The National Union of Aeronauts (SNA) announced on Christmas Day that its members have entered a formal ‘estado de greve’. An extraordinary general assembly is set for 29 December in São Paulo, where flight crews will decide whether to ground aircraft operated by Azul and Gol—two of Brazil’s three largest carriers—during the peak holiday return period.
The industrial action follows the narrow rejection (49.31 % vs 49.25 %) of a pay-and-conditions proposal mediated by the Superior Labour Court. Pilots and flight attendants demand inflation-linked salary adjustments and clearer limits on duty time. Crews at LATAM approved a separate deal earlier in December, meaning that airline is not currently affected.
For travellers racing to rearrange itineraries at short notice, VisaHQ’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) can fast-track visa applications, provide up-to-the-minute entry-requirement guidance, and even coordinate documentation for onward connections in neighbouring countries—giving passengers and mobility managers added flexibility while industrial action threatens flight schedules.
![Brazilian pilots and cabin crew declare ‘state of strike’, threatening New Year flight disruption]()
If the strike is approved, mobility planners should expect cascading delays at hub airports such as São Paulo/Guarulhos, Rio/Galeão and Brasília, as aircraft rotations are disrupted. Travellers connecting from international long-haul services onto domestic legs may be stranded, and per-diem costs could spike as hotels near airports reach capacity.
Employers are advised to activate contingency plans: book refundable tickets on unaffected carriers where possible, authorise premium-economy upgrades on alternative routes, and pre-arrange ground transport for critical staff. The Ministry of Ports and Airports has not yet indicated whether a minimum-service injunction will be sought, but historically courts have required airlines to maintain at least 60 % of flights during peak periods.
For global-mobility teams the episode is a reminder of Brazil’s highly regulated labour environment. Collective agreements expire every two years, and failure to track negotiation cycles can expose companies to sudden travel disruptions at year-end—precisely when expats and business travellers are most mobile.
The industrial action follows the narrow rejection (49.31 % vs 49.25 %) of a pay-and-conditions proposal mediated by the Superior Labour Court. Pilots and flight attendants demand inflation-linked salary adjustments and clearer limits on duty time. Crews at LATAM approved a separate deal earlier in December, meaning that airline is not currently affected.
For travellers racing to rearrange itineraries at short notice, VisaHQ’s Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) can fast-track visa applications, provide up-to-the-minute entry-requirement guidance, and even coordinate documentation for onward connections in neighbouring countries—giving passengers and mobility managers added flexibility while industrial action threatens flight schedules.
If the strike is approved, mobility planners should expect cascading delays at hub airports such as São Paulo/Guarulhos, Rio/Galeão and Brasília, as aircraft rotations are disrupted. Travellers connecting from international long-haul services onto domestic legs may be stranded, and per-diem costs could spike as hotels near airports reach capacity.
Employers are advised to activate contingency plans: book refundable tickets on unaffected carriers where possible, authorise premium-economy upgrades on alternative routes, and pre-arrange ground transport for critical staff. The Ministry of Ports and Airports has not yet indicated whether a minimum-service injunction will be sought, but historically courts have required airlines to maintain at least 60 % of flights during peak periods.
For global-mobility teams the episode is a reminder of Brazil’s highly regulated labour environment. Collective agreements expire every two years, and failure to track negotiation cycles can expose companies to sudden travel disruptions at year-end—precisely when expats and business travellers are most mobile.
