BH Airport brings solidarity and inspiration to students of the Ninho Educational Project

Approximately 130 children and adolescents served by the Ninho Educational Project in Lagoa Santa had the opportunity to experience a transformative experience with BH Airport's volunteer employees, in an interactive environment of entertainment and community learning. The open-ended discussion group was a highlight of the program and inspired the young people to explore new horizons, highlighting topics such as diversity, diverse histories, and careers related to the airport sector.

The initiative is aligned with BH Airport's socially responsible approach and is part of the "Fly Light" project, which encourages health, safety, and well-being practices, encouraging generosity as a path to balance between body and mind. Games and workshops promoted by the volunteer program, which involved approximately 500 people, also brought joy to the children benefiting from the institution, whose mission is to promote social mobility through education and the strengthening of families and communities.

"Ninho and BH Airport share the purpose of helping people soar. We will continue together, strengthening this important partnership for our community and a source of pride for our project," declares one of the founders, Hermes de Freitas, who leads Ninho in a joint initiative with his wife, Daniela Paulinelli.

For Joelma Fraga, Head of Communications and Marketing at BH Airport, the initiative demonstrates the Minas Gerais international terminal's role as an agent of social transformation, integrating inclusion and sustainable development. "It was moving to see our employees sharing their talents, experiences, and affection with the children. It was a moment of genuine exchange that filled us with hope and showed how much we can transform realities when we come together. This is one of the most beautiful ways to live BH Airport's purpose: shortening distances and connecting destinations," she emphasizes.

According to the Vorecol portal (2024), which specializes in volunteering trends and social impact, more than 70% of Brazilian companies already have formal volunteer programs aligned with ESG guidelines and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Brazilian Corporate Volunteering Census (CBVE, 2023) revealed that more than 54,000 employees participated in 15,000 initiatives, impacting approximately 1 million people and mobilizing R$16 million in investments.

BH Airport launches direct flight to Porto Alegre

Porto Alegre is the newest domestic destination operated by BH Airport. The direct connection to the capital of Rio Grande do Sul was inaugurated in early September, expanding the Minas Gerais international terminal's domestic route offerings for passengers. With the launch, the airport now serves eight domestic destinations, starting in 2024: Jacarepaguá (RJ), São José do Rio Preto and Ribeirão Preto (SP), Manaus (AM), Rio Branco (AC), Divinópolis (MG), and Sorriso (MT). In total, BH Airport serves more than 70 domestic and international routes.

Rodrigo Côrtes, COO of BH Airport, says the inauguration represents another victory in the mission to connect Minas Gerais to all of Brazil and the world. "We are very happy to announce this flight, which brings the South and Southeast regions, two such important regions for the country, even closer together. It is a route that strengthens tourism, stimulates business, and offers new connection possibilities for passengers. Belo Horizonte and Porto Alegre have a lot to share," says Cortês.

With two daily flights on A320 aircraft, the flight operated by LATAM has a capacity of up to 176 passengers. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, departures from Belo Horizonte are at 5:40 AM and 8:30 PM. On other days of the week, departures are at 7:45 AM and 8:30 PM. Sales began in May, and the route is already emerging as a practical alternative for leisure and business travelers.

The connection between the two capitals is also a magnet for tourism. On the one hand, Belo Horizonte offers an award-winning gastronomic circuit, access to historic cities, and unique experiences like Inhotim. On the other, Porto Alegre combines cultural tradition with a cosmopolitan urban style and serves as a gateway to the Serra Gaúcha region, a destination that attracts visitors year-round.

Beyond tourism, the route strengthens economic ties. Minas Gerais, a leading player in mining, energy, and agribusiness, is now enjoying greater integration with Rio Grande do Sul, a hub of innovation, technology, and agribusiness. The rapprochement expands business, investment and partnership opportunities between two economies that are fundamental to Brazil's GDP.

Safety in focus: BH Airport warns of fires around the terminal

A large fire recorded last weekend in a wooded area of ​​Serra Verde State Park, in the Venda Nova region, alarmed the population and raised a warning about the risk of wildfires in the northern region of the capital of Minas Gerais. Despite its proximity, the fire did not affect BH Airport's operations, but the terminal emphasizes the importance of fire prevention during this dry season.

In 2024, BH Airport recorded several fires on the airport site, all of which were controlled by joint action by the terminal's Fire Department and the Minas Gerais Fire Department. So far in 2025, there have been no serious incidents near the terminal, but the drought requires increased attention and preventive measures from the entire community.

BH Airport COO Rodrigo Côrtes emphasizes that fire prevention is a collective task. This is because small oversights, such as improperly discarding cigarettes or burning trash, can escalate into serious situations. He also points out that, in addition to environmental impacts, smoke poses a direct risk to air operations, compromising visibility during landings and takeoffs.

"BH Airport conducts constant monitoring through our Operations and Emergency Center, which includes cameras around the terminal and the use of drones to enhance surveillance. We also have a Fire Department equipped and ready to respond whenever necessary. Furthermore, we promote awareness-raising initiatives with the community, because we understand that prevention is a shared responsibility. It is essential that prevention efforts be a partnership between the airport and the entire surrounding community," he emphasizes.

