With a new flight connecting to Montevideo, Rio Grande do Norte expands its connectivity with Latin America.
The state of Rio Grande do Norte, which has seen a growth of over 100% in the flow of Latin American tourists in the last twelve months, will gain even more connectivity with South American countries.
A new flight, operated by Gol, will connect Natal to Montevideo starting March 21, 2026. This route is the result of joint efforts by Embratur, Emprotur – the tourism promotion agency of Rio Grande do Norte – and Zurich Airport Brasil – the administrator of Natal airport – to meet the growing demand from foreign visitors seeking to explore the state.
“This new connectivity with Montevideo through Gol will resolve a connection bottleneck that has historically been demanded by tour operators and travel agents, who receive constant requests from their clients. Gol has been betting on growth in Rio Grande do Norte and is reaping the rewards, with full aircraft and satisfied customers,” says Raoni Fernandes, president of Emprotur. The flow of travelers to Rio Grande do Norte has been growing among the 9 largest international source markets, but 7 of them still do not have direct flights to Natal, which indicates that demand is still greater than supply.
The new route will have flights on Saturdays, during three periods of the year: from March 21st to April 4th, from July 4th to July 25th, and from December 5th to December 26th. The Natal to Montevideo leg will depart at 4:20 PM and arrive at 9:20 PM, while the Montevideo-Natal leg will depart at 10:15 PM and arrive at 3:35 AM. This adds to two other routes the company operates connecting Natal to airports in Latin America – Ezeiza and Aeroparque Jorge Newberry in Argentina. “The Natal-Montevideo route is a great achievement for GOL and for the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Promoting non-stop flights between Uruguayans and the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, as well as connecting the people of Rio Grande do Norte with the full tourist potential of Uruguay, fills us with pride and joy. Bridging distances and facilitating connections between the peoples of the Americas is one of the Company's missions,” says Mateus Pongeluppi, Commercial Vice President of GOL.
"Without opening pathways for foreign visitors, we wouldn't have reached our current status, with the historic milestone of 8 million international tourists in Brazil. Gol is a crucial partner in expanding connectivity, and with this new flight, it is bringing the state of Rio Grande do Norte and the Northeast region closer to a strategic market: Uruguay. We recently ran a campaign there specifically targeting the Latin American public, showing that there's no place like Brazil," commented the president of Embratur, Marcelo Freixo. "The new route is the result of integrated work between the public and private sectors, and we are certain that this is a successful model. Gol is a great partner, and with good flight performance, it has the potential to expand. In less than two years of Zurich Airport Brazil operating in Natal, we have already celebrated important achievements like this," says Ricardo Gesse, CEO of Zurich Airport Brazil.
Demand for Rio Grande do Norte has grown due to the opportunity to experience diverse travel options in a single destination. The state is only 52,700 km², but within that area it boasts an immense variety of attractions. Natural pools – known as Parrachos – with fire corals and rich underwater fauna, accessible even to those without diving experience. Beaches every 6 km on average, with the most varied landscapes – cliffs, dunes, coves. Perfect wind for sports like kitesurfing and windsurfing. The second largest area of mobile dunes in Brazil, with the largest accredited fleet of buggies. And a rich gastronomy based on seafood, which is reflected even in the way the state's inhabitants are known: the word "potiguar" means "shrimp eater" in Tupi.
For the governor of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra, connectivity with Montevideo is the result of a tourism development model that attracts visitors and benefits the local economy and residents. "This new flight is the consequence of a lot of work and investment in promotion, infrastructure, and public safety. We are ready to welcome our Uruguayan neighbors with open arms and show them why we are such a beloved destination," she celebrated.