✈️ São Paulo Business Aviation Traffic Internal Migration: SBSP Plummets, SBJD Absorbs Strongly
Avi-Go data shows that total business aviation movements across São Paulo's three major business aviation airports reached 9,217 operations for January through April 2026, nearly flat compared to 9,192 operations in the same period of 2025 (+0.3%), yet the internal structure has undergone dramatic divergence. SBSP (Congonhas) recorded a cumulative 4,149 movements, down 13.3% year-over-year, with April's single-month figure of 887 movements plunging 26.8% year-over-year; meanwhile, SBJD (Jaguaribe) recorded a cumulative 4,352 movements, up 14.6% year-over-year, with monthly growth rates consistently holding in the 12% to 26% range from January through March; SBKP (Campinas) also recorded 716 movements, up 17.0% year-over-year. SBJD's net gain of 556 movements almost precisely offsets SBSP's loss of 635 movements, and the signs of a systemic traffic shift are now quite evident. Tightening slot availability at SBSP or rising operating costs remain the most compelling hypotheses driving this migration.
Impact: For FBO operators, ground handling capacity at SBJD is facing sustained pressure, and the need for infrastructure expansion is urgent; for operators reliant on SBSP, the nearly 27% single-month decline in April signals that slot acquisition difficulty or cost has already triggered proactive customer switching, and the competitive landscape is being reshaped.
Recommendation: FBO investors should complete a capacity assessment at SBJD before Q3 2026 to secure the expansion window; operators are advised to immediately review their SBSP slot holding costs and evaluate whether to proactively migrate a portion of routine missions to SBJD in order to mitigate future risk.