Brazil in Travel Pandemonium as Azul Brazilian Airlines Grounds Six Flights across Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Maceió and more, New Update

Published on October 19, 2025

An unexpected new update on 19th October, 2025 confirms Brazil is in travel pandemonium. Azul Brazilian Airlines recently experienced operational difficulties, which is why six flights across key cities were grounded. According to FlightAware data, there’s a total of 92 delays and 6 cancellations reported. The impact of these cancellations has been widespread. Specifically, key travel hubs in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Maceió and more were affected. This highlights a serious disruption to domestic air travel. Travelers must now navigate rebookings and refunds. The situation requires immediate attention from the airline to resolve the escalating operational challenges. The following report details the full scope of this aviation upheaval and the response required for affected passengers.

A Breakdown of the Affected Flights

Six flights operated by Azul Brazilian Airlines were cancelled. These grounded services included a mix of aircraft types, such as the Embraer E295 (E295), Embraer E190 (E190), Airbus A20N (A20N) and ATR 72 (AT72), indicating the operational issue extended across different fleet segments. The cancellations were noted to occur over a weekend and the following Monday, affecting both overnight and daytime travel schedules. For example, flight AZU2751, utilizing an E295 aircraft, was cancelled on a Saturday morning, while flights AZU4590 and AZU4766, both operated by an AT72 turboprop, were cancelled on Monday.

The cancellations impacted several high-traffic domestic routes, connecting vital economic and tourism centres within Brazil. The affected journeys show a focus on the country’s major aviation gateways, including two flights that were part of a round trip:

• Marechal Rondon (CGB) to São Paulo-Guarulhos Int’l (GRU)
• Santos Dumont Regional (SDU) to São Paulo-Congonhas (CGH)
• Zumbi dos Palmares (MCZ) to Viracopos Int’l (VCP)
• Uberaba (UBA) to Tancredo Neves Int’l (CNF)
• Viracopos Int’l (VCP) to Leite Lopes (RAO)
• Leite Lopes (RAO) to Viracopos Int’l (VCP)

The two final flights indicate an inbound and outbound service between Viracopos (Campinas/São Paulo area) and Ribeirão Preto.

Delays

Beyond the six cancellations, the airline experienced a significant volume of disruption in the form of delays. A total number of 92 delays were recorded. This high figure translates to a reported 12% Percentage of Delays, highlighting a broader pattern of operational difficulties for the airline during the period. The substantial number of delayed flights suggests that the overall travel experience for a large number of passengers on Azul Brazilian Airlines services was compromised.

Affected Airports

The operational issues were geographically concentrated in Brazil, affecting a wide array of key metropolitan and regional airports. Major hubs in the South and Southeast regions, along with a prominent airport in the Northeast, were involved in the cancelled flights:

• São Paulo-Guarulhos Int’l (GRU) (São Paulo)
• São Paulo-Congonhas (CGH) (São Paulo)
• Viracopos Int’l (VCP) (Campinas/São Paulo Area)
• Santos Dumont Regional (SDU) (Rio de Janeiro)
• Tancredo Neves Int’l (CNF) (Belo Horizonte)
• Marechal Rondon (CGB) (Cuiabá)
• Zumbi dos Palmares (Campo dos Palmares) (MCZ) (Maceió)
• Uberaba (UBA) (Uberaba)
• Leite Lopes (RAO) (Ribeirão Preto)

The involvement of airports in cities like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Maceió means a substantial number of domestic travelers had their itineraries negatively impacted.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

Since all flights affected by the six cancellations were operating exclusively within Brazil, the impact is confined to the nation’s domestic travel and tourism sector. Key destinations such as Maceió, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are major tourist and business centers. The cancellation of flights connecting these cities, especially those linking a coastal tourism destination like Maceió (MCZ) with a major hub like Viracopos (VCP), can result in short-term disruption. Such inconsistencies in air service reliability are often perceived negatively by travelers, potentially impacting travel planning and passenger confidence in domestic air travel reliability within the country.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose flights were included in the list of cancellations by Azul Brazilian Airlines, are entitled to specific rights under Brazilian aviation regulations, as established by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). Passengers are strongly advised to take the following steps:

1. Verify Flight Status: Confirmation of the cancelled flight status should be done immediately via the official Azul Brazilian Airlines channels.
2. Contact the Airline: Communication must be established with the airline’s customer service department to discuss rebooking options. For cancelled flights, alternative arrangements must be offered, which may include placement on the next available flight to the final destination, potentially utilizing a competitor airline.
3. Request a Refund or Alternative Transport: The option of a full refund for the cancelled service, including taxes and fees, should be offered. Alternatively, a different mode of transport to the final destination, such as a bus ticket and transfers, must be provided if deemed a suitable option by the passenger.
4. Document All Communications: All records of communication, including confirmation numbers, emails and any receipts for out-of-pocket expenses (like meals or accommodation if offered by the passenger but not provided by the airline), should be retained. These documents will be required should any future claims for compensation or reimbursement of expenses be pursued.
5. Know Your Rights: Under ANAC Resolution No. 400, in cases of cancellation or delays exceeding four hours, passengers are due assistance and compensation options and these rights should be asserted to the airline representatives.