Analysis of the Regional Air Passenger Transport System in Brazil: Some Aspects of Its Evolution and Diagnosis

Passenger air transport in Brazil, as elsewhere in the world, has been undergoing substantial changes in recent years, not only because of external factors, but also as a consequence of several important changes in the regulatory framework. This paper focuses on the regional aspects of airline passenger traffi c in Brazil, based on a review of the literature and interviews with some key government authorities. We fi rst provide an overview of the country’s regions and sketch out the historical evolution of regional air transportation in the country. We then discuss the recent changes affecting the sector, considering the regulatory and operational factors at play, particularly in relation to the network of Brazilian cities served by air transport.