Recife and the city of Porto, in Portugal, will be directly connected from December. In a meeting held in Brasília, on the afternoon of last Wednesday (24), the direct flight between the two cities was made official. Azul airline will be the company responsible for operating this new connection between the capital of Pernambuco and one of the main tourist destinations in Europe. The official announcement was attended by Mayor João Campos, Recife's Secretary of Tourism and Leisure, Antonio Coelho, Minister Silvio Costa Filho (Ports and Airports), the Ministry of Tourism and Embratur. The partnership with the Federal Government was relevant for consolidating this achievement for Recife.

The Portuguese market is of great relevance to Brazilians. A scenario that is evident in the numerous direct flights between Brazil and Portugal, operated by different airlines. In March 2024, there were 91 weekly flights, connecting the European country to several Brazilian cities. The implementation of the Recife–Porto flight establishes the capital of Pernambuco as a pioneer in the Northeast to offer direct flights to Porto. Currently, only São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro maintain this connection. The importance of this route is also evident in the growing interest of Pernambuco residents in European destinations. The Portuguese city, for example, is the 5th most popular destination for Pernambuco residents. 

This initiative articulated by Recife City Hall, through the Secretariat of Tourism and Leisure, is, therefore, strategically important as a key market to meet regional demand and consolidate the route as a vital link in international connectivity with the old continent. The city of Porto thus emerges as a new strategic option to expand connections with Europe, as well as to strengthen ties between Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil and Portugal.

The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, highlighted the importance of the new connection to the capital of Pernambuco. “This will greatly stimulate tourism in Pernambuco, in the Northeast. There is a great demand, because in addition to Recife, it will also be a hub for this flight, because many people can leave other destinations to go directly to Porto”, he assessed. 

In addition to solidifying the importance of Recife on the global stage, the new route will contribute to further promoting economic and tourist growth in the Northeast Region, reinforcing the position of the capital of Pernambuco as a strategic regional air hub. 

Recife currently has one daily flight to Lisbon and, from June, this number will increase to 13 weekly flights, via the airline TAP. At the moment, however, no airline offers direct flights between Recife and Porto airports. Most routes have one or more stops, with a history of connecting through the Portuguese capital.