Brazil Air Travel Rebounds in First Half of 2026 but June Shows a Slowdown

Overview

• The national aviation regulator Anac reported on Monday that Brazil carried 65.2 million passengers in January–June 2026, a 5.4% increase versus the same period in 2025 driven by both domestic and faster-growing international travel.
• June diverged from the half-year trend as airports handled 10.3 million passengers, a 0.9% drop year‑on‑year with 8.1 million domestic and 2.2 million international travelers.
• Demand measured by RPK rose only slightly in June (0.2% domestic, 1.0% international) while capacity measured by ASK grew faster (3.3% domestic, 2.3% international), indicating looser load factors that can pressure revenue per flight.
• Average real fare in June was R$660.54 with 47.2% of seats sold below R$500, and aviation fuel (QAV) jumped to R$5.66 per liter, up about 57.6% year‑on‑year, sharply raising operating costs for carriers.
• Air cargo strengthened with 673.6 thousand tonnes in H1 (+1.4%) and a 6.6% rise in June, and the combination of higher fuel and excess seat capacity could prompt airlines to cut routes or raise prices, affecting passengers at regional airports and shifting carrier strategies.