Passengers grounded in Brazil as GOL, LATAM Brasil and Azul Airlines face 17 flight cancellations and delay 143 more, disrupting travel at Vitória, Belo Horizonte, Brasília Juscelino, Salvador and Joinville airports. The scale of disruption has left passengers grounded in Brazil, as travellers across major hubs experienced sudden schedule changes. GOL, LATAM Brasil and Azul Airlines together contributed to widespread interruptions, creating uncertainty for those relying on timely connections. With 17 flights cancelled and 143 delayed, the impact stretched across both leisure and business travel.

Moreover, important airports including Vitória, Belo Horizonte, Brasília Juscelino, Salvador and Joinville became focal points of disruption. Tourists, families and corporate travellers faced extended waits and last-minute rebookings. The combination of cancellations and delays from GOL, LATAM Brasil and Azul Airlines underlined the challenges within Brazil’s busy aviation network. Consequently, passengers grounded in Brazil had to adjust plans, seek alternatives, and remain patient as airlines worked to stabilise operations.

The widespread disruptions were caused by poor weather conditions affecting Brazil’s busiest aviation hubs. GOL, LATAM Brasil, Azul Brazilian Airlines, and Azul Conecta were forced to adjust operations as cloudy skies, rainfall and low visibility impacted departures and arrivals. Airports in São Paulo Congonhas, Viracopos, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont, Galeão, Vitória, Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves, Brasília Juscelino Kubitschek, Salvador, Maceió, Recife, Curitiba, União da Vitória, Porto Alegre, and Joinville all faced interruptions

Widespread Disruptions Impacting Brazilian Air Travel

Air travel in Brazil has faced another difficult day with a series of cancellations and delays across major airlines. According to the latest data, a total of 17 flights were cancelled and 143 flights were delayed. Passengers travelling across key hubs in Brazil experienced interruptions, leaving both domestic and connecting travellers uncertain about their journeys.

Airlines Facing Cancellations and Delays

GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes

GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes reported 6 cancellations alongside 33 delays. While the percentage of cancellations was negligible compared to its network size, the number of delays accounted for 4% of its schedule, affecting travellers connecting through São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Brasília, and Maceió.

LATAM Brasil

LATAM Brasil saw 4 cancellations and 56 delays, equal to 6% of its daily operations. The airline’s disruption significantly impacted passengers moving through Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Vitória, and Joinville, with travellers facing extended wait times at airports.

Azul Brazilian Airlines

Azul Brazilian Airlines reported 3 cancellations and 48 delays, representing 6% of operations. This affected connections at Porto Alegre, São Paulo, Curitiba, and Campinas, with evening departures among the most impacted.

Azul Conecta

Azul Conecta faced the highest cancellation rate, with 4 flights cancelled and 6 flights delayed. This represented 7% cancellations and 11% delays, far higher than its larger competitors. Operations through Recife, Curitiba, União da Vitória, and smaller regional airports were heavily affected.

Airports, Cities, and Countries Affected

Air travel across Brazil experienced severe disruptions as multiple airports faced cancellations and delays. São Paulo, the country’s busiest aviation hub with both Congonhas and Viracopos airports, saw widespread interruptions, directly affecting thousands of passengers. Key tourist and business gateways such as Rio de Janeiro’s Santos Dumont and Galeão airports, along with Vitória’s Goiabeiras and Belo Horizonte’s Tancredo Neves International, also reported significant operational challenges, leaving travellers stranded or forced to adjust their plans.

Further south and inland, Brasília’s Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International, the capital’s main airport, was hit by cancellations, while Salvador’s Deputado Luís Eduardo Magalhães International and Maceió’s Zumbi dos Palmares experienced delays, disrupting travel across Brazil’s coastal tourism routes. In the northeast, Recife’s Guararapes International was heavily impacted, particularly by Azul Conecta cancellations, while Curitiba’s Afonso Pena International and União da Vitória in Paraná recorded suspended regional services. Porto Alegre’s Salgado Filho International in the south and Joinville’s Lauro Carneiro de Loyola also faced operational setbacks, further stretching Brazil’s aviation network.

While the disruptions were concentrated in Brazil, ripple effects were felt across international connections, with many travellers facing missed onward flights. The scale of interruptions highlighted the vulnerability of key Brazilian hubs that serve as both domestic and international gateways, underlining the importance of contingency planning for passengers navigating the region.

What Passengers Can Do Now

Travellers impacted by the 17 cancellations and 143 delays are being encouraged to:

Check airline notifications through apps, websites, or airport counters for rebooking.Request re-accommodation on the next available flights, especially for those with onward international connections.Consider alternate airports nearby, such as using Viracopos when São Paulo-Congonhas is disrupted.Seek assistance for passenger rights under Brazil’s aviation regulations, which provide compensation and support in case of extensive delays or cancellations.

Conclusion

Brazil’s aviation sector has faced a challenging day, with major disruptions across GOL, LATAM Brasil, Azul, and Azul Conecta. While some airlines managed to keep cancellation percentages low, the total of 17 cancellations and 143 delays underscores the scale of the problem. For passengers, patience and proactive rebooking remain the best approach as airlines work to restore normal operations.

Source: FlightAware

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