By Brazil Stock Guide – The 55 airplanes and helicopters parked at Campo de Marte Airport are the most visible part of LABACE 2026. Behind the polished fuselages, however, lies a market no longer driven by aircraft sales alone. Brazil’s expanding fleet is supporting a recurring-revenue ecosystem spanning maintenance, fuel, connectivity, hangarage, training, aircraft management and ground services.
The 21st edition of Latin America’s largest business aviation show opens Tuesday, August 4, in São Paulo and runs through Thursday. The event comes as Brazil’s business aviation fleet approaches 11,400 aircraft, keeping the country in second place worldwide behind the United States.
Growth has been strongest at the upper end of the market. Figures for May compiled by Brazil’s General Aviation Association, or ABAG, from data provided by civil aviation regulator ANAC show 1,193 business jets in operation, an increase of 12.5% over 12 months. The turboprop fleet expanded by 7.6%, while the number of turbine-powered helicopters rose by 7.1%.
Aircraft utilization has also increased. Brazil recorded 94,800 business aviation takeoffs and landings in April, up 12.18% from 84,500 movements in the same period of 2025, according to ABAG.
“LABACE has established itself as Latin America’s leading platform for relationship-building, networking and dealmaking in business aviation,” ABAG CEO Flávio Pires said. “The presence of the industry’s largest companies underscores not only the importance of the event, but also the strength of the current business aviation market in Brazil.”
This year’s show is seeking to surpass an edition that had already set significant benchmarks. LABACE attracted more than 14,000 visitors, displayed 54 aircraft and brought together more than 150 brands in 2025. Deals involving aircraft, parts and equipment that were initiated or completed during the three-day event were estimated at approximately $150 million.
Embraer Grows Behind the Scenes
Although Embraer has not announced a corporate display at LABACE 2026, aircraft from its Phenom and Praetor families are being brought to the show by operators, owners and aircraft sales companies. That indirect presence reflects both the size of Embraer’s installed base in Brazil and the expansion of the new and pre-owned aircraft markets.
Embraer SA (EMBJ3 e EMBJ US) delivered 45 business jets in the second quarter, an increase of 18% from a year earlier and 55% from the first three months of 2026.
Deliveries reached 74 aircraft in the first half. Embraer expects to deliver between 160 and 170 business jets this year, exceeding the record of 155 set in 2025. The executive aviation division’s backlog reached $7.8 billion at the end of June, up 5% over 12 months, while Embraer’s total backlog climbed to a record $34.5 billion.
The company has also refreshed its portfolio with the Phenom 300EV, unveiled in July as the latest evolution of a model that has ranked as the world’s best-selling light jet for 14 consecutive years. The aircraft will offer a range of as much as 2,055 nautical miles, a top speed of Mach 0.80 and Garmin Emergency Autoland, which can take control and land the aircraft automatically if the pilot becomes incapacitated.
The new Phenom also incorporates two trends running through LABACE: automation and connectivity. It will offer factory-installed Gogo Galileo low-Earth-orbit satellite internet, while Starlink connectivity is expected to become available later as a retrofit. Initial deliveries are scheduled for 2028.
Embraer has also secured concurrent certification from ANAC, the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for the new Praetor 500E and Praetor 600E.
The aircraft will feature redesigned cabins and upgraded connectivity and entertainment systems. The Praetor 600E will also include a 42-inch 4K OLED display capable of showing external camera views of the aircraft. Deliveries for new orders are scheduled to begin in 2029.
The Aircraft Is Only the Entry Point
Brazil’s expanding fleet is reshaping the economics of the industry. Every aircraft sold creates years of demand for inspections, parts, training, fuel, insurance, connectivity, hangar space and management services. That recurring aftermarket revenue explains why so many companies are arriving at LABACE under the one-stop-shop banner.
TAM Aviação Executiva is the show’s largest exhibitor for the ninth consecutive year. The company brought eight aircraft: Citation Latitude, M2 and CJ3+ jets; King Air 360 and Grand Caravan EX turboprops; a Turbo Skylane single-engine piston aircraft; and Bell 505 and Bell 429 helicopters.
TAM AE has sold more than 200 aircraft over the past three years, including jets, turboprops, piston aircraft and helicopters. Helicopter sales more than doubled between 2023 and 2025, according to the company, driven by demand for the Bell 505. Brazil has taken approximately 15% of all Bell 505s produced worldwide.
The aircraft, however, is only the beginning of TAM’s offering. The company combines new and pre-owned aircraft sales with maintenance, repairs, upgrades, training, ground handling, charter services, hangarage and aircraft management.
TAM is also expanding its infrastructure at Pampulha Airport in Belo Horizonte, where it is preparing to open a new hangar. The company has also added three mobile maintenance units covering Brazil’s Southeast, South and Center-West regions.
In July, TAM simultaneously achieved Stage 3 — the highest level — of the IS-BAH and IS-BAO international certifications, which cover ground handling and flight operations, respectively. According to the company, it is the only Latin American operator to hold the highest level of both certifications at the same time.
Líder Aviação is pursuing a similar strategy. The centerpiece of its display is the HondaJet Elite II, a light jet known for its distinctive over-the-wing engine configuration. Around the aircraft, Líder is presenting a portfolio that includes maintenance, charter services, aircraft management, ground handling, aircraft sales and helicopter operations for the oil and gas industry.
