Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport.
Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (GIG) is positioning itself for sustained international expansion after handling nearly 18 million passengers in 2025, driven by rapid Southern Cone growth and strengthened domestic connectivity.
The airport ended 2025 just short of the 18 million mark, with international traffic accounting for much of the momentum. “We nearly cracked 18 million,” RIOgaleão Director of Aero Business Patrick Fehring says. Domestic traffic reached 12.2 million passengers, up 24.3% year on year, while international volumes climbed 22% to 5.7 million.
Growth was particularly strong in South America, with Chile-based ULCC JetSMART increasing traffic by 52% in 2025, becoming GIG’s largest international airline. Brazilian carrier GOL, following its exit from Chapter 11 restructuring, grew international traffic by 93%, while Aerolíneas Argentinas expanded 36% and Avianca increased 29%.
“The biggest growth came from the Southern Cone,” Fehring says. “JetSMART, in particular, really stimulated the market.”
Argentine outbound demand rebounded sharply amid favorable exchange rates, while GOL resumed regional expansion after focusing primarily on domestic restructuring in prior years.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, GOL now accounts for 43.4% of capacity at GIG in the first quarter of 2026, ahead of LATAM Airlines Group (19.3%) and Azul Airlines (7.5%). JetSMART holds a 6.3% share of total departure seats.
A key structural factor underpinning the rebound has been the coordinated capacity policy between GIG and centrally located Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). Since the beginning of the coordination process two years ago, international traffic in Rio has grown 59%, compared with 36% nationwide, according to airport data. Domestic traffic in Rio increased 16% over the same period, versus 10% nationally.
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“You can definitely see the thesis working,” Fehring says. Domestic-to-international transfers have risen 151% since coordination began, reinforcing GIG’s role as Rio’s primary international gateway.
The federal government recently reversed a prior decision that would have expanded operational flexibility at SDU, reaffirming the coordinated airport model. The move provides regulatory clarity as GIG prepares for a key ownership transition.
Brazil’s Ports and Airports Ministry has initiated the informational roadshow process ahead of the March 30 assisted sale auction of the GIG concession. The minimum bid has been set at BRL932 million ($177 million), with the winning concessionaire required to pay a 20% annual revenue contribution to the federal government through 2039.
As host of Routes Americas 2026, GIG is using the event to showcase what Fehring describes as Rio’s renewed momentum and stimulation potential.
“If you put flights here and you market it properly, it’s a destination that’s trending,” he explains. “It already has a strong base of business travel, Brazilian outbound leisure and VFR, but it also has huge potential to stimulate tourism demand.”
Looking ahead, GIG aims to deepen capacity in core markets such as New York, Lisbon, London and Paris while widening its network selectively, particularly in secondary South American markets and underserved North American points.
The combination of traffic growth, strengthened domestic feed and regulatory stability is positioning GIG to compete more aggressively for international capacity as aircraft availability gradually improves.
Fehring says strengthened domestic connectivity is also enabling the airport to target new secondary Brazilian markets and deepen international services.
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