The Flight Facilitation Committee (CFV) at São Paulo/Guarulhos International (GRU) published its initial slot allocation (SAL) for the IATA Summer 2026 (S26) season on 6 November 2025, triggering the next round of schedule coordination at Brazil’s busiest hub. According to the notice, carriers must confirm historical slot validation by 15 December or risk losing grandfather rights.
LATAM Airlines, which spearheaded the transparency push after a Chilean antitrust ruling, disclosed the calendar in a public tender document. Key milestones include the International Slot Conference from 18–20 November and the national slot conference in late January 2026. The new process aligns GRU with IATA Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines and introduces electronic submissions for slot swaps, reducing paperwork for network planners.
![Guarulhos Airport Issues Initial Slot Allocation for IATA Summer 2026; Airlines Face Tight Timelines]()
For mobility stakeholders, the timetable affects everything from corporate contract fares to expatriate relocation windows. With S26 running from 29 March to 31 October 2026—and limited growth in peak-hour capacity—airlines unable to secure preferred times may down-gauge aircraft or shift connections to Brasília and Viracopos. Travel-procurement teams should expect schedule volatility through Q1 2026 and build flexibility clauses into agreements.
Airport management notes that the SAL reflects infrastructure constraints: the third runway project remains on hold pending environmental approvals, and remote-stand utilisation is already above 93 % in the morning wave. While a modest boost in late-night slots is possible, significant relief is unlikely before 2028.
Longer term, the transparent schedule published on 6 November is viewed as a rehearsal for Brazil’s planned slot-trading market, expected to launch in 2027. Airlines that master the digital allocation system early will gain a competitive edge when monetisation rules come into force.
LATAM Airlines, which spearheaded the transparency push after a Chilean antitrust ruling, disclosed the calendar in a public tender document. Key milestones include the International Slot Conference from 18–20 November and the national slot conference in late January 2026. The new process aligns GRU with IATA Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines and introduces electronic submissions for slot swaps, reducing paperwork for network planners.
For mobility stakeholders, the timetable affects everything from corporate contract fares to expatriate relocation windows. With S26 running from 29 March to 31 October 2026—and limited growth in peak-hour capacity—airlines unable to secure preferred times may down-gauge aircraft or shift connections to Brasília and Viracopos. Travel-procurement teams should expect schedule volatility through Q1 2026 and build flexibility clauses into agreements.
Airport management notes that the SAL reflects infrastructure constraints: the third runway project remains on hold pending environmental approvals, and remote-stand utilisation is already above 93 % in the morning wave. While a modest boost in late-night slots is possible, significant relief is unlikely before 2028.
Longer term, the transparent schedule published on 6 November is viewed as a rehearsal for Brazil’s planned slot-trading market, expected to launch in 2027. Airlines that master the digital allocation system early will gain a competitive edge when monetisation rules come into force.
