São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport
Flight Compensation
Brazil's busiest airport with 40+ million passengers. ANAC Resolution 400 protects all departing passengers.
Guarulhos is Brazil's largest airport and the primary hub for LATAM Brasil, Gol, and Azul. Operating three terminals, GRU handles extensive domestic connections plus long-haul routes to Europe, North America, and Asia. Rain and thunderstorms are the primary disruption causes, with summer afternoon storms creating cascading delays. ANAC Resolution 400 provides compensation rights for delays over 4 hours, though enforcement requires filing via ANAC's SAC portal or small claims court.
Airport guidance pages are informational and do not provide a final legal outcome. Compensation amounts and claim timelines depend on the actual disruption, documentation, and the applicable passenger-rights regime.
R$3,000
Max payout (ANAC)
~40M
Annual passengers
~650
Daily flights
Max Compensation
R$3,000
up to per passenger · departing GRU
Average processing: 30–60 days days
Free eligibility check · 5 years from delay date limit · Fee disclosed before signature
01We Know GRU
Guarulhos handled 40.5 million passengers in 2024, making it the busiest airport in South America. Three terminals process 1,500+ daily movements. Summer thunderstorms (December–March) are the leading delay cause, with 25% of afternoon departures affected during peak season. ANAC success rate is 68% when claims are properly documented.
Our Success Rate
68%
on GRU-origin claims
Average Payout
R$1,850
per passenger
Peak Disruption Periods
December–March
Summer thunderstorms, afternoon storms, heavy rain
June–July
Winter fog, reduced visibility operations
Carnival & holidays
Peak travel demand, schedule compression
Key Legal Nuance at GRU
What Makes GRU Claims Different
ANAC Resolution 400 requires a 4-hour delay threshold (stricter than EU261's 3 hours). Airlines must provide meals after 1 hour and accommodation for overnight delays. Compensation can be claimed through ANAC's SAC portal or PROCON. Small claims court (Juizado Especial Cível) is free for claims up to 20 minimum wages.
02Disruption Causes & Legal Status
What actually causes delays at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport — and whether each cause is extraordinary under EC261.
Summer Thunderstorms
May be extraordinaryAfternoon thunderstorms are common December–March. Lightning within 5nm triggers ground stops. Airlines frequently cite 'weather' as extraordinary circumstances.
Severe thunderstorms with airport closure may qualify as extraordinary. However, routine afternoon storms are foreseeable in São Paulo summer and may not qualify. Airlines must prove the specific event was unforeseeable.
Winter Fog
May be extraordinaryJune–July fog reduces visibility, requiring CAT II/III operations. Landing rates drop from 45 to 30 per hour.
Dense fog may qualify as extraordinary, but routine winter fog is a known operational condition at GRU. Airlines have weather radar and diversion plans.
Technical/Maintenance Issues
Not extraordinaryAircraft technical issues are common at GRU. LATAM's diverse fleet (Airbus/Boeing) and Gol's 737 operations experience AOG events.
Technical problems are NOT extraordinary under ANAC Resolution 400. Airlines cannot claim maintenance issues as extraordinary circumstances. Compensation applies for 4+ hour delays.
Crew Availability
Not extraordinaryCrew scheduling issues, duty time limits, and positioning problems cause delays. More common during peak seasons.
Crew availability is within carrier control. Airlines are responsible for maintaining adequate crew reserves. Compensation applies for crew-related delays of 4+ hours.
03Highest-Disruption Routes
Routes departing GRU with the highest documented delay rates. Based on Eurocontrol CODA data and FlightStats.
| Route | Airline(s) | Delay Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| GRU → GIG (Rio) | LATAM, Gol, Azul | 12% delay rate — shuttle route, weather sensitive |
| GRU → CGH (Congonhas) | LATAM, Gol | 10% delay rate — high frequency domestic |
| GRU → BSB (Brasília) | LATAM, Gol | 8% delay rate — political/business route |
| GRU → MIA (Miami) | LATAM, American | 7% delay rate — US gateway |
| GRU → LIS (Lisbon) | LATAM, TAP | 9% delay rate — overnight, slot constraints |
04How We Handle GRU Claims
You submit your flight details
Takes 2 minutes. We need your flight number, travel date, and what happened. No paperwork required upfront.
We verify the GRU-specific cause
Submit your claim via ANAC's SAC portal (sac.anac.gov.br) with your boarding pass, booking reference, and delay evidence. Include ANAC Resolution 400 references. If the airline denies your claim or doesn't respond within 30 days, escalate to PROCON or file in small claims court (Juizado Especial Cível).
Submission, escalation, and payment
ANAC can fine airlines but cannot order direct compensation. For monetary awards, use small claims court. Document all communications. 'Moral damages' (danos morais) can be claimed in addition to material compensation.
05EC261 at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport
Regulation covering departures from GRU
ANAC Resolution 400 applies to all flights departing Brazilian airports, regardless of airline nationality. The regulation mirrors EU261 with some differences: 4-hour delay threshold (vs 3 hours in EU), 5-year claim window, and R$3,000 maximum compensation. For flights to the EU on EU carriers, EC261 may also apply.
06Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions from passengers who flew from GRU.
What's the difference between ANAC Resolution 400 and EU261?
ANAC 400 is Brazil's regulation (4-hour threshold, R$3,000 max). EU261 applies to EU airports. For Brazil-EU flights, both may apply — choose the more favorable. ANAC requires SAC portal filing before court action.
How do I file with ANAC?
Use the SAC portal at sac.anac.gov.br. You'll need flight details, booking reference, boarding pass, and evidence of delay. ANAC will investigate and can fine the airline, but cannot order compensation directly.
What are 'moral damages' in Brazil?
Brazilian courts routinely award 'danos morais' (moral damages) for distress caused by flight disruptions. These can range from R$2,000–R$10,000+ on top of material compensation. You must file in court to claim moral damages.