On 27 October, LATAM Airlines inaugurated a nonstop link between São Luís (SLZ) and São Paulo–Congonhas (CGH), giving Brazil’s northern coastal capital a coveted daylight connection to the country’s principal business airport. The Airbus A320 flight departs CGH at 10:40 and returns from SLZ at 14:45, Monday through Friday, offering 176 seats each way.
The opening ceremony in São Luís drew state tourism secretary Socorro Araújo, who hailed the route as a “game-changer” for Maranhão’s competitiveness. Until now, travelers relied on São Paulo–Guarulhos or Brasília transfers, adding at least two hours to total journey times and limiting same-day business agendas. Congonhas’ downtown location cuts ground-transport time for visiting executives and streamlines cargo shipments for the region’s agribusiness exporters.
LATAM selected flight times that support day trips in both directions: Maranhão-based entrepreneurs can hold afternoon meetings in São Paulo and return home the same evening, while CGH departures allow São Paulo residents to reach São Luís beaches before sunset. The airline projects an initial 75 % load factor and says early demand justified daily service instead of the thrice-weekly pattern typical of new regional routes.
For mobility managers, the new pairing opens fresh opportunities to combine São Luís with Belém or Fortaleza itineraries via multi-city fares, leveraging LATAM’s CGH hub. Hotels near SLZ report a spike in MICE inquiries for Q1 2026, anticipating easier access for conference delegates.
Congonhas slot scarcity means LATAM had to trade off less-profitable intra-Southeast flights to accommodate the northern venture, underscoring airlines’ pivot toward underserved secondary capitals as Brazil’s domestic market surpasses 128 million annual passengers.
The opening ceremony in São Luís drew state tourism secretary Socorro Araújo, who hailed the route as a “game-changer” for Maranhão’s competitiveness. Until now, travelers relied on São Paulo–Guarulhos or Brasília transfers, adding at least two hours to total journey times and limiting same-day business agendas. Congonhas’ downtown location cuts ground-transport time for visiting executives and streamlines cargo shipments for the region’s agribusiness exporters.
LATAM selected flight times that support day trips in both directions: Maranhão-based entrepreneurs can hold afternoon meetings in São Paulo and return home the same evening, while CGH departures allow São Paulo residents to reach São Luís beaches before sunset. The airline projects an initial 75 % load factor and says early demand justified daily service instead of the thrice-weekly pattern typical of new regional routes.
For mobility managers, the new pairing opens fresh opportunities to combine São Luís with Belém or Fortaleza itineraries via multi-city fares, leveraging LATAM’s CGH hub. Hotels near SLZ report a spike in MICE inquiries for Q1 2026, anticipating easier access for conference delegates.
Congonhas slot scarcity means LATAM had to trade off less-profitable intra-Southeast flights to accommodate the northern venture, underscoring airlines’ pivot toward underserved secondary capitals as Brazil’s domestic market surpasses 128 million annual passengers.
