Natal Airport Sees Highest Passenger Traffic in 12 Years

The Natal International Airport in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Rio Grande do Norte, has recorded its busiest first half of the year since operations began in 2014. Between January and June 2026, the terminal handled 1,387,440 passengers, marking an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. According to Zurich Airport Brasil, the airport's concessionaire, this figure also represents the highest passenger volume for a first half-year in any Rio Grande do Norte airport since 2002, based on data from the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac). Domestic travel accounted for 1,286,949 passengers, a 15% rise, while international traffic surged by 92% to reach 100,491 passengers. The concessionaire noted that April, May, and June were the strongest months for passenger traffic since the airport's inauguration. This growth is attributed to promotional efforts for the tourist destination, incentives for aviation fuel (QAV), and collaborative initiatives between the concessionaire, public authorities, and the tourism sector to expand flight offerings. New routes, including direct flights to Buenos Aires by JetSMART starting in December 2025 and Gol, and a seasonal route from Natal to Montevideo by Gol in March 2026, have contributed to the increase. TAP Air Portugal also operates weekly flights to Lisbon. Airport manager André Lima highlighted that the increased traffic reflects recent efforts to enhance the state's air connectivity through assertive fiscal policies and destination marketing. Zurich Airport Brasil has invested approximately R$59 million in terminal modernization since taking over management in February 2024, including upgrades to air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and the addition of a multi-sensory room, pet space, and a solar power plant intended to make the terminal energy self-sufficient.