How a Small Uruguayan Airport Beat Every South American Competitor Two Straight Years

For the second year running, the General Aviation Terminal at Punta del Este International Airport has taken South America's top FBO crown — a back-to-back sweep that positions this compact Uruguayan facility as the continent's undisputed benchmark for private and corporate aviation. Aviacionline reported that the award was presented October 11, 2026, at the 33rd World Travel Awards Caribbean and the Americas Gala, hosted at the Princess Grand Jamaica.

A Terminal Engineered to Lead

The facility sits at Laguna del Sauce in Uruguay's Maldonado department and is run by Aeropuertos Uruguay, the country's airport operator and a unit of Corporación América Airports — a NYSE-listed group that manages 52 airport concessions across Latin America and Europe in six countries. Inaugurated in December 2024 following an expansion that tripled the surface area of its predecessor, the terminal was conceived around the private traveler's experience: a rooftop terrace with unobstructed views over the operational apron, a curated gastronomy offering with premium beverage service, a Duty Free shop calibrated to the high-spending passenger profile, and a dedicated Pilots' Lounge that keeps flight crews apart from passenger flow — an amenity that charter operators and brokers routinely weigh when choosing where executive clients will land.

The Numbers Behind Back-to-Back Gold

The trophy alone does not tell the full story. According to Aeropuertos Uruguay, the airport recorded 220 general aviation operations on December 26, 2025 — surpassing its own previous single-day record of 169 movements, set on that exact date a year earlier, by more than 30%. That trajectory reflects a structural shift in how high-net-worth visitors reach Uruguay, with a growing share bypassing congested commercial hubs in Buenos Aires and São Paulo to land directly at Laguna del Sauce aboard private or charter aircraft.

Guillermo Pagés, general manager of Punta del Este International Airport, called the recognition "the result of the permanent effort of our entire team to offer a top-quality experience to those who pass through our terminal."

Why South America's Aviation Industry Is Watching

Back-to-back regional victories at the continent's most prominent tourism awards carry strategic weight beyond the trophy shelf. South America's executive aviation sector is expanding steadily, fueled by demand from Brazilian, Argentine, European and North American travelers who increasingly favor private terminals over commercial gateways for their flexibility and discretion. Consecutive titles of this magnitude position Uruguay as a credible participant in the aviation investment and route development conversations that typically follow prestige signals of this scale.

For the luxury travel industry broadly, the recognition strengthens Punta del Este's standing alongside Miami and São Paulo as a premium node on the Americas circuit that connects five-star resorts, private banking centers and high-value real estate markets.

The World Title Is Still to Be Won

Claiming the South America category placed the Laguna del Sauce terminal on the nominees list for the world-level FBO title at the same competition. That global ballot is open through October 30 at the World Travel Awards website, with executive terminals from major international aviation hubs in Europe, the Middle East and Asia competing in the same bracket. The world champion will be named at the Grand Final Gala on December 12, 2026, in Tanzania. What Uruguay has already proved is that a purpose-built private aviation facility can outperform every continental rival two years in succession. Whether that carries onto the world stage is, for now, an open vote.

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