COP30 host city gains direct flight to Miami

By Fabyo Cruz – From Cenarium

BELÉM (PA) – As the 30th Climate Change Conference (COP30) approaches and tourism in Pará continues to grow, GOL Linhas Aéreas announced on Friday, the 21st, a new international route connecting Belém to Miami. The flight, which will operate twice weekly, is part of the state government’s strategy to enhance accessibility to the Amazon and boost visitor traffic to the region.

Ticket sales will commence next Monday, the 24th. Fares for the new Belém-Miami route will start at an estimated R$ 1,500 per leg. This will be the airline’s second international operation from the Pará state capital, which already has flights to Paramaribo, Suriname. Currently, the North region also maintains a connection between Manaus and Miami, reinstated in 2022.

The new route positions Belém as a key connection hub in the Amazon, particularly at a strategic moment, as the city prepares to host COP30. The announcement was made during a meeting between the Pará government, the airline, and representatives of Norte da Amazônia Airports (NOA), the concessionaire responsible for managing Belém International Airport.

Connection with the United States

The new route will feature two weekly flights, operating on Thursdays and Sundays. Departures from Belém will take place at 11:00 p.m., arriving in Miami at 3:30 a.m. The return flights will depart at 9:45 a.m., landing in the Pará state capital at 4:30 p.m. During COP30, scheduled for November, flight frequency will be increased to accommodate the surge in visitors and event participants.

For Governor Helder Barbalho, the launch of this route strengthens Belém’s status as one of Brazil’s key destinations, boosting both tourism and the local economy. “We are not just talking about Miami but about connections to 65 other cities in the United States. This expands opportunities for visitors and reinforces our strategy for job creation, income generation, and economic development,” he stated.

The expansion of Pará’s air network aligns with the state’s growing airport infrastructure. Belém International Airport is currently undergoing a R$ 400 million modernisation project, with completion expected by August 2025. The government is also investing in improvements to other regional airports, including those in Santarém, Marabá, Parauapebas, and Altamira.

Alberto Fajerman, Strategic Presidential Advisor at GOL, highlighted the significance of the new route in increasing tourist flows to the Amazon. “The efforts of the state and the airport in providing infrastructure compatible with this growth mean that GOL is also contributing by offering this new direct connection to the United States,” he said. He also revealed that, during COP30, the airline’s network will be expanded, potentially doubling or even tripling the number of flights.

Translated from Portuguese by Gustô Alves
(*) With information from Agência Pará