Fraport Brasil was present at Routes Americas 2026, a continental event that brings together airlines, airports and tourist destinations from across the continent. Held for the first time in Brazil, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, between March 3 and 5, 2026, the fair is one of the most important in the commercial aviation sector in the world.

Rio Grande do Sul's participation was led by three institutions: Fraport Brasil, which manages Porto Alegre Airport, the Rio Grande do Sul Department of Tourism (SETUR/RS) and InvestRS. During the event, the delegation held meetings focused on expanding the state's air connectivity, reinforcing the commitment to recompose and expand the network of flights serving the state.

The presence at Routes Americas is especially strategic given the recovery process of Porto Alegre airport. After the terminal was reopened, which was severely impacted by the floods in May 2024, reconnecting the state's airways became a priority. Since then, continuous efforts have been made to re-establish and expand flights passing through Porto Alegre.

The results are already visible: throughout 2025, in addition to the progressive resumption of operations, new routes have been announced by Latam and Gol. More recently, Azul confirmed a 20% increase in its operations in Porto Alegre, reinforcing the airlines' confidence in the potential of the Rio Grande do Sul market.

"Our participation in the event is strategic to increase the visibility of Rio Grande do Sul among the main airlines. We want more flights, more destinations and more offers. Porto Alegre airport is ready for this growth," said Pedro Navega, Fraport Brasil's commercial aviation manager.

Projections for the coming months reinforce the positive momentum. According to data from SETUR/RS, the first half of 2026 should see an 18.3% increase in flight arrivals at Salgado Filho International Airport compared to the same period in 2025, as well as a 19.5% increase in available seats, indicating significant growth in passenger capacity.

Fraport Brasil also recently took part in a meeting to discuss the development of routes and tourism held by ABR Aeroportos do Brasil and a training session promoted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).