Voepass
Brazilian regional airline that operated scheduled domestic services before being grounded and losing its air operator certificate in 2025.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Voepass Linhas Aéreas was a Brazilian regional airline headquartered in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. The business began operations in 1995 as Passaredo Transportes Aéreos, founded by José Luiz Felício, whose family also owned the intercity bus company Viação Passaredo. It initially used Embraer EMB-120 Brasília turboprops to connect Ribeirão Preto with a range of Brazilian cities. Although it experimented with larger aircraft and charter operations, the company’s long-term identity was shaped by regional scheduled flying and the challenge of serving airports and markets that were less attractive to Brazil’s largest airlines. Passaredo suspended operations in 2002 during financial difficulties and returned to service in 2004 as Passaredo Linhas Aéreas. During the following decade it rebuilt its network, introduced Embraer ERJ-145 and ERJ-135 regional jets, and later moved toward ATR turboprops, whose economics and runway performance were better suited to lower-demand regional routes. The company entered judicial reorganization in 2012. Its commercial history included cooperation with TAM, later LATAM Airlines, and GOL Linhas Aéreas. A proposed sale to Viação Itapemirim in 2017 was not completed. In 2019 Passaredo acquired MAP Linhas Aéreas and announced the Voepass name. The combination expanded its presence in underserved markets and gave it access to a larger operational platform, although the two businesses initially retained separate operating structures. Voepass also became an important capacity provider for GOL and later maintained commercial arrangements with LATAM. In 2021 GOL acquired MAP’s Congonhas Airport slots and related assets for reported consideration, while Voepass continued to operate MAP-related routes and its air operator certificate. The company joined IATA in 2022 and ALTA in 2022, and in 2023 LATAM began selling tickets for a number of destinations operated by Voepass or its MAP operation. The airline’s network was reduced after the end or restructuring of parts of its GOL capacity-purchase relationship in 2023, while its cooperation with LATAM and charter activity continued. In 2024 it announced additional regional destinations and a tourism partnership with CVC. The fatal crash of Flight 2283 near Vinhedo, São Paulo, on August 9, 2024, brought intense scrutiny of the airline’s safety, maintenance, and management systems. Voepass subsequently changed senior responsibilities, reduced or reorganized its network, and stopped selling many of its own destinations directly through its website. Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency, ANAC, suspended all Voepass operations on March 11, 2025, citing unresolved non-conformities in management systems and failures to meet required safety conditions. LATAM terminated its codeshare relationship the next day. Voepass later sought judicial reorganization amid severe financial pressure and workforce reductions. On June 24, 2025, ANAC permanently revoked the airline’s Air Operator Certificate, effectively ending its ability to operate commercial flights. The brand therefore represents a defunct Brazilian regional-airline business whose history combined network development, repeated financial restructuring, partnerships with larger carriers, and a final regulatory shutdown.
History
Voepass began as Passaredo Transportes Aéreos on July 3, 1995. Founded by José Luiz Felício, the airline used Embraer EMB-120 Brasília aircraft on routes connecting Ribeirão Preto with cities including Teresina, Goiânia, Brasília, São Paulo, Curitiba, São José dos Campos, Belo Horizonte, and Vitória da Conquista. In 1997 it briefly operated Airbus A310 aircraft for domestic and international charter services, an unusual departure from its regional-airline profile. It also introduced ATR 42 aircraft, but the currency crisis associated with Brazil’s 1999 devaluation made the fleet difficult to sustain. Financial pressure led Passaredo to suspend all flights on April 4, 2002. The company returned in March 2004 as Passaredo Linhas Aéreas, separated from the wider Passaredo Group and initially operating a reactivated EMB-120. It progressively rebuilt its fleet and network. In 2008 it announced a plan centered on Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets, and during 2009 opened or resumed service to a broad group of Brazilian destinations. It later concluded that the jets were too large or expensive for some markets and shifted toward ATR turboprops. The airline entered judicial reorganization in October 2012, but continued flying while restructuring its finances and fleet. Passaredo maintained commercial relationships with Brazil’s major airlines. It cooperated with TAM, later LATAM, and operated with GOL under an operational partnership that was renewed in 2017. In 2017 Passaredo was sold to Viação Itapemirim, but the transaction was rescinded after contractual problems. In June 2019 it entered a capacity-purchase arrangement with GOL, operating regional services marketed by GOL from Brasília and other hubs. On August 21, 2019, Passaredo acquired MAP Linhas Aéreas, including slots at São Paulo–Congonhas Airport, and announced the Voepass identity. The two operations were initially managed separately but were subsequently integrated in important respects. In 2021 GOL acquired MAP’s Congonhas slots and related assets, while Voepass retained MAP operations described in the company’s historical account. GOL and Voepass later adjusted their capacity-purchase arrangements, and a substantial number of destinations previously flown for GOL were suspended in 2023. Voepass expanded its relationship with LATAM during 2023. LATAM sold tickets for numerous regional destinations flown by Voepass and the MAP operation, while Voepass continued to serve markets such as the Northeast, South, and Amazon regions. The company joined IATA in November 2022 and ALTA shortly afterward. It also pursued tourism and charter opportunities, including an exclusive arrangement with CVC announced in September 2023. In February 2024 it announced new destinations including Cascavel, Caxias do Sul, Florianópolis, Maringá, Presidente Prudente, and Rio Verde. Reports in 2024 suggested a possible LATAM investment or acquisition, but LATAM stated that it had not acquired control of Voepass. The arrangement submitted for antitrust review involved slot exchanges and financial instruments that could potentially have permitted a future minority interest, rather than a completed takeover. The crash of Flight 2283 on August 9, 2024, became the decisive crisis in the airline’s history. The accident generated scrutiny of maintenance, safety management, and executive oversight. Voepass reorganized its leadership in September, with José Luiz Felício Filho taking on chief executive and operating responsibilities and Eduardo Busch moving to a legal role before subsequently leaving the company. By November, the airline’s own website no longer sold many of its independent destinations, and the remaining network was heavily dependent on LATAM-marketed capacity and other contracts. ANAC suspended all Voepass operations on March 11, 2025, citing unresolved regulatory non-conformities and the company’s inability to correct identified deficiencies. LATAM ended its codeshare the following day. Voepass subsequently reduced its workforce and filed for judicial reorganization in April 2025 amid serious financial difficulties. On June 24, 2025, ANAC permanently revoked its air operator certificate. This regulatory action ended Voepass’s authorized airline operations and transformed the brand from an active regional carrier into a defunct airline subject to insolvency and legal proceedings.
