Travelers heading into or out of Brazil’s busiest aviation corridors are facing a fresh wave of disruption as a cluster of cancellations and rolling delays hits major hubs in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. According to operational data compiled in early February 2026, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes has suspended 15 flights across its network while registering dozens of delays, coinciding with separate operational issues at United Airlines that are affecting key long haul links into the country. The combined effect is a bruising day for air travel in Brazil, with overcrowded terminals, missed connections, and mounting frustration among passengers who depend on these routes for both domestic and international journeys.
How the Latest Disruptions Unfolded
The current turmoil follows a pattern of strain that has become increasingly common in Brazilian aviation. On February 1, 2026, data from national monitoring services showed 53 flight cancellations and 251 delays across the country in a single day, with São Paulo–Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, and São Paulo–Congonhas among the hardest hit. GOL, Azul Brazilian Airlines, and LATAM were all affected, with GOL alone accounting for 56 delayed flights and 15 cancellations. Those 15 suspended GOL services form the core of the latest wave of disruption now rippling out across subsequent days as aircraft and crews struggle to be repositioned efficiently.
While the original trigger was domestic, the impact has quickly become international. United Airlines, which operates major routes linking U.S. hubs to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, has reported schedule disruptions on select services into Brazil, compounding difficulties for travelers attempting to connect between United’s long haul operations and GOL’s extensive domestic network. Delays on both sides of the partnership are leading to missed connections and overnight misalignments that are proving difficult to untangle in such a tightly utilized system.
The net effect is that what began as a day of intensified domestic disruption has evolved into a multi-day, multi-airline challenge. Crews timed out of their legal duty windows, aircraft out of position, and airport congestion are forcing real-time schedule adjustments that leave passengers with little forward visibility. For many, particularly those traveling through São Paulo and Rio on complex itineraries, the only certainty is uncertainty.
Major Hubs Under Pressure: São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro sit at the heart of Brazil’s air transport system, and any turbulence in their operations quickly reverberates nationwide. At São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport, Brazil’s primary international gateway, more than 80 delays were registered during the early February disruption wave. This alone would strain terminal capacity and airline resources, but when combined with cancellations and rolling knock-on delays, the airport’s role as a key transfer point magnifies every operational glitch.
Further compounding matters is the congestion at São Paulo–Congonhas, a heavily trafficked domestic airport that links Brazil’s financial capital with major cities across the country. When GOL cancels or delays flights here, it does not simply affect point-to-point passengers; it also strands travelers attempting to reach Guarulhos for onward long haul departures with partners such as United and other international carriers. This interdependence between São Paulo’s two main airports is one of the reasons schedule shocks can be so severe.
In Rio de Janeiro, Galeão International Airport has recorded more than 30 delays and several cancellations in the same period, squeezing capacity at what is already a constrained and strategically important hub. For United’s operations, Rio is a key long haul market and an important leisure gateway. When arrival or departure times slip here, the ripple effect is felt across networks in North America and beyond, further complicating the task of re-accommodating passengers whose GOL domestic feeders have been disrupted in São Paulo or other Brazilian cities.
GOL Linhas at a Crossroads Between Recovery and Reliability
The timing of this turbulence is particularly sensitive for GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes. The airline has been working its way through and out of a complex Chapter 11 restructuring process in the United States, seeking to emerge with a stronger balance sheet, a refreshed fleet, and a clearer growth strategy. Court approval for its reorganization plan and subsequent emergence from Chapter 11 in 2025 were framed as key milestones toward renewed stability and competitiveness.
Part of that strategy involved fleet modernization and the progressive rebuilding of capacity to reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2026. GOL has planned additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, engine overhauls, and a sharper focus on high-demand routes within South America. It has also reactivated routes such as São Paulo–Córdoba and rebalanced its regional portfolio while reconfiguring certain long haul linkages through hubs like Brasília and São Paulo–Guarulhos.
However, the events of late 2025 and early 2026 underline how fragile operational reliability can be in a system stretched close to its limits. In October 2025, Brazil experienced a separate episode of mass disruption with more than 200 flight delays and 31 cancellations at key airports such as São Paulo–Congonhas, Viracopos, Salgado Filho, and Tancredo Neves. GOL was among the most affected carriers in that episode as well, illustrating that the airline’s transition out of restructuring is unfolding in an environment of persistent network stress.
United Airlines and the Transcontinental Connection
United Airlines plays a crucial role in connecting Brazil’s major cities with North America, and by extension, with the broader global aviation network. Its services linking São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro with U.S. hubs are vital arteries for both business and leisure travelers, as well as a key conduit for cargo and trade. When United adjusts or suspends a portion of its flights in response to operational challenges, the repercussions are immediately felt across multiple time zones.
In the current context, the interplay between United’s schedules and GOL’s domestic network is particularly delicate. Many passengers book through itineraries that combine a GOL feeder leg within Brazil with a United long haul flight to the United States or onward to Europe and Asia. This type of itinerary hinges on tightly coordinated connection windows. When GOL suspends 15 flights and spreads delays over dozens more, and when United’s own operations into Brazil face disruptions, those carefully timed connections become far harder to guarantee.
