The sector has the best start to the year in history in terms of tickets sold in 2026; war in the Middle East has put pressure on costs around the world
Aviation in Brazil continues to break consecutive records, even with the rise in prices caused by . The first months of 2026 had the highest number of passengers transported in history.
From January to April, there were 44.3 million boardings, 33.7 million on domestic flights and 10.6 million on international flights. Total volume increased by 7.6% compared to the same period in 2025.
As the infographic above shows, national aviation had its worst period of the century during the pandemic, starting in 2020, when there was a sharp and sudden drop in operations.
In 2019, before the health crisis, 39.6 million passengers were transported from January to April. The result for 2026 is 11.9% higher than this.
WAR PUSHES PRICES
Airline ticket prices rose sharply after the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, 2026.
The conflict in the region, with , put pressure on the price of oil and made aviation kerosene, a derivative of fossil fuel and one of the main costs of airlines, more expensive.
In January, before the war, airline tickets were sold at an average price of R$621.25, a figure 9.86% lower than that practiced in the same period of 2025, already in values adjusted for inflation. In February there was stability. In March, the average increase was 17.76%. In April, 8.97%.
The average price of QAV (aviation kerosene) exploded in Brazil with the effects of the war. A liter started the year with an average price of R$3.51. In April, it was sold at R$5.40. The increase in the period was 53.8%.
The president’s government (PT) on April 6th zeroed the PIS (Social Integration Program) and Cofins (Contribution for Social Security Financing) rates on the QAV to try to contain the rise in fares.
First, the measure was valid until May 31st, but now it runs until July 31st. The (Brazilian Association of Airlines) that the exemption remains until the end of the year.
Petrobras increased the price of a liter of aviation kerosene by 14.2% from June 1st. It is expected that the sector will have a breather in the coming months with this measure and with the cooling of the conflict, with a consequent drop in oil prices.
