São Paulo’s traffic is horrendous. But if you’re rich enough, you can avoid it. With the world’s largest fleet of private choppers, a reported 1,300 helicopter flights lift off daily, ferrying an ultra-wealthy handful around this megacity of 12 million—the lucky few that can afford $1,000 trips across town.

Picture their aircraft gliding above traffic jams that stretch for literally more than 100 miles. Picture them sailing over the massive protests that broke out in 2013, the height of São Paulo…