RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Several airlines have cut international flights to Brazil due to the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions imposed by different countries. However, most airlines now operate connections from cities abroad, mainly to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
International routes still in activity are being used by Brazilians abroad to return to Brazil. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it is seeking all options to repatriate nationals and residents in Brazil who have experienced difficulties with their return flights to the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reports that if it is possible to return to Brazil by commercial flights, “this option should always be considered given that other repatriation options may be unfeasible or time-consuming in some places.”
“The option of chartered flights is being considered for regions where air traffic has been fully interrupted and other repatriation options are unfeasible,” the note said. “These are flights paid for by the Brazilian government and that depend on specific negotiations with foreign governments, not only at the flight’s origin, but, on several occasions, with potential stopovers.”
Below is the situation of the major airlines operating in Brazil. This will be constantly updated with changes that may occur in the airlines’ schedules:
AZUL:
The Brazilian company operates direct flights from Viracopos airport in Campinas/São Paulo to Fort Lauderdale.
With respect to flights to Lisbon, the Portuguese government has extended the suspension of all direct flights between Brazil and Portugal until March 16th. The decision was made due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the European country, mainly related to the new covid-19 strain that emerged in Amazonas.
Since Sunday, March 7th, passengers flying from Brazil to Portugal with stopovers in other countries are required to present a negative covid-19 test performed 72 hours before boarding and must quarantine for 2 weeks upon arrival.
GOL:
The Brazilian airline plans to resume its international flights in June.
LATAM:
The Brazilian airline operates reduced routes from São Paulo to Frankfurt, Asunción, Buenos Aires, Madrid, New York, Mexico City, Santiago, Miami and Montevideo.
LATAM has not yet resumed its operations from Brazil to Orlando, Boston, Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Tel Aviv, Johannesburg, Cordoba, Mendoza, Bariloche, Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Punta del Este.
Due to recent government restrictions, the company has also suspended operations that had been resumed to London, Lisbon, Bogotá and Lima. See more details below about the suspensions and governmental determinations:
* Flights to Frankfurt: the German government decided on January 29th to ban travelers from Brazil and other countries with a strong presence of more transmissible variants of the novel coronavirus from entering the country. The ban has been in effect since January 30th and was recently extended until at least March 17th. The measure provides exceptions for German citizens, core family members of Germans traveling with them (core family includes spouses, registered partners, minor children, and parents of minor children), people with residence and right of residence in Germany, as well as transit passengers (no entry into Germany) and for cargo and humanitarian transport.
* Flights to Madrid: The Spanish government has announced that passengers on flights from several countries, such as Brazil and South Africa, will be required to quarantine at home or accommodation for 10 days immediately after landing in the country. However, the isolation period may be reduced upon presentation of a negative covid-19 test performed on the 7th quarantine day. Direct flights from Brazil to Spain can only carry Spanish and Andorran citizens and residents or international transit travelers with a stopover of less than 24 hours, without the option to leave the airport.
* Flights to London: LATAM has suspended the route between São Paulo and London as of December 25th, the resumption date is subject to determinations by the Brazilian government authorities. The decision comes after the UK government detected a second mutation of the coronavirus with a higher risk of contagion in British territory in late December. In addition, the UK has imposed tougher rules for passengers arriving from countries such as Brazil as of February 15th. Passengers will be required to book and pay £1,750 (about R$13,000) to spend a 10-day quarantine in hotels authorized by the British government.
* Flights to Lisbon: the Portuguese government has extended the suspension of all direct flights between Brazil and Portugal until March 16th. The resumption of LATAM flights to the Portuguese capital is subject to the determinations of the country’s authorities. The goal is to prevent the increase of coronavirus cases with the circulation of new variants.
Since Sunday, March 7th, passengers flying from Brazil to Portugal with stopovers in other countries are required to present a negative covid-19 test performed 72 hours before boarding and must quarantine for 2 weeks upon arrival.
* Flights to Lima: the Peruvian government maintains the suspension of commercial flights with Brazil and Europe until at least March 14th.
* Flights to Bogotá: the Colombian government maintains the suspension of commercial flights from Brazil. There is still no specific date for freeing operations between the two countries.
AEROLÍNEAS ARGENTINAS:
The Argentine company has resumed its flights from Buenos Aires to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis.
AEROMEXICO:
The Mexican company operates regular flights between Mexico City and São Paulo.
AIR CANADA:
The Canadian airline has decided to temporarily suspend its route between São Paulo and Toronto from February 17th to May 1st.
Even if passengers make a connection in another country, the Canadian government has introduced new rules for entry into the country on February 22nd: in addition to being required to take a PCR test for covid-19 upon arrival in the country, passengers must wait for the result staying for three nights in a hotel designated by the local government, and the costs will be borne by travelers. After that, a 14-day quarantine is mandatory. Passengers must also consider if they fall under the essential travel rules.
