Brazil airport sector registers growing passenger numbers

Brazil’s airport sector is on a recovery path, as Q2 revenues of major airlines Azul, Gol and Latam reached 11.8bn reais (US$2.29bn) combined, up 195% year-on-year, according to sector regulator ANAC.

On the downside, costs also increased, by 95.7%, totaling 12.3bn reais, driven by rising fuel prices.

The airport sector was heavily hit during the pandemic, as states restricted movement to prevent the spread of coronavirus, starting in the first quarter of 2020.

The restrictions were gradually lifted, but the volume of passengers has been slow to return to pre-pandemic levels, as many companies digitized, requiring fewer trips. In August, however, ANAC registered 7.28mn domestic passengers, compared to 5.5mn a year ago.

In August 2019, before the restrictions were imposed, 7.88mn domestic passengers were registered.

The number of international flights, albeit growing, is still far from pre-pandemic levels. In August, 1.43mn passengers were registered, up from 390,280 a year ago, but below the 2.04mn registered in August 2019.