Brazil’s civil-aviation market continues its post-pandemic surge. Figures released on 26 November show that domestic and international flights carried more than 11 million passengers in October, the highest monthly total since the statistical series began in 2000. Domestic services accounted for just over 9 million travellers, while international routes handled 2 million.
The data, compiled from ANAC’s preliminary traffic reports and analysed by tourism outlet Bem Paraná, reveal that October is now the fourth-busiest month in Brazilian aviation history, trailing only January 2015, January 2020 and July 2025. Load factors averaged 83 % on domestic legs and 87 % on long-haul sectors, indicating robust demand across leisure and corporate segments.
![Brazil tops 11 million airline passengers in October, setting new traffic record]()
Infrastructure upgrades and accelerated concessions have played a role. Since 2023, 21 airports—including Recife, Manaus and Belo Horizonte—have handed over operations to private consortia, unlocking more than R$ 12 billion in scheduled investments. Improved terminal throughput and new biometric e-gate trials at São Paulo-Guarulhos have shaved average connection times by eight minutes, according to ANAC.
For corporate-mobility managers, the record volumes translate into both opportunity and risk. A wider route map and denser frequencies improve flexibility for last-minute travel, but capacity constraints during peaks are driving fare volatility. Forward data from GDS providers show economy-class fares trending 7-9 % higher for Q1 2026 versus Q1 2025, suggesting travel budgets will need adjustments.
Airlines are responding with fleet growth: Gol will add eight Boeing 737-MAX 8s by February, while Azul and LATAM are retrofitting cabins to a higher-density layout aimed at cost-per-seat reductions. Observers expect the market to cross the symbolic 120 million-passenger mark for the calendar year, closing in on pre-COVID projections once thought overly optimistic.
The data, compiled from ANAC’s preliminary traffic reports and analysed by tourism outlet Bem Paraná, reveal that October is now the fourth-busiest month in Brazilian aviation history, trailing only January 2015, January 2020 and July 2025. Load factors averaged 83 % on domestic legs and 87 % on long-haul sectors, indicating robust demand across leisure and corporate segments.
Infrastructure upgrades and accelerated concessions have played a role. Since 2023, 21 airports—including Recife, Manaus and Belo Horizonte—have handed over operations to private consortia, unlocking more than R$ 12 billion in scheduled investments. Improved terminal throughput and new biometric e-gate trials at São Paulo-Guarulhos have shaved average connection times by eight minutes, according to ANAC.
For corporate-mobility managers, the record volumes translate into both opportunity and risk. A wider route map and denser frequencies improve flexibility for last-minute travel, but capacity constraints during peaks are driving fare volatility. Forward data from GDS providers show economy-class fares trending 7-9 % higher for Q1 2026 versus Q1 2025, suggesting travel budgets will need adjustments.
Airlines are responding with fleet growth: Gol will add eight Boeing 737-MAX 8s by February, while Azul and LATAM are retrofitting cabins to a higher-density layout aimed at cost-per-seat reductions. Observers expect the market to cross the symbolic 120 million-passenger mark for the calendar year, closing in on pre-COVID projections once thought overly optimistic.
