LATAM Airlines Brasil announced on 28 July 2026 that it will open a new direct route between Natal’s São Gonçalo do Amarante Airport (NAT) and Buenos Aires /Ezeiza (EZE) from 15 December 2026. The thrice-weekly service—operating Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays—will run through the Southern Hemisphere summer until the end of February 2027, with the possibility of becoming year-round if demand holds. The move gives Rio Grande do Norte its first regular connection to Argentina without a stop-over and raises LATAM Brasil’s international network to 32 destinations. For corporate travel managers the route shaves at least three hours off typical one-stop itineraries via São Paulo or Rio and reduces missed-connection risk during the holiday peak. Local authorities have dangled state tax incentives on aviation fuel, and airport operator Zurich Airport Brasil has invested R$59 million in terminal upgrades—including expanded VIP lounges and high-speed Wi-Fi—to secure the flight. The regional government expects the link to attract more Argentine tourists (who already top Brazil’s inbound rankings) and to make Natal more appealing for meetings and incentives traffic. Companies with operations in the Northeast—oil services in Mossoró, wind-energy projects along the coast, or the Guamaré petrochemical complex—will gain a faster link to Argentina’s capital markets and supplier base. LATAM is keeping fares in line with its São Paulo-Ezeiza service, a sign the airline sees upside in leisure-business crossover demand.
Source: Natal Airport press release
