Brazilian airports spent Thursday, 19 February scrambling to accommodate thousands of travellers left without seats after Argentina’s largest labour union, the CGT, launched a 24-hour general strike against President Javier Milei’s labour-market reforms. According to airport operator Infraero, at least 64 round-trip services between Brazil and Argentina were cancelled in the space of eight hours, affecting the country’s three busiest international gateways—São Paulo/Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão and Brasília—as well as Florianópolis, Porto Alegre and Recife.
The hardest-hit carriers were Aerolíneas Argentinas and low-cost JetSmart, but Brazil’s GOL and LATAM also scrubbed flights after Argentine ground-handling staff downed tools. Airlines have offered fee-free rebooking for travel until 26 February or full refunds, yet seat availability is thin because Carnival demand had already pushed February load factors above 90 percent. Corporate travel managers report that some executives bound for Buenos Aires meetings are buying last-minute tickets via Montevideo or Santiago, adding 6-10 hours to the journey.
![Argentine General Strike Grounds Dozens of Brazil-Argentina Flights, Forcing Travellers to Reroute]()
For travellers suddenly forced to reroute or extend their trips, VisaHQ can help cut through red tape. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lists real-time entry requirements for Brazil and neighbouring countries and can expedite e-visa or traditional visa applications, giving passengers caught in the disruption a faster path to compliant travel plans.
Business-critical cargo has also been disrupted. The São Paulo Industrial Exporters Association estimates that the strike halted nearly US$11 million in just-in-time automotive components normally trucked across the Paso de los Libres bridge each day. Logistics firms are advising clients to divert shipments through Uruguay until Argentine customs officers return to work.
Practically, mobility teams should: 1) reissue client itineraries with at least 48-hour date flexibility; 2) remind employees that Brazil’s e-Visa for Argentine nationals remains valid despite the strike; and 3) monitor further labour actions—Argentine unions have threatened rolling walkouts through March if talks stall. Travellers transiting Argentina in the next week should build in buffer time and secure travel insurance that covers labour unrest.
The hardest-hit carriers were Aerolíneas Argentinas and low-cost JetSmart, but Brazil’s GOL and LATAM also scrubbed flights after Argentine ground-handling staff downed tools. Airlines have offered fee-free rebooking for travel until 26 February or full refunds, yet seat availability is thin because Carnival demand had already pushed February load factors above 90 percent. Corporate travel managers report that some executives bound for Buenos Aires meetings are buying last-minute tickets via Montevideo or Santiago, adding 6-10 hours to the journey.
For travellers suddenly forced to reroute or extend their trips, VisaHQ can help cut through red tape. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lists real-time entry requirements for Brazil and neighbouring countries and can expedite e-visa or traditional visa applications, giving passengers caught in the disruption a faster path to compliant travel plans.
Business-critical cargo has also been disrupted. The São Paulo Industrial Exporters Association estimates that the strike halted nearly US$11 million in just-in-time automotive components normally trucked across the Paso de los Libres bridge each day. Logistics firms are advising clients to divert shipments through Uruguay until Argentine customs officers return to work.
Practically, mobility teams should: 1) reissue client itineraries with at least 48-hour date flexibility; 2) remind employees that Brazil’s e-Visa for Argentine nationals remains valid despite the strike; and 3) monitor further labour actions—Argentine unions have threatened rolling walkouts through March if talks stall. Travellers transiting Argentina in the next week should build in buffer time and secure travel insurance that covers labour unrest.
