Pernambuco pushes slot caps to limit tourism at Fernando de Noronha

The Pernambuco state government has asked Brazil's civil aviation regulator, ANAC, to reorganize flight slots for the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha so that the number of visitors does not exceed the monthly ceiling of 11,000 set by an agreement between the state, the federal government and confirmed by the Supreme Court. The limit is intended to protect the island’s fragile environmental, water and sanitation capacity.

Officials note that tourism has already surpassed the cap, with about 140,000 visitors recorded in 2025 against an annual limit of 132,000. The request will be coordinated with the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the airport concessionaire Dix Empreendimentos and the airline association ABear. A new passenger terminal opened in May 2024, capable of handling 1,800 passengers per day and projected to move up to 400,000 passengers annually, prompting airlines to expand services.