Paraguay is moving to open up its skies. On 14 July 2026 the country signed two air-transport memoranda through its civil aviation authority, the Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (Dinac): one backing the regional ALAS open-skies initiative with Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and a bilateral deal with Brazil granting the seventh freedom of the air. For anyone weighing Paraguay as a base, the story comes down to one thing above all: connectivity.
What Paraguay Actually Signed
Two instruments were signed on the same day. The first is Paraguay's backing for ALAS, a push toward a more open South American airspace alongside Argentina, Brazil and Chile, meant to loosen the bilateral limits that usually cap how airlines fly between countries. The second is a bilateral memorandum with Brazil that grants the seventh freedom of the air.
The seventh freedom is the technical heart of the deal. It lets an airline of one country operate flights entirely between two other countries, without the route touching its home base. In practice that gives carriers far more room to build regional networks through Paraguay rather than around it.
Why Connectivity Is the Point
Air links are a real constraint for a landlocked country. Paraguay has historically had thin international connections, and expanding traffic rights is how you attract more routes and more competition on price. Local carrier Paranair is one operator that stands to gain room to grow under looser rules, and the move sits alongside other efforts to bind Paraguay closer to Brazil, such as the near-complete Bioceanic Bridge.
Treat the memoranda as a framework, not a finished timetable. Signing traffic rights is the enabling step; actual new routes depend on airlines deciding the demand is there. The direction of travel, though, is toward more options, not fewer.
What It Means for Expats
For anyone living in or moving to Paraguay, the honest read is measured optimism. More open skies should, over time, mean better regional links and more competitive fares to hubs like São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago, the gateways most people already use to reach Paraguay. Our guide to getting in and out of Paraguay covers how those connections work today.
Keep expectations grounded. This is regional integration, not a new wave of direct intercontinental flights. Reaching Paraguay from Europe, North America or Asia will still route through a regional hub for the foreseeable future. If you are planning a move, the practical logistics sit in our first 30 days in Paraguay guide, and the wider picture in the Paraguay country overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Paraguay sign on 14 July 2026?
Two air-transport memoranda through Dinac: one backing the ALAS open-skies initiative with Argentina, Brazil and Chile, and a bilateral deal with Brazil granting the seventh freedom of the air. Both aim to loosen the traffic-right limits that normally restrict how airlines fly between countries.
Does this mean direct flights from Europe or the US?
No. The agreements are about South American regional connectivity, not intercontinental routes. Reaching Paraguay from outside the region will still typically involve a connection through a hub such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires or Santiago.
What is the seventh freedom of the air?
It is the right for an airline of one country to operate flights entirely between two other countries, without the route continuing to or from its home country. It gives carriers more freedom to build regional networks through Paraguay.
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or travel advice. Aviation agreements are frameworks whose practical effect depends on airline decisions and later regulation. Confirm current routes and rules with the airlines and Dinac before you plan.
Sources
- ▹Dinac: Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica Civil (Paraguay)
- ▹ABC Color: economy and infrastructure coverage
Planning a move to Paraguay? A short intro call maps the practical steps, from getting there to residency and setup. Get in touch.
About the author
Yannick Schroth
Founder · Paraguay relocation advisor
Lives in Asunción and guides international nomads, entrepreneurs and investors toward residency, a cédula and a tax-efficient structure in Paraguay.
