With a 19% increase, Salvador Bahia Airport will offer more than 350,000 seats during Carnival

Salvador Bahia Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, is preparing to receive the highest concentration of passengers during Carnival since the beginning of the concession in 2018. Between February 11 and 22, the airport in the capital of Bahia will have 365,000 seats available to meet the flow of visitors, representing a 19% growth compared to the same period in 2025.

This expansion connects Bahia to a wide range of destinations both within Brazil and abroad. This year, 335,000 domestic seats are scheduled, an 18% increase compared to the seat supply in 2025, with São Paulo as the main origin and destination for travelers. The figures are driven by the increase in seat capacity in airline operations such as Gol, which recorded a 30% increase in supply, and LATAM, with a 13% growth.

The international segment will have 30,000 seats, a 28% increase compared to the same period last year. Seat availability is boosted by an 8% increase in TAP’s offer, which will operate extra flights in February and March. Sky Airline will grow by 33%, while Air Europa records a 6% increase and Air France, 1%, in addition to the new operations by Flybondi and Copa Airlines. These advances reinforce Salvador Bahia Airport’s commitment to expanding air connectivity, in line with the growing demand from international tourists for flights to the capital of Bahia.

“The peak season has consolidated the Airport as one of the main hubs in the Northeast region, connecting Salvador to several national and international destinations, such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Buenos Aires. In addition to generating more connectivity options, this increase in seat supply strengthens Salvador as one of the country’s main Carnival destinations and enhances the positive impacts across the entire tourism chain,” highlights Júlia Orrico, Commercial Director of VINCI Airports in Brazil.

Focus on the passenger experience

The Carnival passenger experience begins at Salvador Bahia Airport itself, which welcomes revelers with brand activations and reception initiatives in partnership with the State Government and the Salvador City Hall. The terminal’s atmosphere is enhanced by communication campaigns on Eletromidia’s digital panels, reinforcing the festive mood and strengthening passengers’ connection with Carnival from their very first contact with the capital of Bahia.

As in previous years, revelers will be able to collect their abadás upon arrival in Salvador. The companies Quero Abadá, Central do Carnaval and Folia Bahia will have temporary stands set up in the terminal, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., for shirt pick-up upon prior scheduling on their respective websites. It will also be possible to customize abadás at these spaces, ensuring greater convenience for tourists arriving in the capital to enjoy the festivities.

In addition, the Refoliar Project will have collection boxes for used abadás in the airport terminal. This circular economy initiative has a socio-environmental focus and transforms textile waste, especially abadás, into school backpacks for public school students. The collection points will be available at the airport from February 6 to 27.

Diversity and inclusion

During Carnival, Salvador Airport will also support projects focused on promoting diversity and inclusion in the Bahian festivities, such as the Anti-Racist Guide for Carnival. The educational material was developed by Instituto Afetto, a consultancy specialized in Diversity and Human Rights, with the aim of informing and raising awareness among the public about racist practices that still occur during the world’s largest street carnival, as well as providing guidance on how to report them.

In addition, the Airport once again supports the Observatory of Racial Discrimination, LGBT Discrimination and Violence Against Women, organized by the Municipal Secretariat for Reparation (SEMUR), which acts preventively in identifying situations of racism, LGBTphobia, violence against women and other rights violations during Carnival.

About Salvador Bahia Airport

Located in the capital of the state of Bahia, Salvador Bahia Airport is the first concession in the VINCI Airports network in Brazil, which took over its operations on January 2, 2018. Since then, Salvador Airport has incorporated global operational standards, aiming to provide greater efficiency, safety and a better travel experience for its passengers. With an investment of R$700 million in modernization and terminal expansion works, its capacity increased by 50%, enabling it to handle up to 15 million passengers per year. It has also been awarded the Ethnic-Racial Diversity Seal by the Municipal Secretariat for Reparation of Salvador due to its initiatives to combat institutional racism. Salvador Bahia Airport also stands out as the “Most Sustainable Airport in Brazil,” leading environmental preservation initiatives.

About VINCI Airports

VINCI Airports, the world leader in the operation of private airports, operates more than 70 airports in 13 countries. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports, providing investment capacity and know-how in optimizing operational performance, modernizing infrastructure, managing operations and driving environmental transition. VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy in 2016, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions across its entire network by 2050.