Rio's Galeão Airport: Gateway To Brazil's Marvelous City

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is served by two airports: Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). Rio de Janeiro International Airport, also known as Galeão International Airport, is the main international airport serving Rio de Janeiro and is located about 20 kilometres north of the city centre. Santos Dumont Airport is the second airport serving Rio, but it is smaller and located just two kilometres from the city centre. It mostly serves domestic and budget flights.

Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport

The airport features two large terminals, both with 12 jetways, arranged in an oval shape. It is served by a variety of local and international airlines, including Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, American Airlines, Azul, British Airways, Lufthansa, and United Airlines, as well as Avianca, Gol, TAM Linhas Aéreas, and Varig. The airport handles both international and domestic flights, with destinations including Buenos Aires, Salvador, São Paulo, Lisbon, Madrid, and New York.

Over the years, the airport has undergone several upgrades and renovations to improve its infrastructure and capacity. In 2009, the Brazilian government announced an investment plan of R$819 million to upgrade the airport in preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2013, the airport was privatised, with the Group Aeroporto Rio de Janeiro, also known as RIOgaleão, taking over operations and implementing further developments. Today, the airport handles almost 15 million passengers annually and is an essential gateway to the popular Brazilian holiday region of Rio de Janeiro.

Santos Dumont Airport

The history of the airport can be traced back to the early 1930s when seaplanes operated the majority of domestic and international flights, using a terminal located at Calabouço Point. In 1934, land was reclaimed from the sea to create the airport's first runway, with a length of 1,300 feet (400 metres). The runway was extended to 2,300 feet (700 metres) in 1936, and on 30 November of that year, the airport received its first commercial flight. The airport complex was inaugurated on 16 October 1936 and was named Santos Dumont Airport, after the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont (1873–1932).

The construction of a new passenger terminal began in 1936, inspired by the Paris–Le Bourget Airport terminal. Its pioneering, modernist architectural features created a Brazilian national landmark. Construction was completed in 1947, and this building is still in use today. In the lobby of this terminal, now the arrivals terminal, two monumental paintings by Cadmo Fausto de Sousa can be seen: "Old Aviation" and "Modern Aviation".

Over the years, the airport's main runway has been extended several times, first to 2,300 feet (700 metres), then to 3,000 feet (910 metres), and finally to 4,340 feet (1,320 metres). The airport has two terminals, although Terminal 1 does not handle any flights. Santos Dumont Airport serves about 8 to 9 million passengers every year.

Transport options

Rio de Janeiro is served by two airports: Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG), also known as Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). Both airports offer a variety of transportation options for travellers.

Rio de Janeiro International Airport (GIG)

Rio de Janeiro International Airport is located 20 kilometres from the city centre. The airport provides access to ground transportation, including taxis provided by the Rio de Janeiro State Tourism Authority. Public buses are also available, connecting the airport to the city centre and popular beach resorts like Copacabana.

Santos Dumont Airport (SDU)

Santos Dumont Airport is the smaller of the two airports and is located just two kilometres from the city centre. It is easily accessible by car, train, taxi, or transfer service.

Travelling Between Airports

Travellers looking to transfer between the two airports can do so by car, shuttle service, or bus. The bus, Line 2101, departs every 20 minutes and takes about an hour to travel between the airports.

Getting Around Rio de Janeiro

Once in the city, travellers can get around Rio de Janeiro by foot, subway, taxi, or ridesharing services like Uber. The subway is an affordable and safe way to explore popular neighbourhoods in the South Zone, while taxis and ridesharing services are convenient for reaching major attractions. Renting a car is not recommended due to heavy traffic and challenging road conditions.

Passenger capacity

Rio de Janeiro is served by two airports: Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). GIG is the main and largest airport in Rio de Janeiro, located 20 kilometres from the city centre. It is served by both local and international airlines, including Aerolíneas Argentinas, Air France, American Airlines, Azul, British Airways, Lufthansa, and United Airlines. The airport features two large terminals, each with 12 jetways, and can handle almost 15 million passengers per year.

On 6 June 1967, the Brazilian government initiated studies to renovate airport infrastructure in the country due to the growth of air traffic. As a result, new passenger facilities were constructed at the Galeão Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro, and the first terminal (Passenger Terminal 1) opened on 20 January 1977. This terminal underwent its first major renovation in 1991, increasing its annual capacity to 7.5 million passengers per year. In 2009, an investment plan of R$819 million was unveiled to upgrade the airport, which included the renovation of Passenger Terminal 1 and the completion and renovation of Passenger Terminal 2.

In 2014, the airport's operator changed to the concessionary Rio Galeão, a consortium formed by the Brazilian investor Odebrecht and the Changi Airport Group. The new operator further upgraded the airport, constructing a new pier with 26 bridges, a new apron for 97 aircraft, and additional car parking spaces. These improvements increased the airport's capacity to handle over 16 million passengers per year.

The second airport, Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), is located just two kilometres from the city centre and mainly serves domestic and budget flights. It has two terminals and handles about nine million passengers annually.

History

Rio de Janeiro, commonly referred to as Rio, is a city in Brazil that is served by two airports: Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG) and Santos Dumont Airport (SDU). GIG, also known as Rio de Janeiro International Airport, is the main and largest airport in the city. It is located on Governador Island, about 20 kilometres north of the city centre. The airport handles both international and domestic flights and is served by various local and international airlines.

On 5 January 1999, the airport's name was changed to include a tribute to the Brazilian musician Antonio Carlos Jobim. The airport is now officially known as the Rio de Janeiro/Galeão–Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport. It is often abbreviated to GIG Airport or referred to by its original name, Galeão International Airport.

The airport was originally named after the neighbourhood of Galeão, located in front of the original passenger terminal (now the passenger terminal of the Brazilian Air Force). This beach is where the galleon Padre Eterno was built in 1663. On 10 May 1923, a School of Naval Aviation was established near Galeão Beach. On 22 May 1941, the school became the Galeão Air Force Base, and a terminal and hangars were built, with the runway extended. When Brazil entered World War II in 1942, the aerodrome was used extensively by the Allies for military operations.

In 1967, the Brazilian government initiated studies to renovate airport infrastructure in the country due to the growth of air traffic. As a result, new passenger facilities were constructed in the Galeão Air Force Base, and on 20 January 1977, all scheduled passenger flights were transferred to the new terminal, now known as Passenger Terminal 1. However, in 1985, the airport lost its status as the country's major international airport to the newly-opened São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport.

In recent years, GIG Airport has undergone upgrades, including the construction of a new pier with 26 bridges, a new apron for 97 aircraft, and additional car parking spaces. The airport is currently operated by the concessionary Rio Galeão, a consortium formed by the Brazilian investor Odebrecht and the Changi Airport Group.

Frequently asked questions