Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism has started the year with an aggressive push to expand the country’s global air connectivity. A bulletin released on 20 January confirms that 64 brand-new routes and 16 additional weekly frequencies have already been authorised by ANAC and airline partners for operation between February and September 2026. Carriers named in the plan include legacy network airlines such as Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Iberia, TAP and American Airlines, as well as low-cost challengers JetSmart and Flybondi.
The roadmap illustrates how São Paulo/Guarulhos continues to anchor Brazil’s long-haul network, capturing more than half the added capacity, but secondary gateways will also benefit. Salvador will regain a Panama City link on Copa, Cabo Frio gains summer charters from Chile, and Curitiba makes its debut on Air France’s map. On the long-haul front, Qatar Airways will raise Doha–São Paulo to 10 weekly flights and Air Transat will return seasonal Toronto services, reinforcing Brazil’s strategic ties with the GCC and North America respectively.
Officials say the extra seats are critical to sustaining last year’s record 9.3 million foreign arrivals. With the 2027 Women’s World Cup bid and COP30 in Belém on the horizon, predictable lift is a prerequisite for tour operators and MICE planners that are already locking in allotments. The government credits the gains to a new incentive package that discounts airport and navigation fees for airlines opening routes from non-served or underserved markets.
![Brazil books 64 new international flights for 2026 high-season]()
For corporate mobility managers, the announcement is equally significant: more non-stop options reduce crew lay-over costs and shorten project rotations, especially between Europe/Middle East energy hubs and Brazil’s southern ports. Aviation analysts caution, however, that further de-pegging of the real against the US dollar could squeeze margins and force timetable revisions after the northern-summer season. Companies should therefore build flexibility into travel budgets and monitor slot filings as the start dates approach.
Before locking in seats on these new services, travellers and travel managers should remember that visa formalities can still vary widely by nationality. VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) makes it easy to check current entry rules for Brazil and submit applications in minutes, ensuring paperwork keeps pace with the country’s rapidly expanding flight network.
The Ministry will review applications on a rolling basis and says additional frequencies could be released before the October holiday peak if demand holds. Travel buyers are encouraged to engage carriers early, since promotional fares traditionally disappear once Brazilian school holidays begin in July.(gov.br)
The roadmap illustrates how São Paulo/Guarulhos continues to anchor Brazil’s long-haul network, capturing more than half the added capacity, but secondary gateways will also benefit. Salvador will regain a Panama City link on Copa, Cabo Frio gains summer charters from Chile, and Curitiba makes its debut on Air France’s map. On the long-haul front, Qatar Airways will raise Doha–São Paulo to 10 weekly flights and Air Transat will return seasonal Toronto services, reinforcing Brazil’s strategic ties with the GCC and North America respectively.
Officials say the extra seats are critical to sustaining last year’s record 9.3 million foreign arrivals. With the 2027 Women’s World Cup bid and COP30 in Belém on the horizon, predictable lift is a prerequisite for tour operators and MICE planners that are already locking in allotments. The government credits the gains to a new incentive package that discounts airport and navigation fees for airlines opening routes from non-served or underserved markets.
For corporate mobility managers, the announcement is equally significant: more non-stop options reduce crew lay-over costs and shorten project rotations, especially between Europe/Middle East energy hubs and Brazil’s southern ports. Aviation analysts caution, however, that further de-pegging of the real against the US dollar could squeeze margins and force timetable revisions after the northern-summer season. Companies should therefore build flexibility into travel budgets and monitor slot filings as the start dates approach.
Before locking in seats on these new services, travellers and travel managers should remember that visa formalities can still vary widely by nationality. VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) makes it easy to check current entry rules for Brazil and submit applications in minutes, ensuring paperwork keeps pace with the country’s rapidly expanding flight network.
The Ministry will review applications on a rolling basis and says additional frequencies could be released before the October holiday peak if demand holds. Travel buyers are encouraged to engage carriers early, since promotional fares traditionally disappear once Brazilian school holidays begin in July.(gov.br)
