The National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) released the first results of its ‘Janela Extraordinária’ on 26 April 2026, a special application window that lets companies request new interstate and international bus routes outside the normal annual schedule. The numbers point to a potential jump from 176 to 268 authorised passenger carriers—a 52 % surge that, if confirmed, would be the largest single-year expansion of Brazil’s regulated coach market since deregulation began in 2019.
![ANTT opens ‘extraordinary window’, could add 52 % more interstate bus operators]()
Whether you’re arranging domestic coach travel or planning international links that connect with these new routes, VisaHQ can streamline the visa and passport paperwork for your team. By visiting https://www.visahq.com/brazil/ you can check entry requirements, submit documents online and track application status in real time, ensuring travellers are clearance-ready the moment additional services go live.
According to ANTT, 47,291 valid applications were filed during the 15-day window in March. About 80 % of the 36,964 city-pair markets requested will be granted without a competitive tender because no other firm expressed interest, accelerating authorisation for underserved corridors. The agency estimates that the share of Brazilian municipalities with at least one scheduled interstate service will rise from 36 % to roughly 50 %, with the strongest gains in the Northeast and North. For mobility managers this could translate into lower fares and more timetable options for staff who travel between secondary cities where air links are scarce or expensive. The move also creates space for tech-driven newcomers that use dynamic pricing and app-based ticketing—business models previously tested only on charter lines. However, incumbents warn that a sudden influx of new players may dilute average load factors and weaken the fragile post-pandemic recovery; legal challenges are considered likely once the final list of awarded lines is published on 25 May. Companies selected in the first round have 30 days to file for a new Termo de Autorização (TAR) or amend existing licences. Failure to meet the deadline will lead to archiving of the request, after which the slot may be reassigned through a simplified public tender. Travel buyers should therefore monitor which brands actually launch service before committing to new supplier agreements. ANTT has pledged to publish weekly progress bulletins and to hold a public webinar explaining the next procedural steps.
Whether you’re arranging domestic coach travel or planning international links that connect with these new routes, VisaHQ can streamline the visa and passport paperwork for your team. By visiting https://www.visahq.com/brazil/ you can check entry requirements, submit documents online and track application status in real time, ensuring travellers are clearance-ready the moment additional services go live.
According to ANTT, 47,291 valid applications were filed during the 15-day window in March. About 80 % of the 36,964 city-pair markets requested will be granted without a competitive tender because no other firm expressed interest, accelerating authorisation for underserved corridors. The agency estimates that the share of Brazilian municipalities with at least one scheduled interstate service will rise from 36 % to roughly 50 %, with the strongest gains in the Northeast and North. For mobility managers this could translate into lower fares and more timetable options for staff who travel between secondary cities where air links are scarce or expensive. The move also creates space for tech-driven newcomers that use dynamic pricing and app-based ticketing—business models previously tested only on charter lines. However, incumbents warn that a sudden influx of new players may dilute average load factors and weaken the fragile post-pandemic recovery; legal challenges are considered likely once the final list of awarded lines is published on 25 May. Companies selected in the first round have 30 days to file for a new Termo de Autorização (TAR) or amend existing licences. Failure to meet the deadline will lead to archiving of the request, after which the slot may be reassigned through a simplified public tender. Travel buyers should therefore monitor which brands actually launch service before committing to new supplier agreements. ANTT has pledged to publish weekly progress bulletins and to hold a public webinar explaining the next procedural steps.