How to prevent fires around the airport?

Do not throw cigarette butts in areas with dry vegetation;

Avoid burning trash or debris, especially in vacant lots;

Participate in community cleanup and awareness-raising activities;

Do not release balloons: it is a crime and can cause serious fires;

Report fires: 193 (Fire Department) or 190 (Military Police).

BH Airport ranks 8th in Cirium's global punctuality ranking among mid-sized airports

BH Airport is an international leader in punctuality. With 84.41% of on-time departures and 99.81% of monitored flights, the Minas Gerais international terminal has just ranked 8th in the July 2025 Cirium Punctuality Performance global ranking, among the most punctual mid-sized airports in the world. The Cirium ranking is a global benchmark, based on rigorous technical criteria for flight data analysis, and contributes to the identification of standards and improvements in the airline industry.

Fabiano Reis, Operations, Security, and Passenger Experience Manager, celebrates the ranking and emphasizes that the result is the result of ongoing work that prioritizes operational efficiency. "Several efforts are being made in this regard, whether rethinking operational details, constant dialogue with airlines, or adopting innovative solutions to improve passenger flow. All of this is done to ensure efficient operations while simultaneously providing an increasingly better experience for those who arrive and depart here," he emphasizes. Among the initiatives that have contributed to these results is the implementation of coordinated pushbacks, which reduce aircraft taxiing time on the ground. Coordinated pushbacks are simultaneous movements of aircraft on the ground, strategically planned between the airport operations center and the Control Tower. This joint management allows multiple aircraft to leave their positions simultaneously and head towards the runway, without compromising the fluidity and safety of operations, even during peak times.

Passenger Flow

While it is common to associate punctuality solely with aircraft operation, passenger flow plays a fundamental role in this result. At BH Airport, solutions aimed at speeding up boarding and disembarking have directly contributed to improving operational indicators.

One of these initiatives is expedited boarding, a priority flow for passengers carrying only one carry-on item, such as a suitcase, bag, or backpack. This measure streamlines security procedures at screening channels and has proven especially effective during periods of high demand. Another innovation is the E-gate, an electronic passport checking device that went into operation in August. With it, immigration processing time has dropped from 1 minute and 20 seconds to just 15 seconds. This technology represents the latest technology on the international market. "The e-gate is another investment that contributes to the continuous improvement of our passenger experience, and we remain attentive to innovations that add value to our services, facilitate transit through the terminal, and respect our travelers' time," says Fabiano.

National and International Recognition

In addition to its performance in the Cirium ranking, BH Airport also leads in other important evaluations. In the ANAC Quality Index (Q Factor), which combines objective criteria and passenger perception, the terminal achieved the best performance in Brazil in 2024. A concrete example of this result is the inspection time: between January and May of this year, 99% of passengers passed through the inspection channel within five minutes. On the international stage, BH Airport also stands out as the only Brazilian airport certified at level 2 of the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation program, promoted by ACI World. In total, only 46 airports worldwide hold this certification, 9 of which are in Latin America and only BH Airport is in Brazil, which reinforces the high standard of quality and service offered by the terminal.

BH Airport expects 1.1 million passengers in August

The holiday season is over, but BH Airport remains busy: in August, 1.1 million passengers are expected to pass through the Minas Gerais international terminal, representing a 4% increase over the same month in 2024. Compared to 2019, the increase is even greater: 20% growth, demonstrating a surpassing of pre-pandemic results.

Adopted in several cities across Brazil, the religious holiday of August 15th (Our Lady of Good Voyage, Assumption of Our Lady, and Day of Our Lord of Bonfim) contributes to August's traffic. Because the holiday falls on a Friday, people take advantage of the weekend to extend their travel plans for leisure. Between August 14th and 19th, approximately 225,000 people will pass through the terminal. The busiest day for passengers will be Thursday, the 14th, when the airport is expected to receive over 40,000 passengers. A total of 199 additional flights are planned for the period, with Rio de Janeiro and Porto Seguro among the most popular destinations.

Rodrigo Côrtes, COO of BH Airport, emphasizes that the airport is increasingly prepared to meet growing passenger demand. "Our commitment is to ensure a fast, safe, and comfortable experience for everyone. Initiatives such as express boarding for passengers with just one item, the inauguration of the e-gate, which speeds up the migration flow, and the launch of new VIP lounges are examples of how we are continually investing in infrastructure and technology to keep up with the growth in traffic and provide greater comfort to our passengers," he states.

The expected increase in traffic in August follows a trend observed since the beginning of the year in the Brazilian aviation industry, which has seen 10% growth in passenger flow compared to the same period in 2024. At BH Airport, this growth has been even more significant: between January and June, 6.2 million people passed through the terminal, an increase of almost 15% year-over-year.

"We are experiencing a cycle of reconstruction, driven by the economic recovery and our commitment to expanding connectivity. Today, we are the second-largest airport in Brazil in terms of the number of domestic destinations, and we continue working to further promote Minas Gerais on the national and international stage," says Rodrigo.