Sao Paulo Airport: A Sprawling Hub Of Aviation

São Paulo, Brazil's largest city, is served by three main airports: São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport (also known as Guarulhos Airport), São Paulo–Congonhas Airport, and Viracopos-Campinas International Airport. Guarulhos Airport, the primary international airport serving São Paulo, covers a total area of 13.774.086 square meters and has a passenger capacity of 31.4 million per year. The airport has two runways and three terminals, with a third lane and Terminal 3 currently under construction. Congonhas Airport, on the other hand, is located closer to downtown São Paulo and handles over 21 million passengers, mostly on domestic flights.

São Paulo Airport (GRU) is 25km from the city centre

São Paulo Airport, also known as São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (IATA: GRU, ICAO: SBGR), is located 25km northeast of downtown São Paulo. It is the main international airport serving the city of São Paulo and is the busiest airport in Brazil. With more than 36 million passengers annually, it is also the second busiest airport in Latin America.

The airport is commonly known as Guarulhos Airport, after the municipality of Guarulhos, in the state of São Paulo, where it is located. It is also sometimes called Cumbica Airport, named after the district where it is located and the Brazilian Air Force base within the airport complex. Since 2001, the airport has been officially named after André Franco Montoro, the former Governor of São Paulo state. In 2012, the airport was rebranded as GRU Airport.

São Paulo Airport has three terminals. Terminal 1 has Wings A and B, while Terminal 2 has Wings D and C. There is also a third lane and a new Terminal 3 under construction, along with a new Express rail service. The airport has two parallel runways, with Runway 10R/28L being 3,000 metres long and 45 metres wide, and Runway 10L/28R being 3,700 metres long and 60 metres wide.

There are several transport options available to get from the airport to the city centre. The quickest way is by train (Line 13), which takes about 45 minutes. There are also red and blue bus services that connect the airport to the city centre, although the journey takes an hour, and the waiting time between buses can be up to three hours. Passengers with connecting flights can also use the shuttle services provided by GOL and LATAM airlines, which operate daily between Guarulhos and Congonhas airports.

It's the busiest airport in Brazil

São Paulo Airport, also known as São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), is the busiest airport in Brazil. It is located in the municipality of Guarulhos, 25 km northeast of downtown São Paulo. The airport has a total area of 13,774,086 square meters and a passenger capacity of 31.4 million per year. However, it handles over 43 million passengers, making it the busiest airport in Brazil and the second busiest in Latin America.

São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport is a major hub for international travel to and from Brazil. It is Latin America's busiest international hub and the only Brazilian airport in the global top 100 for international travel. The airport features in 15 of Brazil's top 20 international routes, including Buenos Aires, Miami, New York, and Madrid. As a result, Guarulhos accounts for over 60% of all international seats to and from Brazil.

In addition to its international traffic, Guarulhos is also Brazil's largest domestic airport. It is one of seven Brazilian airports in the global top 100 for domestic travel, ranking 35th worldwide by domestic seats per week. Combined with São Paulo's other main airport, Congonhas, the city has nearly one million domestic seats per week. Congonhas Airport, located closer to the city centre, handles over 21 million passengers and serves as a hub for domestic flights within Brazil.

São Paulo's dominance in Brazil's aviation market is evident through its two main airports, Guarulhos and Congonhas, which together handle more than 64 million passengers. The city's extensive air traffic is a result of its position as Brazil's most populous city and a key international gateway. With its high passenger traffic and cargo handling, São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport plays a significant role in Brazil's aviation industry, solidifying its position as the busiest airport in the country.

The airport has 2 runways and 3 terminals

São Paulo Airport, officially known as São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport, is the primary airport serving São Paulo. It is also the largest airport in Brazil and one of the largest in the world. The airport is located in the municipality of Guarulhos, 25 kilometres northeast of downtown São Paulo.

Terminal 1 is located in Guarulhos Airport and offers a hotel called Fast Sleep on its ground floor. Terminals 2 and 3 are where the shuttles to and from Congonhas Airport are located. Congonhas Airport is the closest airport to São Paulo's city centre, located just 8 kilometres away, and can be reached in 36 minutes by bus.

Both runways at São Paulo Airport are parallel. Runway 10R/28L is 3,000 metres long and 45 metres wide, while runway 10L/28R is 3,700 metres long and 60 metres wide. Runway 10R/28L is primarily used for landings, while runway 10L/28R is used for takeoffs.

It's also known as Guarulhos Airport

São Paulo Airport, also known as Guarulhos Airport, is the main international airport serving the city of São Paulo, Brazil. It is located in the municipality of Guarulhos, 25km northeast of downtown São Paulo. The airport is spread over 13,774,086 square meters and has a passenger capacity of 31.4 million per year.

Guarulhos Airport has three terminals: Terminal 1 with Wings A and B, and Terminal 2 with Wings C and D. Terminal 3, capable of handling 12 million passengers per year, was constructed in 2011 and opened in 2013. In 2015, the terminals were renumbered, with the former Terminals 1 and 2 becoming the new Terminal 2, and the former Terminal 4 becoming the new Terminal 1.

Guarulhos Airport is the busiest airport in Brazil and the second busiest in Latin America, handling more than 36 million passengers. It is also one of the largest airports in the world. The airport has slot restrictions, operating with a maximum of 45 operations per hour. It has been recognised for its punctuality, ranking second in the world in 2017 and 2019 and first in Latin America.

The airport offers a range of amenities, including hotels, restaurants, shops, and lounges. It provides easy access to the city centre, with the quickest route being the train (Line 13), which takes about 45 minutes.

Congonhas Airport is the closest airport to the city centre

The airport is named after the neighbourhood in which it is located, Vila Congonhas, which was itself named after the shrub known in Brazil as congonha-do-campo. Congonhas Airport first opened in 1936, initially serving as the private airport of VASP. In 1957, it was the third busiest airport in the world for air cargo. Today, it is the second busiest airport in Brazil by passenger traffic, handling over 21 million passengers.

Congonhas Airport handles domestic flights only, serving as a hub for state carrier LATAM Brasil, as well as low-cost airlines such as Gol Airlines and Azul Brazilian Airlines. The airport is conveniently located close to major business areas, including Paulista, Faria Lima, and Luís Carlos Berrini avenues, making it a favourite among business travellers.

While Congonhas Airport is the closest to the city centre, it does not have any hotels within its premises. However, there are several hotels in the vicinity, including Hotel Ponte Aerea, which is just a 600-metre walk from the airport. The airport offers two hours of free Wi-Fi, and there are various transportation options available to get to the city centre, including bus, taxi, Uber, or tram.

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