Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) published new enforcement guidelines on 15 June 2026 that fundamentally change how airlines are inspected and sanctioned. The resolution replaces a one-size-fits-all punitive model with a tiered approach that emphasises prevention, coaching and proportionality. Under the new framework, carriers with a clean safety record that commit isolated, low-risk infractions—such as a documentation lapse—will first receive a technical orientation and a deadline to correct the issue. Repeated or high-gravity breaches, including maintenance non-compliance, crew-duty violations or refusal to cooperate with inspectors, remain subject to heavy fines, operational restrictions or even certificate revocation. ANAC says the shift draws on international best practice and a two-year pilot run with the University of Brasília. The agency will analyse an operator’s compliance history, cooperation level and safety culture before deciding on sanctions. Inspectors receive additional training to ensure consistency and have new digital dashboards that pull real-time flight, incident and audit data.
![ANAC Overhauls Airline Enforcement Model, Introduces ‘Responsive Regulation’]()
For operators that fly internationally, VisaHQ can also alleviate compliance headaches. Its Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lets airlines and corporate travel managers check visa requirements, submit applications and track approvals in one place—reducing the risk that a crew member or consultant is grounded by last-minute paperwork issues while the carrier is working to meet ANAC’s new standards.
For airlines, the upside is predictability and a reduced penalty burden for minor, self-reported deviations. However, compliance departments must invest in internal monitoring systems to detect and disclose issues early; failure to do so could trigger aggravated penalties. Industry association ABEAR welcomed the move but cautioned that regional carriers may need support to adapt their quality-assurance processes. Corporate travel managers should benefit indirectly: fewer precautionary suspensions and route cancellations are expected, which should improve network stability. ANAC stresses that passenger rights regulation (Resolution 400) is untouched; airlines remain liable for delays and cancellations regardless of enforcement tiering. The policy enters into force immediately, with a six-month transition window during which historic infractions will continue to follow the previous table of fines. ANAC will hold webinars in July for operators, maintenance organisations and airport administrators.
For operators that fly internationally, VisaHQ can also alleviate compliance headaches. Its Brazil portal (https://www.visahq.com/brazil/) lets airlines and corporate travel managers check visa requirements, submit applications and track approvals in one place—reducing the risk that a crew member or consultant is grounded by last-minute paperwork issues while the carrier is working to meet ANAC’s new standards.
For airlines, the upside is predictability and a reduced penalty burden for minor, self-reported deviations. However, compliance departments must invest in internal monitoring systems to detect and disclose issues early; failure to do so could trigger aggravated penalties. Industry association ABEAR welcomed the move but cautioned that regional carriers may need support to adapt their quality-assurance processes. Corporate travel managers should benefit indirectly: fewer precautionary suspensions and route cancellations are expected, which should improve network stability. ANAC stresses that passenger rights regulation (Resolution 400) is untouched; airlines remain liable for delays and cancellations regardless of enforcement tiering. The policy enters into force immediately, with a six-month transition window during which historic infractions will continue to follow the previous table of fines. ANAC will hold webinars in July for operators, maintenance organisations and airport administrators.
