Number of Airlines Able to Operate Scheduled Flights Halves in Eight Years

By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In 2010, Brazil had 23 companies in this sector, including those operating commercial passenger transport, such as Gol and Latam, and those that transport cargo. At the end of 2018, there were 12.

The sector may shrink even more if the end of operations in the country of Avianca is confirmed.

The departure of Avianca would lead to an even greater concentration of the commercial passenger transport sector in the hands of Gol and Latam, which account for 67 percent of the market. Azul, the third largest, holds 20 percent.

Most of the companies that have stopped operating in the country since 2010 were cargo carriers.

Data from Anac show that the number of foreign companies able to operate regular flights in Brazil also fell, but in a smaller proportion: there were 76 in 2013 and at the end of last year there were 57.

The number of air taxi companies in Brazil has also been falling since 2010. There were 185 in 2010 and 117 in 2018, a reduction of 36.7 percent.