RIOgaleão hits a record Q1 with 5.2 million passengers and 19% growth, projecting 19.5 million travelers by year-end at Tom Jobim International Airport.
The first quarter of 2026 was the best in the history of Rio de Janeiro’s international airport. Between January and March, 3.2 million domestic passengers traveled through the hub — a 20% increase — while 2.0 million international passengers represented a 17% rise compared to the same period in 2025.
Rio outpaces Brazil in aviation growth
Since the launch of Rio’s Multi-Airport System coordination in 2023, passenger traffic in the city has grown at a pace that surpasses the national average. In the first two months of 2026, total passengers grew 42% compared to the same period in 2023. Domestic traffic rose 25%, while international traffic soared by 107% — outperforming Brazil’s overall numbers in both segments.
That momentum reflects years of strategic repositioning. Between 2022 and 2025, Galeão climbed from tenth to third place among Brazil’s busiest airports. Domestic connectivity surged more than 800% compared to 2023, and domestic-to-international connectivity grew over 200% in the same period.
GOL leads expansion; new airlines arrive
GOL Airlines has become the main driver of the airport’s route expansion. The carrier announced new nonstop flights to New York, Orlando, Lisbon and Paris, alongside broader domestic growth. New international destinations now link Rio directly to Rome, Dallas, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Asunción, Toronto, Mendoza and Montreal.
Several new international carriers also launched operations at Galeão: ITA Airways, Air Canada, Air Transat and Boliviana de Aviación. The airport now handles 50% of Brazil’s international low-cost passenger traffic, cementing its status as a strategic aviation hub.
Record international tourism
The expanded route network has had a direct impact on tourism. In 2025, Rio de Janeiro welcomed 2.1 million foreign tourists by air — an all-time record and a 44% jump from the previous year. The trend has continued into 2026, with January and February both posting consecutive records and outpacing São Paulo in the cumulative period.
Cargo sets fourth straight record
The airport’s logistics role is also expanding. In 2025, the cargo terminal processed 62,000 metric tons and moved approximately US$ 17 billion in CIF value — the fourth consecutive record. International e-commerce was a key growth driver, with over 30 million shipments processed during the year.
In Q1 2026, the pace has not slowed. Import values rose 22%, reaching US$ 4.6 billion, and more than 10 million e-commerce volumes were processed in just three months. Rio’s domestic cargo grew 81% compared to 2023, far ahead of Brazil’s roughly 13% expansion in the same comparison.
Beyond aviation, the airport is attracting major investments to its surrounding area, including a BYD research center, a new internationally branded hotel, expanded e-commerce logistics infrastructure, and a recently announced GOL hub.
Event Info
- Tom Jobim International Airport — RIOgaleão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- 2026 projection: 19.5 million passengers
- Q1 2026: 5.2 million passengers (all-time record for the period)
- More information: https://www.riogaleao.com