Designed to be one of the most modern infrastructures in Brazil, Natal International Airport, located in São Gonçalo do Amarante, is experiencing a moment of transformation. Opened 12 years ago, the terminal has been managed by Zurich Airport Brasil since 2024 and has been recording traffic records in 2026 and consolidating itself, year after year, as an important facility for tourism in Rio Grande do Norte. Natal Airport has extensive infrastructure, making Rio Grande do Norte a state with the capacity to become an aviation hub in the Northeast. Proof of this is the terminal's runway, 3,000m long and 60m wide, being the widest in Brazil and one of the widest in Latin America. This feature allows, for example, the airport to receive large aircraft, including the Airbus A380, the largest commercial plane in the world. Managed for two years by Zurich Airport Brasil, Natal Airport has undergone significant changes in recent months that have made the equipment take a leap in quality in the passenger experience. There have been R$59 million in investments in the last two years, which include commercial qualification, powerful and free Wi-Fi, new VIP rooms, multisensory room and pet bathroom and revitalization of the entire air conditioning system. The actions made Natal Airport the airport that most improved in the ranking of the best airports in Brazil, in the SAC Survey, an official survey of the sector, carried out by the Federal Government in the 20 largest airports in the country. Natal Airport jumped from 16th to 11th place in 2025. And in 2006, it was already among the top six. "Since we took over the airport concession, we have implemented Zurich Airport Brasil's values ??and management style in the Rio Grande do Norte terminal. There are improvements in processes, constant meetings with airlines and public authorities and commercial and service qualifications for our passengers. The people of Rio Grande do Norte can be proud of having modern equipment and an infrastructure prepared to receive tourists who pass through our RN", highlights Ricardo Gesse, CEO of Zurich Airport Brasil. Natal Airport boarding terminal Alex Régis SUSTAINABILITY GETS HIGHLIGHT AT NATAL AIRPORT Natal Airport has also stood out in sustainability actions. Among the main projects is the implementation of a Solar Plant for self-production of renewable energy, with an investment of R$24 million, the company's largest non-regulatory investment, generating direct and indirect jobs in a company in Rio Grande do Norte. The plant will have a power of 5 MW, with 11 thousand solar panels installed next to the airport apron, capable of generating 1 million kWh per month, enough energy to supply around 6,800 homes, considering an average consumption of 150 kWh/month. Delivery is scheduled for the second half of 2026. In addition to the construction of the Solar Plant, Zurich Airport Brasil promotes a series of sustainability initiatives at the airport, such as the installation of the 400 Hertz and PCA systems, which provide clean energy for aircraft on the ground, replacing the use of fossil fuels and contributing to the decarbonization of the airline sector. Another relevant front of circular economy is waste management. By 2025, more than 90% of waste generated at the airport will have been diverted from landfill. The action also includes a partnership with a recycling cooperative, generating employment and income for local families. Furthermore, the airport also develops water reuse initiatives, increasing water efficiency and reducing the consumption of natural resources. TRAFFIC RECORDS IN 2026 Between January and April, the terminal handled 964 thousand passengers, between arrivals and departures, an increase of 18% compared to the same period last year, a record for the airport. The growth was the second largest among Brazilian airports in the first four months of 2026, behind only Porto Alegre Airport, being the biggest increase in the Northeast. The months of February, March and April, for example, recorded the biggest movements in these months since the airport's inauguration in 2014. Landing of TAP aircraft at Natal Airport Alex Régis Landing of TAP aircraft at Natal Airport Disclosure "The growth in traffic and consequently tourism in Rio Grande do Norte is the result of a series of strategic actions, such as strengthening the tourist promotion of the destination, investments made in the terminal in Rio Grande do Norte and the integrated work between Zurich Airport Brasil, Poder Public, the tourist trade and airlines. We also had assertive tax policies for aviation kerosene and tourism promotion, factors that contributed to these records", analyzes Gesse. Recently, Natal Airport expanded its international connectivity with LATAM Airlines announcing flights to Buenos Aires in the high summer season, with three weekly frequencies starting in December. The airline joins GOL and JetSMART in offering flights to the Argentine capital through the Rio Grande do Norte terminal. The latter even began operations in RN on December 30, 2025 with daily flights connecting Natal Airport to the city of Buenos Aires. International connectivity also increased in 2026 with GOL, which began offering weekly flights to Montevideo, Uruguay, through Carrasco International Airport, on a seasonal route at specific times of the year. The Potiguar terminal also maintains regular international flights to Lisbon, Portugal, operated by TAP Air Portugal. Follow Natal Airport on Instagram and stay up to date with airport news.