Cali is served by Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport (CLO), also known as Palmaseca, the primary airport for southwestern Colombia and the third busiest in the country. It functions as a significant domestic arrival hub and receives a modest selection of international routes, particularly from neighboring Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and the United States. For travelers heading to the Cauca Valley, CLO is a convenient and often less expensive alternative to Bogotá.
The most frequent and affordable flights into Cali are domestic arrivals from other major Colombian cities. Key origin cities include Bogotá (BOG), which is the main hub for onward travel from across Colombia, as well as Medellín (MDE), Cartagena (CTG), Barranquilla (BAQ), and San Andrés (ADZ). Internationally, CLO receives direct arrivals from Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Panama City (PTY), Quito (UIO), Guayaquil (GYE), and Lima (LIM).
The arrival market at CLO is competitive on core domestic routes. Avianca, LATAM Colombia, and Viva Air (if operational) provide service from Bogotá and Medellín, keeping domestic fares reasonable. Spirit Airlines operates the key route from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) — often the cheapest way to reach Cali from the US. American Airlines serves Miami (MIA). Copa Airlines connects Cali to its Panama City (PTY) hub, which is useful for travelers coming from other parts of Latin America or for connecting to onward flights. LATAM also provides service from other South American capitals like Lima and Quito.
To secure cheap flights to Cali, book domestic arrivals (e.g., from Bogotá) 3–6 weeks in advance. For international flights from the U.S., start searching 2–4 months ahead. Compare fares on the U.S. routes between American Airlines (from MIA) and Spirit Airlines (from FLL) — Spirit almost always has a lower base fare, but factor in their baggage fees. For travel from beyond North or South America (e.g., from Europe or Asia), connecting through Panama City (PTY) on Copa Airlines is often the most efficient routing, though booking a through-fare via Bogotá on Avianca is also a good option. Flying into Cali mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday) typically yields lower fares than weekends. Cali serves as a convenient and often less expensive alternative to Bogotá for accessing the scenic Cauca Valley and Pacific coast regions.