Salvador Bahia Airport exports grow 105% in the first half of 2025

• 3,200 tons of cargo were exported, more than doubling the 1,570 tons recorded in the same period of 2024.
• Growth driven by partnerships with freight forwarders across Brazil and the increase in flight frequencies to Europe.

Salvador Bahia Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, closed the first half of 2025 with outstanding performance in its cargo operations. Between January and June, the Air Cargo Terminal (TECA) exported 3,200 tons, a 105% increase compared to the same period last year. In 2024, 1,570 tons were shipped internationally through the Salvador terminal during the same months.

Partnerships with freight forwarders across Brazil were one of the main factors behind the surge in exports. With greater flexibility in operations and commercial terms, perishable goods produced in the São Francisco Valley – which were previously transported to hubs such as Guarulhos (SP), Viracopos (SP), and Fortaleza (CE) – are now being routed through Salvador’s TECA.

Fruits grown in the region that spans the states of Bahia and Pernambuco were the main contributors to this growth. Mangoes and papayas remain the leading products, representing the highest export volumes during the six-month period.

Another factor boosting cargo flows at the VINCI Airports-managed terminal was the strengthening of the air network, particularly with the arrival of Air France. In addition to carrying thousands of passengers, the increased flight frequencies to Europe provided greater capacity for shipping perishables to international markets.

Julio Ribas, CEO of VINCI Airports in Brazil, emphasizes that the increase in export volumes results from the airport’s strategic and proactive engagement with freight forwarders and airlines. “By integrating logistics flows from the São Francisco Valley, Salvador Bahia Airport has positioned itself among the main exporting airports in the country. This achievement not only enhances our competitiveness compared to major national hubs but also drives regional economic growth,” he said.

About Salvador Bahia Airport

Located in Salvador, the capital of Bahia state, Salvador Bahia Airport was the first Brazilian airport operated under a VINCI Airports concession, which began on January 2, 2018. Since then, the airport has adopted global operational standards to deliver more efficiency, safety, and a better travel experience for passengers. With an investment of R$ 700 million in modernization and expansion works, the terminal increased its capacity by 50% and can now serve up to 15 million passengers per year.

The airport has also been recognized with the Ethnic-Racial Diversity Seal by the Municipal Secretariat for Reparations of Salvador, in recognition of its initiatives against institutional racism. It also stands out as the “Most Sustainable Airport in Brazil,” leading environmental preservation initiatives.

About VINCI Airports

VINCI Airports, the world’s leading private airport operator, manages more than 70 airports in 14 countries. Leveraging its global expertise, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds, and operates airports, combining investment capacity with know-how in operational performance optimization, infrastructure modernization, operations management, and environmental transition.

In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to adopt an international environmental strategy, with a goal to achieve net zero emissions across its network by 2050.