The number of international flights departing from Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre nearly tripled in the first half of 2025, according to Fraport. Since the terminal fully reopened in December 2024, after the recovery of the runway damaged by the floods in May last year, eight direct routes between the capital of Rio Grande do Sul and foreign cities have been created or resumed. The increase is also a reflection of the investments made by the National Tourism Campaign of the Rio Grande Plan, a state program led by Governor Eduardo Leite to rebuild Rio Grande do Sul and make it even stronger and more resilient, prepared for the future.
Launched in September 2024, the National Tourism Campaign received R$30 million in actions to increase traveler interest and project the state as a destination for cultural, gastronomic and natural experiences. The 10 weekly departures registered in January jumped to 27 in June, representing a growth of 170% in the period. The destinations are varied and meet the demands of passengers: there are direct connections to Buenos Aires, Lima, Santiago and even Lisbon.
The resumption of international connections has the potential to boost tourism in Rio Grande do Sul, facilitating access for foreign visitors to the state, in addition to stimulating the local economy through hotels, gastronomy, commerce and tourism services. The expansion of the air network also benefits the corporate sector, by offering more convenience and options for business travelers.
More confidence
“The expansion of international connections from Porto Alegre is a direct reflection of the resumption of our tourism and the growing confidence in the potential of Rio Grande do Sul as a strategic destination. Having regular flights to countries such as Portugal, Panama, Chile, Peru and Argentina strengthens not only the flow of visitors, but also opens doors for new investments, partnerships and cultural and commercial exchanges”, stated the Secretary of Tourism, Ronaldo Santini.
“This more robust air network facilitates access to our state, boosts local economies and reinforces Rio Grande do Sul’s position as a leading player in national and international tourism. It is an important step forward, which shows how integration with the world also involves valuing and modernizing our infrastructure,” he concluded.
Fraport Brasil’s Commercial Aviation Manager, Pedro Navega, highlighted the importance of the relationship of trust with airlines, in addition to the partnership with the Department of Tourism (Setur). “The growth is the result of a great deal of collective effort and extensive and tireless negotiations with airlines.”
“This accelerated growth confirms what was already clear: Rio Grande do Sul’s enormous capacity to not only recover, but to consolidate itself as one of the largest economies in Brazil, and of vital importance for the country’s aviation sector. It is no coincidence that we have resumed routes such as Panama with Copa, Lisbon with TAP, Argentina with Aerolíneas and Chile with Sky. We have also expanded our offerings, with Gol to Argentina, Azul to Bariloche and Latam, which has not only resumed flights to Lima and Santiago, but will also inaugurate a route to Buenos Aires and considerably expand its domestic network in Porto Alegre”, said Navega.
Reactivated and expanded routes
Also at the end of 2024, Copa Airlines reactivated the route between Porto Alegre and Panama City, with four weekly flights. In January 2025, Latam resumed operating the connection between the capital of Rio Grande do Sul and Santiago, in Chile, in addition to resuming flights to Lima, in Peru, both with three weekly departures.
In March, the connection to Buenos Aires was reestablished by Aerolíneas Argentinas, also with three flights per week. In May, Gol Linhas Aéreas began operating the same route and, by September, Latam is expected to inaugurate a new direct route to the Argentine capital.
In April, TAP Air Portugal resumed flights between Porto Alegre and Lisbon, also with a frequency of three times a week. The operation had been suspended after the floods that affected the state in 2024.
During the winter period, two seasonal routes will be operated: Azul offers flights between Porto Alegre and Bariloche, in Argentina, while Sky Airline operates flights to Santiago, in Chile. More flight options are planned for July, with an expected 33 weekly frequencies.
In addition to shortening distances and offering greater comfort to passengers, the expansion of air connectivity reinforces Rio Grande do Sul’s positioning as a tourist and business destination on the international scene.
Regional air network
In the last year alone, the Eduardo Leite government invested R$33.3 million in regional airports. By strengthening regional aviation through strategic investments, the initiative seeks to expand connectivity between regions, boost tourism, and offer alternative ways of getting around Rio Grande do Sul.
Between Tuesday and Thursday (July 1 to 3), the state government presented the public-private partnership (PPP) for the Lauro Kortz airport in Passo Fundo and Sepé Tiaraju airport in Santo Ângelo to investors at the Invest RS office in São Paulo.
In addition, since 2019, the state has been promoting improvements in the regional aviation sector. Through updates to the State Program for the Development of Regional Aviation (PDAR-RS), airline operations were simplified and market costs were reduced, thus allowing for an increase in the supply of flights to the interior.
Text: Thales Moreira/Secom
