Airport Snapshot: How RIOgaleão Airport Is Outpacing Brazil’s Market Growth

RIOgaleão Airport, part of the Routes Americas 2026 host team, explores international growth opportunities and reveals what delegates can expect from their time in Rio.

RIOgaleão Airport’s (GIG) international traffic has soared by 31%, significantly outpacing Brazil's broader market growth of 19%. While network expansion spans across multiple continents, connectivity across North America has demonstrated notable strength.

December 2024 marked American Airlines’ reinauguration of seasonal service to Dallas after a ten-year hiatus, showcasing confidence in Rio’s market potential. Canadian connectivity is set to flourish as Air Canada prepares to recommence direct Toronto flights, while Air Transat returns to the Brazilian market with new nonstop services from both Toronto and Montreal for the winter 2025-26 season.

Despite impressive growth trajectory, Patrick Fehring, director of aero business at GIG, sees even greater opportunities ahead. Speaking during Routes World 2025, he revealed a striking tourism statistic: "We want to reposition ourselves as a strong international gateway to Brazil. Today, 32% of visitors to Brazil come to Rio de Janeiro but only 19% of international seats are allocated to the airport."

Fehring noted that GIG’s strategy focuses on market stimulation across low-cost carrier networks while attracting long-haul leisure carriers. The airport also has ambitious plans to increase Middle Eastern hub connectivity, deepen existing markets, and recover pre-pandemic routes to destinations like Zurich and Casablanca.

Alongside air network expansion, GIG works collaboratively with VisitRio to promote the destination. The organizations, alongside Rio de Janeiro City Hall and Invest Rio, will host the 2026 edition of Routes Americas, marking the first time a Brazilian airport has secured the premier regional aviation event.

"It's a great privilege to host Routes Americas and it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase our destination and go beyond the business case. We know Rio de Janeiro is on the bucket list of a lot of network planners and we feel that there is a great interest for our destination,” Fehring said.

The timing couldn't be more strategic. Fehring adds: "It comes at a pivotal moment as the airports of Rio de Janeiro are being coordinated, which has stimulated a lot of connectivity and growth. Routes Americas can help us consolidate this growth."

For the air service development professionals who will descend on Rio in March 2026, the hosts are promising more than collaborative meetings. "We will have hotels and venues at iconic locations that everyone will recognize. There will also be a lot of interesting and curated tours for delegates," Fehring reveals. "We hope to deliver a great event and make it a memorable experience."

The airport, operating under Changi Airports International's majority ownership through a 25-year concession, has deployed a $500 million capital investment program that expanded annual capacity to 37 million passengers following the 2016 opening of its South Pier facility. 2024 passenger volumes reached over 14.4 million, while year-to-date September 2025 figures have already surpassed 12.9 million.

Routes Americas 2026 will be hosted by RIOgaleão Airport, Rio de Janeiro City Hall, Invest Rio, and Visit Rio. Taking place on 3-5 March, the region’s air service development community will unite in Rio de Janeiro to participate in network-defining meetings