Congonhas airport, operated by Aena, received a favorable opinion from the SAC (National Secretariat of Civil Aviation), an organization linked to the Ministry of Ports and Airports, regarding the request for resumption of international flights presented by the concessionaire.
The SAC statement recognizes that Aena’s proposal is aligned with the guidelines of the PNAC (National Civil Aviation Policy) and the PAN (National Aviation Plan), after technical analysis of demand studies, use of infrastructure and the airport expansion plan.
“The internationalization of Congonhas is an important step in the project to modernize the airport of the capital São Paulo. We are in conversation with several organizations to make this achievement possible. Given the convenience of having a central, efficient, fast and very punctual international airport, with a new modern and comfortable terminal with first-rate services within the main metropolis of the southern hemisphere, this opens a huge opportunity to take a new step in connectivity, economic development and regional integration”, said Congonhas Airport Executive Director Kléber Meira.
With a favorable opinion, the process moves to the next stages of evaluation with other competent bodies. Regular international operations are expected to start in 2028, alongside the delivery of the new terminal.
The proposal provides for regular international passenger flights, focusing on short and medium distance routes in South America. This initiative is part of the airport expansion and modernization project.
With investments of more than 2 billion reais, the work is underway. By June 2028, according to Aena, a new passenger terminal will be delivered, an expansion of boarding bridges from 12 to 19 currently, a new aircraft parking area, new airline hangars and operational efficiency improvements.
The project also includes the adaptation of the infrastructure necessary for the activities of the bodies responsible for migration, customs, health and agricultural controls, guaranteeing compliance with national and international standards of security, protection and facilitation of air transport.
The first phase of internationalization should begin with business aviation, i.e. jet aircraft. Commercial flight operations are expected to begin in July 2028, when the airport expansion works are completed.
As part of the restructuring, the number of aircraft positions on the apron will increase from the current 30 to 37, with 19 decks (“fingers”) with direct access to aircraft – today there are 12.
Flights must be mainly directed to South American countries – the Congonhas runway, 1,940 meters long, does not accommodate planes for longer routes, such as transoceanic.
“Having an air bridge to the Aeroparque (Buenos Aires) or Santiago, where people can connect to other routes, is an absurd potential,” Meira said in August.
According to him, with the modernization of the airport, the new positions on the apron will be able to accommodate aircraft such as the Airbus A321neo or the Boeing 737 Max 10, both with a capacity of more than 200 passengers and greater flight autonomy.
There have been no regular international operations in Congonhas since the 1980s, when Guarulhos Airport was built.
At a cost of 2.4 billion reais, Aena, which took over management of Congonhas in October 2023, will have to rethink the airport by June 2028. The main change will be the construction of the new direct boarding area.
The company’s objective is to increase the annual number of passengers boarding or disembarking at this site to 29 million by the end of the concession in 2053, compared to 23.1 million last year.
Currently, Congonhas is able to perform 44 landing and takeoff operations per hour. This number is not expected to increase.
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