Travelers Stranded across Brazil as GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes Suspends Seven Flights in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre, All You Need to Know Now

Published on October 19, 2025

Air travel across Brazil was thrown into disarray on 18th October, 2025. As GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes experienced a significant disruption to its flight schedule. As a result, seven flights have been suspended, leaving many travelers stranded across major South American hubs. According to FlightAware data, there’s a total of 57 delays and 7 cancellations reported. The fallout impacted major Brazilian cities, specifically Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre. We break down all you need to know now about these operational issues. This report details the specific cancellations that affected these critical domestic routes.

A Breakdown of the Affected Flights

A total of 7 flights were suspended by GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes. The cancellations constituted a 1% cancellation rate. The affected flights were scheduled for a Saturday operation, indicating a disruption to weekend travel plans. All flights were domestic routes operating within Brazil, primarily involving high-frequency city-pair connections. The aircraft types utilized for these services were Boeing 737 variants, specifically the B737, B38M (Boeing 737 MAX) and B738 (Boeing 737-800).

The cancellations by GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes were concentrated on three primary high-volume domestic corridors in Brazil.

1. Rio de Janeiro – São Paulo: This route was affected by the cancellation of flight GLO1523 between Rio de Janeiro/Galeao Intl (GIG) and São Paulo-Guarulhos Int’l (GRU). Four subsequent flights, GLO1008, GLO1015, GLO1016, GLO1023 and GLO1028, operating between the Santos Dumont Regional (SDU) and São Paulo-Congonhas (CGH) airports, also fell victim to the operational constraint.
2. Porto Alegre – São Paulo: The single flight GLO1289, from Salgado Filho Int’l (POA) to São Paulo-Congonhas (CGH), was also affected by a cancellation.

Delays

In addition to the seven flight cancellations, a total of 57 flights operated by GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes were reportedly affected by delays. This volume of delays accounts for a reported 9% of the airline’s total operations within the tracked period.

Affected Airports

The disruptions were confined to a single country, Brazil, with major aviation gateways being impacted.

• Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro/Galeao Intl (GIG) and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)
• São Paulo: São Paulo-Guarulhos Int’l (GRU) and São Paulo-Congonhas (CGH)
• Porto Alegre: Salgado Filho Int’l (POA)

These airports serve as critical hubs for commerce and leisure travel, linking Brazil’s southern region to its two largest metropolises.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

As all affected flights were domestic routes within Brazil, the impact is contained within the country’s internal travel and tourism market. Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Porto Alegre are significant tourist destinations and primary transit points for travelers accessing other regions. The cancellation of 7 flights and the delay of 57 others on key weekend routes may lead to:

• Disrupted travel schedules for tourists planning connecting flights or time-sensitive itineraries.
• Increased waiting times at the major hub airports of GIG, GRU, CGH and POA.
• Negative passenger experience, potentially impacting future travel choices and perceptions of domestic air travel reliability.
• Missed connections for passengers on the delayed flights, further complicating journeys.

What Affected Passengers Can Do

Passengers in a situation like this are strongly advised to take immediate action, which typically involves engaging directly with the airline to minimize disruption.

• Check Flight Status: The first step that must be taken is for passengers to verify the latest status of their flight through the GOL website or mobile application.
• Contact GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes: Communication should be established with GOL customer service to explore rebooking options. Affected passengers are entitled to alternative flight arrangements, which could include being placed on the next available flight to their destination.
• Request a Refund: If rebooking is not a viable option, a full refund for the cancelled service should be requested.
• Document Everything: All communication, including emails and customer service references, should be meticulously documented as these records may be required for any future compensation claims or disputes arising from the significant operational irregularity.
• Know Your Rights: Passengers in Brazil are afforded certain rights regarding delays and cancellations and these entitlements must be understood and asserted by the affected traveler.