International traffic at Natal Airport increases by 86% during peak season
International traffic at Natal International Airport, located in São Gonçalo do Amarante, registered an 86% growth during the summer season, considering the period between December 2025 and March 2026. In total, 74,600 passengers passed through the terminal on international flights, including arrivals and departures, distributed across 537 landings and takeoffs.
Adding domestic passengers, the airport's total traffic reached 978,300 passengers during the peak season, representing a 12% increase compared to the previous peak season. The data comes from Zurich Airport Brasil, the concessionaire of Natal Airport.
The growth in international tourism is the result of a series of strategic actions, such as strengthening tourism promotion of the destination, investments made in the airport, and the integrated work between Zurich Airport Brasil, the government, the tourism industry, and airlines.
Proof of this is the arrival of the airline JetSMART in Rio Grande do Norte, which began operations on December 30th with daily flights connecting Natal Airport to Buenos Aires. Furthermore, GOL, which already operates flights to Argentina, has begun offering weekly flights to Montevideo, Uruguay, through Carrasco International Airport. The airport in Natal also maintains regular international flights to Lisbon, Portugal, operated by TAP Air Portugal.
Regarding flights, Natal Airport also showed growth. A total of 6,458 flights were recorded, including domestic and international arrivals and departures, during the period from December to March, an 8% increase compared to the previous peak season. Airlines offered 638 extra flights, with an average occupancy rate of 85%. The main domestic destinations were São Paulo, Brasília, Recife, and Rio de Janeiro.
“Passenger growth is slightly higher than flight growth, which is confirmed by the average occupancy rate, reaching 85%. This is a significant message for the airline, demonstrating the strength of the Natal market and the profitability of the flights, and becomes an incentive for them to expand their operations ,” analyzes André Lima, manager of Natal Airport.
Record passenger traffic: Passenger traffic at Natal Airport was outstanding in February and March 2026, reaching the best mark since the start of operations at the terminal in 2014. In February, for example, there were 234,000 passengers. In March, there were 228,000 passengers between arrivals and departures. The month of January also reached one of the best traffic volumes in the airport's history, with 281,000 travelers.
Since February 2024, Zurich Airport Brasil has already invested R$ 50 million in the airport in initiatives ranging from terminal improvements, including modernization of air conditioning, free high-speed Wi-Fi, implementation of a multi-sensory room, pet restroom, new signage, actions to attract flights and routes, in addition to the expansion of VIP lounges; and investments in sustainability, such as the implementation of a solar power plant with 11,000 panels, an initiative that will make Natal Airport largely self-sufficient from an energy standpoint.
Total movement
Passengers : 978,298 + 12%
Flights : 6,458 + 8.2%
Main destinations : São Paulo, Brasília, Recife, Rio de Janeiro.
International traffic:
Passengers : 74,611 + 86%
Flights : 537 + 67%
Domestic Traffic:
Flights : 5,921 + 4.9%
Passengers : 904,898 + 8.6%