAM – 1,242
4. United Airlines

   – 841

5. Delta Air Lines

   – 649

6. Spirit Airlines

   – 550

7. JetBlue

   – 310

8. Azul – 211
9. GOL – 168
10. Aerolineas Argentinas – 118
11. BoA – 72
12. Caribbean Airlines – 62
13. Emirates – 62
14. Sky Airlines Peru – 62
15. Surinam Airways – 28

The busiest route is from Aeropuerto El Dorado in Bogotá, Colombia, to Miami International Airport, with 620 roundtrips this month, an average of ten daily roundtrips. The second-busiest route also connects to Miami, but is from Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chavez in Lima Peru. In August, there are 394 roundtrip flights scheduled, averaging more than six daily roundtrips. Rounding out the top three is another route to Miami from Colombia, but from Medellin. Aeropuerto Internacional Jose Maria Cordova is connected to Miami with 338 roundtrip flights, averaging five daily roundtrips.

Below are the top five busiest routes:

1. Bogotá – Miami: 620 flights
2. Lima – Miami: 398 flights
3. Medellin – Miami: 338 flights
4. Bogotá – New York JFK: 248 flights
5. São Paulo Guarulhos – Miami: 248

1

São Paulo Guarulhos – Los Angeles

6,156 miles

Currently, the longest route between the United States and South America is served by LATAM Brasil four times weekly. The service was launched in August 2023 and has been extremely successful, leading the airline to plan for daily service in coming months. At 6,156 miles, the longest route on the list is from Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo-Guarulhos to Los Angeles International Airport.

The flight leaving Los Angeles is blocked out at 11h45m, while the flight from Brazil is blocked at 12h35m. LATAM Brasil deploys its Boeing 787s on the route to Los Angeles, which operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and the return leg operates on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. LATAM Brasil’s 787-9s are configured with two cabins, business and economy, with 30 premium seats and 272 in economy. No other airline operates the route, though American Airlines did most recently, and airlines like Korean Air and Japan Airlines have in the past as fifth-freedom flights.

2

Santiago – Los Angeles

5,569 miles

The second-longest route on this list is also to Los Angeles and operated by LATAM. The flight from Aeropuerto Internacional Arturo Merino Benitez to LAX is operated daily on two variants of the Boeing 787s, the -8 and -9. The -9s have the same configuration as the ones operating for LATAM Brasil, while the -8s have the same number of business class seats, 30, but only 217 seats in economy. The distance between the two cities is 5,569 miles.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

The flight from Santiago is blocked at 11h25m, just over one hour shorter than the flight from São Paulo. The leg from Los Angeles is 10h45m. Though the flight from Santiago is scheduled for 11h25m, it is never that long. According to data from Flightradar24, the flight usually takes around 10h30m but recently has taken as much as 11 hours and as little as 10:08.

3

Buenos Aires – New York JFK

5,281 miles

Number three brings us to the other side of South America, to the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires. Often regarded to as Europe in South America, Buenos Aires is a major financial center for Argentina and drew more than 6.5 million tourists last year. The flight from Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini, more commonly known as Aeropuerto Internacional de Ezeiza or simple Ezeiza, to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is 5,281 miles.

Photo: HMBSoFL Photography | Shutterstock

This route is operated by two airlines, Aerolineas Argentinas, Argentina’s flag carrier, and American Airlines. Data shows that Aerolineas is only operating one weekly flight using its Airbus A330s, while American Airlines is connecting the two cities daily with its Boeing 777-200ERs.

4

Chicago – São Paulo

5,222 miles

The fourth-longest route is one of three to Brazil in the top five. The flight from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to GRU is 5,222 miles and is operated by Chicago-based United Airlines. United uses the largest variant of the Boeing 787, the -10, on the route. Operating daily, United has the capacity to carry 9,858 passengers in each direction this month, or 318 on each flight.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

5

Dallas/Fort Worth – São Paulo

5,111 miles

American Airlines operates the third and fifth-longest routes on this list, with number five originating at its home in Texas. Every day, American deploys its Boeing 787-9s from Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport to GRU on the 5,111-mile flight. As no other airline operates the route, 8,835 seats are available in each direction on American’s flights. The Boeing 787-9 has 285 seats, 30 in Flagship Business, 21 in Premium Economy, and 234 in Economy.

Photo: Austin Deppe | Shutterstock