AIR CHINA:
The Chinese company, which runs the São Paulo-Madrid-Beijing route, has suspended its operations on this route until March 2021. It also states that the resumption of operations will depend on the prevention and control of covid-19.
AIR EUROPA:
The Spanish company operates flights from Madrid to São Paulo.
As for the route to Madrid, the Spanish government announced that passengers on flights from several countries, such as Brazil and South Africa, will be required to quarantine in their homes or accommodation for 10 days immediately upon landing in the country. However, the isolation period may be reduced upon presentation of a negative covid-19 test performed on the 7th day of quarantine. Direct flights from Brazil to Spain can only carry Spanish and Andorran citizens and residents or international transit travelers with a stopover of less than 24 hours, with no option to leave the airport.
The company’s reservation system does not yet provide information on the resumption of flights from the Spanish capital to Salvador, Fortaleza and Recife.
AIR FRANCE:
The French airline operates the Paris to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro route.
ALITALIA:
On January 16th, Italy suspended flights departing from Brazil and banned passengers who have passed through the country in the past 14 days from entering Italy due to concerns over a new coronavirus variant detected in Amazonas. Those coming to Italy from Brazil through connecting flights in other countries will be required to take a test to detect the virus.
AMASZONAS LINEA AEREA:
The Bolivian airline has resumed its route between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and São Paulo, but on February 24th announced that it will no longer operate the route between March 1st and August 31st. The company intends to resume flights once again as of September 1st.
The company’s reservation system does not display the resumption of flights from Rio de Janeiro and Foz do Iguaçu to Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
AMERICAN AIRLINES:
American Airlines flies from São Paulo to Miami and Dallas; and from Miami to Rio de Janeiro and Manaus.
Flights from Guarulhos to New York will be resumed as of March 28th.
The company decided to permanently close its operations between Los Angeles and São Paulo; from New York to Rio de Janeiro; and from Miami to Brasilia.
AVIANCA:
Avianca has suspended its flights from Bogotá to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro following a decision by Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection, which ordered the ban on flights from Brazil entering Colombian territory. The Colombian government has not yet announced a specific date to release operations between the two countries.
AVIOR:
The Venezuelan company operates between Caracas and Manaus.
BOLIVIANA DE AVIACIÓN (BOA):
The company operates its flights from São Paulo to Santa Cruz de la Sierra.
There is no forecast yet for the resumption of its direct route between São Paulo and La Paz.
BRITISH AIRWAYS:
The airline suspended its routes from London to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro after the UK government identified a second mutation of the coronavirus with a higher risk of contagion on British territory in late December 2020.
In addition, on February 15th the UK introduced tougher rules for passengers arriving from countries such as Brazil. Passengers will be required to book and pay £1,750 (about R$13,000) to spend a 10-day quarantine in hotels authorized by the British government.
CAPE VERDE AIRLINES:
The African country’s airline, which operated flights in Brazil from Sal Island to Fortaleza, Recife and Porto Alegre, has suspended all its operations.
COPA AIRLINES:
The Panamanian company has resumed its operations from Panama City to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Porto Alegre and Manaus.
The company is expected to resume its flights from the Panamanian capital to Recife and Salvador only in the second half of 2021.
DELTA AIRLINES:
The American company operates from São Paulo to Atlanta and New York.
There is no forecast yet for the resumption of direct flights between Rio de Janeiro and Atlanta.
EASTERN:
The American airline will begin operations from Belo Horizonte to Boston on May 30th; to Miami on May 31st; and to New York on June 1st.
EDELWEISS:
The Swiss airline is expected to resume its flights between Zurich and Rio de Janeiro as of March 30th.
EMIRATES:
The airline resumed passenger flights on the route between São Paulo and Dubai on March 1st, however, in specific situations: only travelers with an immediate connecting flight in Dubai will be accepted, that is, who will remain in the airport’s transit area to board another Emirates flight shortly thereafter to destinations offered by the company from its hub. Passengers with final destinations or who wish to make a free stopover in Dubai are still banned if traveling from Brazil. There is no deadline set for the operation to be resumed.
In the opposite direction (from Dubai to São Paulo), the situation remains unchanged, but passengers must meet the requirements for entry into Brazil, such as presenting a negative covid-19 test.
There is no forecast yet as to when the airline will resume flights between Dubai and Rio de Janeiro.
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES:
Ethiopia’s national carrier operates the route between São Paulo and Addis Ababa.
FLYBONDI:
The Argentine low-cost airline’s flights from Buenos Aires to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre and Florianópolis are expected to be resumed as of July 2021.
IBERIA:
The Spanish airline operates direct flights from Madrid to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
As for the routes to Madrid, the Spanish government announced that passengers on flights from several countries, such as Brazil and South Africa, will be required to quarantine in their homes or accommodation for 10 days immediately upon arrival in the country. However, the isolation period may be reduced upon presentation of a negative covid-19 test performed on the 7th day of quarantine. Direct flights from Brazil to Spain can only carry Spanish and Andorran citizens and residents or international transit travelers with a stopover of less than 24 hours, with no option to leave the airport.