- 2025
Operations suspended and certificate revoked
[3]ANAC first suspends all operations and later permanently revokes Voepass’s air operator certificate.
- 2024
Flight 2283 crash
[2]A fatal accident near Vinhedo leads to major regulatory and organizational scrutiny.
- 2022
Industry association memberships
[1]Voepass joins IATA and ALTA.
- 2019
MAP acquisition and Voepass rebrand
[1]Passaredo acquires MAP Linhas Aéreas and adopts the Voepass name.
- 2012
Judicial reorganization begins
[1]Passaredo seeks protection under Brazil’s judicial reorganization framework while continuing operations.
- 2004
Passaredo returns to service
[1]The airline resumes operations as Passaredo Linhas Aéreas.
- 2002
Operations suspended
[1]Financial difficulties lead Passaredo to ground its fleet and suspend flights.
- 1995
Passaredo begins operations
[1]Passaredo Transportes Aéreos starts scheduled regional service with Embraer EMB-120 aircraft.
Products and positioning
Regional connectivity provider focused on linking smaller and medium-sized Brazilian cities with major hubs and tourism destinations. Its business model relied on turboprop operations, partnerships with larger airlines, charter flying, and access to markets underserved by Brazil’s principal carriers.
Passenger aviation · 1995
Scheduled regional passenger flights
Voepass’s core offering was scheduled domestic passenger transportation within Brazil. The airline concentrated on regional links between smaller cities, state capitals, and major airline hubs, using aircraft suited to lower-density routes and airports with more limited infrastructure.
Airline partnership services · 2010
Capacity-purchase and codeshare services
Through agreements with GOL and LATAM, Voepass operated flights that were marketed partly or wholly through larger carriers. These arrangements supplied traffic, distribution, and connecting itineraries while allowing the partner airlines to reach regional destinations without operating every flight themselves.
Charter aviation · 1997
Charter and tourism flights
The airline also operated charter and tourism-oriented services. Its historical activities included larger-aircraft charter flying in the late 1990s and later partnerships intended to connect Brazilian departure cities with leisure destinations in the Northeast and other tourism markets.
Controversies
2025
Regulatory suspension and certificate revocation
ANAC suspended Voepass after identifying unresolved deficiencies in management systems and later permanently revoked its air operator certificate, citing repeated safety and systemic failures.
2024
Flight 2283 fatal crash
The crash of Voepass Flight 2283 near Vinhedo, São Paulo, caused a total loss of life aboard the aircraft and resulted in heightened scrutiny of the carrier’s safety, maintenance, and management practices.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023CVC exclusive tourism partnership
Brazil
Voepass and Brazilian tour operator CVC announced exclusive flights from several cities to leisure destinations including Porto Seguro, Ilhéus, Ilha de Comandatuba, and Caldas Novas.
Outcome. The program was planned to provide approximately 70,000 seats during the initial December 2023–February 2024 period, with availability intended to continue into 2025.
Brand decisions
2025
File for judicial reorganizationOtherBackground
After regulatory suspension, workforce reductions, and severe financial pressure, Voepass sought protection under Brazil’s judicial reorganization system.
Action taken
The airline filed for judicial reorganization in April 2025.
Aftermath
The filing did not restore flight operations, and ANAC subsequently revoked the airline’s certificate permanently.
2024
Operational restructuring after Flight 2283StrategyBackground
The fatal crash and subsequent questions about maintenance and safety management placed the company under intense scrutiny.
Action taken
Voepass changed senior responsibilities, dismissed several operational directors, reduced its network, and shifted toward flights marketed through LATAM and contractual operations.
Aftermath
The airline became increasingly dependent on partner-marketed flying before ANAC suspended all operations in March 2025.
2023
Restructure GOL capacity-purchase relationshipStrategyBackground
Changes in Brazil’s slot and airline regulatory framework led GOL and Voepass to revise their commercial arrangements.
Action taken
The parties finalized changes effective May 9, 2023, resulting in the suspension of numerous destinations previously operated for GOL.
Aftermath
Voepass increased its reliance on LATAM distribution and its own remaining regional, charter, and contract operations.
2021
Transfer of MAP-related slots and assets to GOLM&ABackground
GOL sought access to MAP’s Congonhas Airport position and associated regional aviation assets.
Action taken
GOL acquired MAP-related slots and assets; the referenced history reports consideration of R$120 million.
Aftermath
Voepass continued the MAP operating activities described in the historical record, while GOL gained the Congonhas slot position.
Reported transaction consideration. R$120 million (2021)
2019
Acquire MAP Linhas Aéreas and rebrand as VoepassM&ABackground
Passaredo sought to broaden its regional network and strengthen its access to underserved markets and Congonhas Airport slots.
Action taken
The company purchased MAP Linhas Aéreas and announced the Voepass identity.
Aftermath
The combined platform became the basis for later Voepass operations, although MAP-related activities retained distinct elements for a period.
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