Brazil’s busiest airport began 2026 under a literal cloud. Heavy tropical rain on 3 January flooded two remote stands at São Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU) Terminal 3, forcing a last-minute reshuffle of wide-body gates. Simultaneously, unexpected sick-leave at the Air Force-run CINDACTA I control centre triggered flow-control measures that capped departures at 22 movements per hour during the morning peak.
FlightAware logged 192 delays and two cancellations, disrupting long-haul services to London, Madrid, Lisbon and New York. LATAM suffered more than 100 delayed rotations, while GOL, American Airlines and TAP also saw double-digit disruptions.
![Summer Storms and ATC Gaps Cause 192 Flight Delays at São Paulo–Guarulhos]()
For corporate mobility teams the timing is awkward: the first business week of January marks the return of international assignees and exporters heading to overseas trade fairs. Travel-management companies recommend adding longer connection buffers and using airline apps that auto-rebook missed onward flights. LATAM and GOL have introduced fee-free rebooking for travel through 7 January.
Analysts warn that a mix of climate-driven storm intensity and chronic staffing gaps could make such days more common. GRU handled 43.6 million passengers in 2024, yet runway capacity during morning banks leaves little slack when weather or labour issues collide.
HR leaders should remind travelers that significant itinerary changes can alter visa or transit-pass requirements—especially when rerouting via third countries. Real-time entry-rule platforms can reduce the paperwork scramble that often follows operational meltdowns.
FlightAware logged 192 delays and two cancellations, disrupting long-haul services to London, Madrid, Lisbon and New York. LATAM suffered more than 100 delayed rotations, while GOL, American Airlines and TAP also saw double-digit disruptions.
For corporate mobility teams the timing is awkward: the first business week of January marks the return of international assignees and exporters heading to overseas trade fairs. Travel-management companies recommend adding longer connection buffers and using airline apps that auto-rebook missed onward flights. LATAM and GOL have introduced fee-free rebooking for travel through 7 January.
Analysts warn that a mix of climate-driven storm intensity and chronic staffing gaps could make such days more common. GRU handled 43.6 million passengers in 2024, yet runway capacity during morning banks leaves little slack when weather or labour issues collide.
HR leaders should remind travelers that significant itinerary changes can alter visa or transit-pass requirements—especially when rerouting via third countries. Real-time entry-rule platforms can reduce the paperwork scramble that often follows operational meltdowns.
Source: VisaHQ Global Mobility News
