Natal Airport registers an 18% increase in passenger traffic in the first four months
Natal International Airport, located in São Gonçalo do Amarante, ended the first four months of 2026 with an 18% increase in passenger traffic compared to the same period in 2025.
In total, 961,000 passengers were transported across 6,359 flights, including arrivals and departures. The data comes from Zurich Airport Brasil, the concessionaire responsible for the terminal.
The period was marked by significant results in all months, with February, March, and April registering the best performances since the airport's inauguration in May 2014. In February, the terminal handled 234,000 passengers; in March, 228,000; and in April, 217,000. The numbers include domestic and international flights.
The growth in international traffic was even more significant. The airport handled nearly 80,000 international passengers in the first four months of the year, a 107% increase compared to the first four months of 2025. The number of international flights increased by 87%, totaling 575 operations.
The expansion of the international air network was driven, among other factors, by the arrival of JetSMART, which began operations on December 30th with flights between Natal and Buenos Aires. Currently, the airport also has direct connections to Montevideo and Lisbon, operated by GOL and TAP Air Portugal, respectively.
This positive performance is the result of joint efforts to promote the destination and the integrated work between Zurich Airport Brazil, public authorities, the tourism industry, and airlines.
“The behavior of the air network reflects the effectiveness of tourism promotion actions and tax incentive policies. The supply of flights has been expanded, and Brazilian and foreign tourists have responded. Flights are full, and our state has excellent tourist attractions. At the same time, the people of Rio Grande do Norte also benefit from the expansion of international connections that bring RN closer to Latin America and Europe ,” says André Lima, manager of Natal Airport.
Since February 2024, Zurich Airport Brasil has invested approximately R$ 50 million in the terminal's infrastructure. Improvements include modernization of the air conditioning system, provision of free high-speed Wi-Fi, implementation of a multi-sensory room, a pet area, new signage, and expansion of VIP lounges. In the area of sustainability, the implementation of a solar power plant with 11,000 panels stands out, an initiative that should make the airport largely self-sufficient in energy.