“Líder’s strength lies in its ability to offer comprehensive solutions throughout the customer’s entire journey,” CEO Junia Hermont said. “At LABACE 2026, we are reinforcing that advantage by combining technological innovation, technical expertise and an integrated portfolio of services.”
Líder is also showcasing progress in its partnership with Beta Technologies to develop the ecosystem required for the future operation of electric aircraft in Brazil.
Other announced highlights of the static display include Bombardier’s Challenger 3500, the Pilatus PC-12 PRO, Cirrus Vision Jet G3, Helibras ACH145 helicopter and Daher TBM 980 turboprop.
The Race for the Connected Cabin
Connectivity has become one of the most competitive areas of the business aviation aftermarket. A business jet is no longer merely a means of transportation. It has become an extension of the office, requiring internet service capable of supporting video conferences, streaming and large file transfers while in flight.
Líder is highlighting its installation of Gogo Galileo HDX low-Earth-orbit satellite internet systems on ultra-long-range business jets. According to the company, one project was completed in 12 business days, approximately 40% faster than the average industry timetable, and delivered speeds of up to 200 Mbps.
The company is also expanding its work on flight-deck modernization projects using the Garmin G5000 system. These retrofits can extend an aircraft’s economic life, improve its operating capabilities and generate specialized demand for certified maintenance centers and engineers.
TAM AE is investing in the same market. The company has developed proprietary engineering projects and Supplemental Type Certificates for the installation of satellite internet systems on aircraft already in operation. In June, it announced the first installation of Gogo Galileo on a Phenom 300 in Brazil using an internally developed project approved by ANAC.
The convergence around Gogo Galileo illustrates the competitive landscape. Embraer plans to offer the system as a factory installation on the future Phenom 300EV, while TAM and Líder are competing to install and upgrade connectivity systems across the existing fleet.
The business therefore does not end when a customer selects an aircraft. It continues throughout the aircraft’s operating life as new equipment, avionics and digital services are added.
Fuel Becomes a Service Platform
BR Aviation, the aviation fuel arm of Vibra Energia SA (VBBR3 BZ), arrives at LABACE with approximately 4,200 customers and a presence at more than 90 airports. The company says it fuels six out of every 10 flights in Brazil.
Its strategy is designed to turn fuel supply into a broader service platform. The Beyond EFB digital platform allows customers to check fuel prices, schedule refueling, monitor purchase histories, pay invoices and hire specialized service providers at airports across Brazil.
The other major front is sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF. BR Aviation was a pioneer in the commercial supply of SAF and in introducing the book-and-claim model in Brazil. Under this system, customers can purchase and account for the environmental benefits of sustainable fuel even when SAF is not physically available at the airport from which they operate.
Alongside Bunge and Petrobras, the company also participated in the commercialization of the first SAF produced from Brazilian soybeans certified as presenting a low risk of indirect land-use change.
According to Vibra, the fuel has the potential to reduce lifecycle emissions by approximately 70% compared with conventional jet fuel.
Scale and cost remain the main challenges. SAF still costs several times more than fossil-based jet fuel and represents less than 1% of worldwide aviation fuel consumption. Even so, it is widely regarded as the main available option for reducing aviation emissions over the short and medium term.
New Ways to Access an Aircraft
Brazil’s market growth is also being supported by business models that do not require customers to own an aircraft outright. Fractional ownership, prepaid flight-hour programs, charter services and third-party aircraft management are beginning to lower the financial and operational barriers for new users.
Under these models, customers can share fixed costs or hire a company to handle crews, insurance, maintenance, hangarage and flight planning. For service providers, managing third-party aircraft makes it possible to expand the available fleet without committing an equivalent amount of capital.
This helps explain why LABACE brings together not only manufacturers, but also charter companies, fractional ownership operators, insurance providers, maintenance centers, parts suppliers, technology companies and airport operators.
Regulation Moves Onto the Tarmac
LABACE also has a regulatory and institutional agenda. Ports and Airports Minister Tomé Franca is attending the opening ceremony and participating in a special panel.
The program includes discussions about the effects of Brazil’s Fuel of the Future Law from 2027, tax reform, flight safety, air traffic management, sustainability, drone operations and the initial experience with the country’s simplified air-taxi initiative, known locally as Táxi Aéreo Simples.
The presence of government officials and ANAC underscores how fleet growth also requires changes in infrastructure, oversight and regulation. The challenge will be to accommodate expansion without compromising safety standards in an industry that encompasses everything from small piston-powered aircraft to intercontinental jets and offshore helicopters.
More than a showcase for expensive machines, LABACE 2026 offers a snapshot of an industry becoming increasingly professional and service-oriented. The aircraft draw the crowds, but the economic value is increasingly found in the contracts and services required to keep them available, safe, connected and flying.
At Campo de Marte, the fuselage may still be the star. The cash flow, however, lies in everything that comes after the sale.
Service: LABACE 2026 runs from August 4 through August 6 at Campo de Marte Airport in São Paulo. The show is open from noon to 8 p.m. on August 4 and 5, and from noon to 7 p.m. on August 6. More info: https://labace.com.br/
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