JETSMART:
The Chilean low-cost carrier has resumed its flights from Santiago de Chile to Foz do Iguaçu and Salvador. There is no forecast yet for the resumption of its route from the Chilean capital to São Paulo.
KLM:
The company has resumed passenger flights from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Amsterdam. But only citizens of the Netherlands, Schengen countries and other residents of the European Union, medical staff, seamen and airline crew will be accepted, also for connecting flights.
In recent weeks, due to Dutch government regulations, the company only carried passengers on the Amsterdam – Brazil route. Flights from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Europe carried cargo only. From now on, the routes between Brazil and the Netherlands will resume passenger flights, but with restrictions.
Flights from Amsterdam to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro remain in operation with passengers.
LUFTHANSA:
The German company operates the route between Frankfurt and São Paulo.
On January 29th, the German government decided to ban travelers coming from Brazil and other countries with a strong presence of the most transmissible variants of the new coronavirus. The ban came into effect on January 30th and was recently extended until at least March 17th.
The measure provides exceptions for German citizens, core family members of Germans traveling with them (core family includes spouses, registered partners, minor children, and parents of minor children), people with residence and right of residence in Germany, as well as transit passengers (no entry into Germany) and for cargo and humanitarian transport.
The company plans to resume its flights from Frankfurt to Rio de Janeiro (three times a week) as of June 1st. The reservation system does not yet show the resumption of flights between Munich and São Paulo.
NORWEGIAN:
The low-cost company’s website, which operated the route between London and Rio de Janeiro, showed available flights starting on October 26th (three times a week). However, the company decided to restructure and, to rebalance its cash flow, the company’s transatlantic flights are to be cancelled. It intends to focus only on short-haul routes.
QATAR AIRWAYS:
The Qatari company operates flights between São Paulo and Doha.
ROYAL AIR MAROC:
The Moroccan company has resumed its flights from Casablanca to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro from March 2021.
SKY:
The Chilean low-cost carrier has resumed its flights from Santiago to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Florianópolis.
The reservation system does not yet show the resumption of its route between the Chilean capital and Salvador.
SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS (SAA):
Before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the South African airline had already announced the cancellation of its route between São Paulo and Johannesburg.
SURINAM AIRWAYS:
Suriname’s airline resumed operations between Panamaribo and Belém on March 5th.
SWISS:
The Swiss airline operates the route between Zurich and São Paulo.
TAAG – ANGOLAN AIRLINES:
The government of Angola has suspended air links with Brazil, Portugal and South Africa as of midnight on January 24th. Therefore, TAAG’s flights between Luanda and São Paulo are suspended.
TAP:
The Portuguese government decided that all direct flights between Brazil and Portugal are suspended until March 16th. The decision was made due to the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the European country, mainly related to the new covid-19 strain that emerged in Amazonas.
In late January, Portugal had already suspended direct flights of all airlines arriving from or departing to Brazil for 2 weeks. The deadline was extended to March 16th. The only exceptions are humanitarian, repatriation, and cargo flights.
TAP operated flights to several destinations in Brazil, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, and Maceió; LATAM flew from Guarulhos to Lisbon; and Azul from Campinas to Lisbon.
If passengers decide to travel to Portugal with stopovers in another country, they will be required to present a negative covid-19 test performed 72 hours prior to boarding and comply with a 14-day quarantine upon landing. It is worth noting that the stopover or connecting country may also be subject to different boarding restrictions for Portugal.
TURKISH AIRLINES:
The Turkish company operates flights between São Paulo and Istanbul.
However, there are restrictions for passengers traveling to Turkey who have been in Brazil in the 10 days prior to travel: they are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine at locations designated by the Turkish government. On the 10th day of quarantine, passengers must take a second covid-19 test. If the result is negative, the isolation period ends. The airline also points out that passengers aged 6 and older who have visited Brazil and are traveling to Turkey must present a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before boarding.
Passengers traveling from Brazil to another country with a connecting flight in Istanbul will not need to take a covid-19 test in Turkey, however, these transit travelers must observe the final destination’s entry rules, such as presenting a negative PCR test and potential quarantines.
Passengers flying between Istanbul and São Paulo, on the other hand, must observe Brazil’s entry rules.
UNITED:
The American airline operates flights from São Paulo to Houston, New York (Newark) and Chicago, in addition to the route between Rio de Janeiro and Houston.
The reservation system does not yet show the resumption of the São Paulo to Washington route.
VIRGIN AIRWAYS:
The British airline, which had deferred the release of the route between London and São Paulo from March 29th to October 5th, decided not to resume its route between the English capital and Guarulhos international airport.