Ceará-Italy Route

Ceará negotiates flights with ITA Airways to connect Fortaleza to Italy, says newspaper.

Ceará targets ITA Airways and offers subsidies of up to R$ 10 million for flights to Europe.

Published

January 7, 2026

The government of Ceará is negotiating with ITA Airways for direct flights to Europe, avoiding connections in São Paulo or Rio | Photo: Alexandre Doumenjou/Master Films

The Government of the State of Ceará is seeking to attract the Italian airline. ITA Airways to operate direct routes between Fortaleza and Italy, says the newspaper O PovoThe state government published in the Official Gazette the rules for granting economic subsidies of up to R$ 10,12 million per year.

The measure aims to support companies that establish international flights departing from Pinto Martins International Airport. According to Eduardo Bismarck, head of the Ceará Tourism Secretariat. (Setur)The goal is to ensure legal certainty at the start of operations and facilitate direct access to the European continent.

"The State Government is interested in expanding the Ceará-Europe route. This is a formal act that serves to support us in the negotiations." (OK) "For new companies that arrive or those that already have negotiations underway, such as Iberia, which has already announced flights starting in January," Bismarck pointed out.

The Spanish company Iberia is expected to be the first to benefit, with flights to Madrid scheduled for January 2026. However, the ITA Airways It remains on the radar of interests for the Ceará state government to create a direct connection with Italy, reducing the need for passengers from the Northeast to travel to airports in the Southeast.

The amount of the aid depends on the number of weekly visits. Companies with 156 visits per year receive R$ 4,03 million. The maximum amount of R$ 10,12 million is for those who carry out 365 visits per year.

Ceará is negotiating flights with ITA Airways to connect Fortaleza to Italy without a connection in São Paulo | Photo: Massimiliano Ciriaci

To guarantee the benefit, the company must operate at least three weekly flights. In addition to reducing financial risk, the government requires reciprocal obligations from the companies. "Besides diluting the airline's risk and guaranteeing the flight, the State is allowing the flight to become established," stated the secretary.

Interested companies must submit a project demonstrating economic viability and impact on tourism flow. The subsidy will be paid at the end of each year of operation, upon presentation of supporting documentation.