Brazil aviation hits record domestic passenger numbers

Brazil has reached a historic milestone in domestic aviation, with passenger numbers exceeding 68.3 million between January and August 2026. This represents a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. August 2026 was also recorded as the best August in history, seeing 8.93 million domestic passengers, a 2.3% rise from the previous year.

International travel also saw record growth, with 20.3 million passengers recorded during the first eight months of the year, an 8% increase over 2025. The country received approximately 6.45 million foreign tourists during this period.

In Rio de Janeiro, the Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (Galeão) reported an 11% increase in passenger traffic, handling 12.7 million travelers from January to August. Of these, 8.4 million were domestic passengers and 4.3 million were international. The growth at Galeão outpaced the national average for international arrivals, supported by a 14% increase in foreign tourists visiting the state of Rio de Janeiro.