For travelers already en route, this can mean extended layovers, unexpected overnight stays, and rerouted journeys through alternate hubs. For those yet to depart, it may involve last-minute rebookings, changes in origin or destination airports within Brazil, or even postponement of trips entirely. As long haul networks typically run closer to capacity and on less flexible schedules than short haul routes, even a small cluster of cancellations can take several days to fully unwind.
Impact on Travelers: From Missed Connections to Stranded Families
For individual travelers, statistics about 15 suspended flights or 250 delays translate into very tangible anxieties at the check-in desk. Families en route to vacations on Brazil’s northeastern beaches face the risk of missing crucial domestic connections out of São Paulo or Rio. Business travelers on tight schedules may see same-day round trips become impossible as departure times slide into the evening. International passengers hoping to connect from regional Brazilian cities onto United flights bound for North America or Europe can find themselves suddenly stuck an airport away from where they need to be.
The experience on the ground often shares similar characteristics regardless of the specifics of each disruption. Long lines at airline counters become the norm as passengers vie for a limited number of available seats on later flights. Airport seating quickly fills as delayed travelers camp out near departure gates watching screens that refresh with new estimated times. Food courts and concession stands crowd up, and families with small children must improvise under conditions that can stretch patience thin.
Financially, travelers may be forced to absorb additional costs for last-minute hotel stays, meals, or ground transportation when they are rerouted through alternative airports. While Brazilian and international regulations provide certain rights to passengers in cases of extensive delays or cancellations, accessing compensation or assistance can be a protracted process, particularly when disruptions are widespread and airline customer service is overwhelmed.
Why Brazil’s Air Network Is So Vulnerable to Shock
Brazil’s air network is both vast and highly concentrated. A relatively small number of hubs handle the bulk of long haul and connecting traffic, with São Paulo–Guarulhos and Rio de Janeiro–Galeão at the center of that web. Any major operational issue that originates at or converges on these airports has an outsized impact, particularly when multiple airlines are simultaneously affected by weather, staffing constraints, or mechanical issues.
At the same time, Brazilian carriers including GOL, Azul, and LATAM have been navigating a post-pandemic recovery that demands careful balancing of fleet size, route structure, and demand patterns. Financial pressures, restructuring processes, and delayed deliveries of new aircraft mean that some airlines are running networks that leave relatively little slack for irregular operations. When several flights go out of sequence or aircraft become unavailable, the capacity to absorb shocks is quickly tested.
This structural vulnerability has been visible in several episodes over the past two years, including the October 2025 disruptions that saw 24 flights suspended and more than 200 delayed across the country, and the February 1, 2026 surge in cancellations and delays spanning São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Campinas. The present turbulence fits into that broader pattern of recurring stress on a system still in the process of rebuilding its resilience.
Practical Advice for Travelers Navigating the Turmoil
For travelers with imminent plans to fly into or out of Brazil, especially through São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, vigilance and flexibility are essential. Monitoring flight status directly with airlines in the hours leading up to departure is critical, as same-day schedule changes have become more common in periods of systemic disruption. Passengers booked on itineraries that combine GOL domestic legs with United long haul flights should pay particular attention to minimum connection times and be proactive about rebooking options if a delay begins to build.
When possible, allowing longer layovers at key hubs can provide a buffer against rolling delays that may not be fully reflected in systems until shortly before departure. This is especially important for travelers on time-sensitive itineraries or those connecting to once-daily long haul services. While longer connection times may seem inconvenient under normal conditions, they can significantly reduce the risk of missed flights when the network is under stress.
Travelers already affected should document their experiences carefully, retaining boarding passes, booking confirmations, and records of delay notifications. Such documentation can be helpful later in pursuing refunds, rebookings, or compensation where applicable under Brazilian and international rules. Remaining patient with frontline staff, who are often working under immense pressure during major disruption events, can also make a challenging situation somewhat easier to navigate.
What This Means for the Future of Air Travel in Brazil
The latest wave of travel turmoil is a reminder that Brazil’s aviation sector, while in many ways recovering strongly from the worst of the pandemic, remains in a fragile transition. GOL’s emergence from Chapter 11 and its stated ambitions to expand capacity and modernize its fleet are encouraging signs, but consistency of day-to-day operations will be the true test of its long term competitiveness. For international partners such as United Airlines, the reliability of domestic feeder networks is equally critical to maintaining seamless global connectivity.
In the medium term, investment in infrastructure, fleet renewal, and better coordination between airlines and airports will be vital in reducing the recurrence and severity of such disruption episodes. As demand continues to rebound across both leisure and business segments, pressure will intensify on existing hubs, further underscoring the need for robust contingency planning and adequate operational buffers.
For now, travelers must contend with an environment where disruption, while not constant, is a recurring risk. The 15 suspended GOL flights and the accompanying web of delays, combined with schedule interruptions at United, provide a snapshot of a system still finding its equilibrium. Until that balance is firmly reestablished, those planning journeys through São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro would be wise to build flexibility into their itineraries and to stay one step ahead of possible changes as Brazil’s aviation sector continues to evolve.