An unprecedented movement of travellers has been recorded at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Luque, with more than 4,500 people having departed for the United States since Sunday 7 June, 2026. The mass departure is in support of the Paraguayan national football team, the Albirroja (The White and Red), ahead of their opening match at the 2026 World Cup on Friday, 12 June. The match versus the US kicks off at 22:00 Paraguayan time and lead to an record exodus.
The peak of this activity occurred on Wednesday evening, which saw the departure of two fully occupied charter flights, each carrying over 300 passengers. These were in addition to the regularly scheduled services, creating a scene of intense and historic activity at the nation’s primary air terminal.
“A festive atmosphere”
The Director of the National Directorate of Migration, Jorge Kronawetter, highlighted the exceptional nature of the situation in an interview with state media. He noted that the volume of passengers represents a significant operational undertaking for the airport and its staff.
Furthermore, he described the atmosphere as festive, observing that the large crowds of supporters were travelling with a palpable sense of joy and high expectation for their team’s performance. This positive spirit, he added, was contagious throughout the airport facilities during the peak departure times.
A historic night at the airport
According to the director, the volume of traffic witnessed in a single night was unparalleled in the country’s history. Processing over one thousand passengers in such a concentrated period, alongside managing the standard flow of regular flights, presented a record exodus and formidable logistical test and for all involved agencies.
“More than 1,000 passengers in one night represents a significant challenge that has never occurred in Paraguay before; with the regular flights included, it is something historic, and a party atmosphere was experienced at the airport,” Kronawetter stated.
He confirmed that the figure of approximately 4,500 departures since Sunday was corroborated with the national airport authority, the National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (Dinac). This number reflects the initial wave of supporters travelling for the first match. In addition, authorities anticipate further waves of travel, with another group of fans scheduled to fly out for subsequent games. It is expected that as the national team progresses in the tournament, more contingents of supporters who have purchased travel packages for later matches will also depart.
Coordinated operational response
To manage the surge in passenger numbers, a special operation was implemented. Kronawetter explained that this plan, developed in preparation for the 2026 World Cup, was activated to handle the current demand. He reported that the reinforced measures and close coordination with Dinac have been successful. Consequently, the airport systems have passed all stress tests presented by the peak travel times without any significant issues or delays being reported.
The director also provided an update on the processing of travel documents, stating that procedures related to visas and other required paperwork for entry into the United States were handled in a very orderly manner. He indicated that there were no notable problems, attributing this smoothness to proactive efforts by the migration authority. The Directorate of Migration had insisted on strict compliance with all travel requirements to ensure that no Paraguayan nationals would encounter unexpected difficulties upon their arrival at USA ports of entry.
Surpassing previous travel records
The current surge in international travel is part of a broader trend of increasing passenger movement. Kronawetter noted that last year had already set an record exodus for the total number of people processed through the country’s migration checkpoints. However, he stated that the figures for the current year are already on track to surpass that record. The intense and growing flow of travellers, amplified by major events like the ongoing football tournament, is contributing to this new high.
He concluded that a final tally and analysis will be conducted once this major operational period, which he referred to as the ‘World Cup operation’, comes to a close. It is widely expected that the final numbers will confirm a substantial increase in overall passenger movement for the year.
