According to data released by the country’s civil aviation authorities, Brazil received 62.5 million travelers between January and August 2022. Compared to 2019 levels, Brazil has recovered nearly 80% of its pre-pandemic traffic levels. Let’s take a look at the latest data.

Brazil’s recovery

Unlike Mexico, the other big aviation market in Latin America, Brazil has recovered at a slower pace from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mexico has already fully rebounded and grown around 2% compared to its pre-pandemic traffic levels fueled by a robust domestic market and impressive performance by the ultra-low-cost carriers Volaris and Viva Aerobus. This has led Mexico to have the largest 2022 aviation market in the region, with 70 million passengers up to August.

In the meantime, Brazil had 62.58 million passengers between January and August, led by LATAM Airlines Group, Azul, and GOL, with 54.96 million travelers between the three carriers.

Domestically, Brazil had 53 million travelers, an 86% recovery compared to the same period in 2019. Internationally, the country had 9.58 million passengers, a 58.4% recovery, showing that this segment remains more depressed due to diverse factors.

A LATAM aircraft
LATAM is Brazil's top airline in terms of passengers carried. Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying.

The domestic market

LATAM has become Brazil’s largest airline in 2022 (last year, it was Azul). The airline has carried 18.09 million domestic travelers, holding on to a 34.13% market share in the country. It is followed by Azul Linhas Aéreas, which has carried 17.62 million travelers (33.25% market share), and GOL Linhas Aéreas with 16.80 million passengers (31.71%).

None of the remaining regional carriers in Brazil have surpassed the 500,000 barrier. For instance, MAP, an airline acquired by GOL, carried 88,591 passengers, and Azul Conecta, the regional Cessna-fueled branch of Azul, had 38,604 passengers until August. We recently did a flight review onboard an Azul Linas Aéreas Embraer E195 flight between Goiânia International Airport and the Confins International Airport in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. You can read it here.

With the incoming summer season in the Southern Hemisphere, Brazil’s domestic carriers are getting ready to heavily increase their capacity. For instance, Azul will launch 21 routes, and GOL has announced it will resume several international routes from the Brazilian northeast.

An Azul aircraft
Azul is heavily increasing its capacity in time for the country's summer season. Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying.

The international market

Brazil’s international market recovery has been painfully slow compared to other countries across the Latin American region. Nonetheless, there’s a silver lining in the country’s recovery. In January 2022, Brazil had 1.05 million travelers, a 43% recovery compared to pre-pandemic traffic levels, despite being in the middle of the summer peak season. Brazil recorded 1.43 million passengers in August 2022, a 70% recovery compared to the same month three years ago.

In 2022, only one airline has surpassed the one-million passengers barrier. LATAM has carried 1.49 million travelers in the year, followed by TAP Portugal, with 979,836, and Copa Airlines, with 622,857.

GOL and Azul have recorded 478,669 and 466,871 passengers, respectively, slowly resuming international connectivity and adding capacity. For instance, Azul announced this week that it will deploy its recently received Airbus A350-900 aircraft in services to Orlando, Florida.

What do you think about Brazil’s air transport recovery? Let us know in the comments below.