Salvador Bahia Airport Reaches Historic Record in Flights and Seat Capacity for the 2025/2026 Peak Season

Salvador Bahia Airport, a member of VINCI Airports, enters the 2025/2026 Peak Season with unprecedented results since the beginning of its concession. Operating from December 15, 2025, to January 31, 2026—its busiest period of the year—the Bahia terminal projects a 14% increase in total seat supply compared to the previous season, reaching 1.6 million seats across domestic and international operations. This performance represents the highest volume of flights and seats recorded in the airport’s recent history.

The positive results are driven by both the growth of the domestic network and the expansion of international routes. In the domestic market, seat supply is up 13%, reaching 1.4 million seats. In the international segment, growth is even more expressive: a 31% increase over the previous summer, totaling 121,000 seats. These results position Salvador as the airport with the strongest organic growth in the Northeast during the period, surpassing major terminals such as Recife and Fortaleza.

January 2026 is also expected to be historic. The forecast is for 1 million available seats—an increase of 13% compared to January 2025. January 2, 2026, will mark the peak of the season, with 36,000 seats offered in a single day, 9% more than the previous year's peak. On that day, the airport is expected to handle 218 flights—206 domestic and 12 international—with an average of 95 daily departures throughout the season.

Since the beginning of the concession, key indicators have grown consistently. International seat supply has increased by 51% since the 2017/2018 season, while the number of international flights has risen 57%. Aircraft movements overall have grown 33% in the period. The results confirm the best operational performance since VINCI Airports assumed management, solidifying Salvador as one of the country’s main hubs for tourism and business.

Among the airlines, GOL leads growth with a 23% increase in the peak season (domestic + international). The expansion is driven by increased frequencies to strategic destinations such as Rio de Janeiro (Galeão), which rises from 38 to 58 weekly flights, and São Paulo (Guarulhos), which jumps from 29 to 44 frequencies. The route to Porto Seguro becomes daily, strengthening the connection between the capital and the interior of Bahia. Azul grows 7%, supported by additional flights at Congonhas and new seasonal routes linking Salvador to Ribeirão Preto, Uberlândia, and São José do Rio Preto.

The international market also stands out. Salvador will offer six direct international destinations this season: Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Montevideo, and Panama City. The highlight is the debut of Copa Airlines, which begins operating flights to Panama City, connecting Salvador to destinations in Central America and the Caribbean. Air France expands its presence, and Flybondi strengthens its operations to Argentina.

Argentina remains the main international market, with 47,000 seats offered—an increase of 74% compared to the previous season. The operation will be split among Aerolíneas Argentinas, Flybondi, GOL, and SKY, totaling 21 weekly flights to Buenos Aires. This reinforces Argentina’s position as the most in-demand international destination from Salvador.

The domestic network now reaches 32 destinations—27 regular and 5 seasonal—operated by four airlines. The airport maintains the highest level of statewide connectivity in the Northeast, with nine routes within Bahia, including Porto Seguro, Ilhéus, Barreiras, Lençóis, Guanambi, Vitória da Conquista, Morro de São Paulo, and Boipeba. This network strengthens the airport’s role as the main gateway for domestic and international tourism in Bahia.

Julio Ribas, CEO of VINCI Airports in Brazil, highlights that the growth reflects Salvador’s consolidation as a national benchmark in connectivity and operational efficiency. “We are experiencing the largest peak season since the beginning of the concession, with record numbers of flights and seats. These results reflect the strength of Bahia's tourism market and the joint work with airlines and industry partners. Salvador continues to connect people, cultures, and opportunities—strengthening the economy and tourism of our state,” Ribas stated.

About Salvador Bahia Airport 

Located in the capital of the state of Bahia, Salvador Bahia Airport is the first concession of the VINCI Airports network in Brazil, which assumed its operation on January 2, 2018. Since then, the airport has incorporated global operational standards aimed at providing greater efficiency, safety, and an improved travel experience. With R$700 million in modernization and expansion works, the terminal increased its capacity by 50%, serving up to 15 million passengers per year. The airport has also been awarded the Ethnic-Racial Diversity Seal by the Municipal Secretariat for Reparations of Salvador for its initiatives to combat institutional racism. Salvador Bahia Airport is recognized as the “Most Sustainable Airport in Brazil,” leading several environmental preservation initiatives.

About VINCI Airports

VINCI Airports, the world leader in private airport operations, manages more than 70 airports in 13 countries. With expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds, and operates airports, offering its investment capacity and know-how to enhance operational performance, modernize infrastructure, manage airport operations, and drive environmental transition. VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy in 2016, aiming to reach net-zero emissions across its network by 2050.