Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport.
Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (GIG) says securing a Brazilian carrier operating intercontinental services from the airport would represent the “biggest prize” in its long-term growth strategy.
Speaking ahead of Routes Americas 2026, Patrick Fehring, director of Aero Business at RIOgaleão, explained that traffic development at the airport remains structurally constrained without a home-based long-haul operator.
“If we had a Brazilian carrier operating long-haul services out of Galeão, that would certainly be a success,” Fehring says. “Traffic development for us can be more fragmented because we have to do it with foreign carriers.”
GIG handled nearly 18 million passengers in 2025, with international traffic showing particularly strong growth. However, unlike São Paulo Guarulhos, Rio does not currently have a Brazilian carrier operating widebody intercontinental services as a hub base.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, GOL Linhas Aéreas is the dominant carrier at GIG in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 43.4% of capacity, followed by LATAM Airlines Group with 19.3% and Azul Airlines with 7.5%. JetSMART is the largest international airline, holding a 6.3% share of departure seats.
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Although GOL currently operates a fleet of 138 narrowbody aircraft, comprising Boeing 737-8s, 737-700s and 737-800s, the airline could receive Airbus A330-900 widebodies from parent Abra Group later this year, potentially paving the way for longer-haul international services.
Fehring says that having a Brazilian long-haul operator would fundamentally change the airport’s ability to develop markets, align connectivity strategy and improve passenger experience. “There is so much potential when you have a local hub carrier with whom you can together develop new markets,” he adds.
GIG’s current long-haul network is operated entirely by foreign carriers, including Air France from Paris Charles de Gaulle, British Airways from London Heathrow, Lufthansa from Frankfurt, Emirates from Dubai, KLM from Amsterdam and TAP Air Portugal from Lisbon and Porto.
The airport’s international offering was recently strengthened by the launch of new Canadian services from Air Canada and Air Transat, marking the first scheduled nonstop flights between Rio and Canada.
However, significant indirect demand remains. Fehring says New York, Lisbon, London and Paris are among the largest long-haul markets by indirect passenger volume. Orlando also remains one of the largest unserved international markets from Rio.
Easing global aircraft and engine supply constraints over the next few years could create opportunities to deepen U.S. connectivity and potentially widen the long-haul network, Fehring says.
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