São Paulo’s Congonhas Airport (CGH) is about to get a lot busier on regional routes. GOL Linhas Aéreas has announced a sweeping frequency increase across seven interior destinations in the states of São Paulo, Paraná, and Minas Gerais — a move that represents a 115% jump in both flights and available seats compared to April 2025.
The expansion adds 218 new weekly operations at the congested but commercially vital Congonhas terminal, reinforcing the carrier’s strategy of making the airport its anchor for high-frequency, short-haul flying in southeastern Brazil.
Seven Routes, All Nonstop
Every destination in this round of expansion is served with direct, nonstop service from Congonhas — a key selling point for business travelers connecting São Paulo to regional economic hubs. The routes covered are:
- Londrina (LDB) — Paraná’s second-largest city
- Maringá (MGF) — northern Paraná agribusiness hub
- Uberlândia (UDI) — western Minas Gerais logistics center
- Presidente Prudente (PPB) — western São Paulo state
- Araçatuba (ARU) — northwestern São Paulo
- São José do Rio Preto (SJP) — northeastern São Paulo
- Ribeirão Preto (RAO) — São Paulo’s interior agri-financial hub
Route-by-Route Breakdown
Congonhas–Londrina sees one of the sharpest gains, moving from one daily frequency (excluding Saturdays) to two daily flights every day of the week, effective March 29. That translates to 13 weekly roundtrips in each direction — a 115.4% increase in flights and seats year-over-year.
Congonhas–Uberlândia follows a nearly identical trajectory, with frequencies rising to two daily roundtrips including Saturdays starting March 29. The year-over-year growth registers at 111.5%, also reaching 13 weekly operations in each direction.
Congonhas–Maringá moves to two daily roundtrips seven days a week from March 29, up from one daily flight that previously skipped Tuesdays. That’s a gain of 86.7% and 13 weekly roundtrips.
Congonhas–Presidente Prudente increases from six to ten weekly roundtrips starting March 29, with service running daily except Saturdays. The year-over-year uptick stands at 65.4%.
Congonhas–Araçatuba was the first to benefit from this push — GOL bumped frequencies there on March 2, growing from four to six weekly roundtrips (excluding Saturdays) for a 52.9% increase.
Congonhas–São José do Rio Preto also got an early boost on March 2, doubling to two daily flights seven days a week for a total of 13 weekly roundtrips. Growth versus April 2025: 19.1%.
Congonhas–Ribeirão Preto rounds out the list with a more measured 7.7% increase. From March 2 through March 27, GOL operated 12 weekly roundtrips excluding Saturdays; from March 29 onward, the schedule steps up to 13 weekly roundtrips daily.
Boeing 737s on All Routes
All seven routes are operated with Boeing 737 narrowbodies configured for up to 186 passengers — a meaningful gauge-up for markets that many regional operators still serve with turboprops or smaller jets. Tickets are available on GOL’s website, app, and through the Smiles frequent flyer program.
Reading the Strategy
The timing and scope of this expansion says something important about GOL’s positioning as it navigates its Chapter 11 restructuring. Rather than pulling back from the market, the carrier is doubling down on high-demand, underserved corridors where it faces limited direct competition. Congonhas, despite its slot constraints, remains the most commercially attractive origin point in Brazil for business-oriented regional travelers — and GOL is clearly betting that capturing that demand now will strengthen its hand as it works toward emerging from bankruptcy protection.
For the interior cities on this list, many of which are anchored in agribusiness and manufacturing, the frequency upgrades mean more scheduling flexibility and — in most cases — the first time travelers have had access to twice-daily nonstop service to São Paulo’s most centrally located airport.
