Wedoany.com Report on Feb 27th, Rio de Janeiro Galeão International Airport (GIG) handled nearly 18 million passengers in 2025, laying the groundwork for international expansion. This growth was supported by rising demand in the Southern Cone region and optimization of the Brazilian network.
Airport data shows that in 2025, Brazilian passenger traffic reached 12.2 million, a 24.3% year-on-year increase, while international passengers numbered 5.7 million, growing by 22%. Patrick Fehring, Aviation Business Director at RIOgaleão, stated, "We almost broke the 18 million mark." International traffic became the primary driver of growth.
The South American market performed exceptionally well. Chilean ultra-low-cost carrier JetSMART increased its traffic by 52% in 2025, becoming GIG's largest international airline. Following its restructuring, Brazilian carrier GOL saw a 93% increase in international traffic, while Argentine airlines and Avianca grew by 36% and 29% respectively. Fehring said, "The biggest growth came from the Southern Cone region. JetSMART, in particular, really stimulated the market."
Exchange rate factors contributed to the recovery of outbound demand from Argentina. GOL resumed regional expansion after adjusting its Brazilian operations. In the first quarter of 2026, GOL accounted for 43.4% of GIG's capacity, LATAM Airlines Group and Azul held 19.3% and 7.5% respectively, and JetSMART accounted for 6.3% of departing seats.
The capacity coordination policy between GIG and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) was a key supporting factor. Fehring noted, "You can absolutely see this strategy is working." The volume of Brazilian passengers connecting to international flights increased by 151%, strengthening GIG's position as Rio's primary international gateway.
The federal government recently confirmed the airport coordination model, providing regulatory clarity for GIG's ownership transition. Brazil's Ministry of Ports and Airports has initiated information roadshows in preparation for the concession auction on March 30th. The minimum bid is set at 932 million Brazilian Reais (177 million USD), and the winning bidder will be required to pay an annual contribution of 20% of revenue until 2039.
As the host of the 2026 Routes Americas conference, GIG is showcasing Rio's development potential. Fehring explained, "If you launch a flight here and market it properly, it's a trending destination. It already has a strong base of business travel, Brazilian outbound leisure, and VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives), but there's also huge potential to stimulate tourism demand."
Looking ahead, GIG plans to increase capacity in core markets such as New York and Lisbon, while expanding into secondary markets in South America and underserved cities in North America. The combination of traffic growth, a strengthened domestic network, and regulatory stability is helping GIG improve its position in the competition for international capacity. Fehring pointed out that improved Brazilian connectivity supports the airport in tapping into new secondary markets within Brazil and deepening international services.
