Acre Ranks Third in Brazil for Most Expensive Airfares, ANAC Data Reveals
Acre has the third most expensive average airfare in Brazil, with passengers paying an average of R$ 1,152.66 per domestic flight segment originating from the state in 2025, according to data from the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). This figure is nearly double the national average of R$ 648 and places Acre behind only Roraima and Rondônia in the ranking of states with the priciest tickets. The ANAC's Air Transport Yearbook analyzed prices paid by the general public, excluding tickets from mileage programs, corporate agreements, tour packages, charters, and airline employee tickets.
The ANAC report shows Roraima with the highest average fare at R$ 1,401.05, followed by Rondônia at R$ 1,277.18, and Acre at R$ 1,152.66. Other states with high average fares include Amazonas (R$ 961.30) and Alagoas (R$ 886.38). Despite being among the most expensive, Acre's average airfare saw a moderate increase of 4.6% compared to 2024, a much lower rise than in some other Northern states like Roraima (40%) and Amapá (18.7%). Rondônia was the only Northern state to experience a decrease, with a 6.8% reduction.
Factors contributing to higher fares in the North, including Acre, are attributed to longer average travel distances, with Acre passengers traveling an average of 2,596 kilometers per trip in 2025. Additionally, specialists cite limited route options, reduced competition among airlines, and higher operational costs as key influences on ticket prices in the region. In 2025, Acre's airports handled 204,842 paid domestic passengers, with Rio Branco International Airport serving the majority. Nationally, Brazil's domestic air travel saw 101 million passengers and a record number of operations, with the average national fare actually decreasing by 3.3% to R$ 648.
The high average airfare in Acre and other Northern Brazilian states, as reported by ANAC, highlights systemic challenges in regional connectivity. Factors such as long distances, limited competition, and operational costs create a market dynamic where essential travel becomes disproportionately expensive for residents. While the national average fare decreased, this disparity suggests that market forces alone may not adequately address equitable access to air transport in geographically isolated areas. Future policy considerations could explore incentives for increased competition, infrastructure investment, or targeted subsidies to mitigate these cost burdens, ensuring that essential mobility is not solely dictated by distance and market concentration. This situation underscores the ongoing tension between market efficiency and social equity in transportation infrastructure development.
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