Since August 2004, with the transfer of many flights from Santos-Dumont Airport, Rio de Janeiro International Airport has returned to being the main doorway to Brazil. According to data from the official Brazilian travel bureau, Embratur, nearly 40% of foreign tourists who visit Brazil choose Rio as their gateway, meaning Galećo Airport.

Besides linking Rio to the rest of Brazil with domestic flights, Galećo has connections to more than 18 countries. It can handle up to 15 million users a year in two passenger terminals.

Located only 20 kilometers from downtown Rio, the international airport is served by several quick access routes, such as the Linha Vermelha and Linha Amarela freeways and Avenida Brasil, thus conveniently serving residents of the city’s southern, northern and western zones.

There are special shuttle buses linking Galećo to Santos-Dumont, and bus and taxi service to the rest of the city.

The airport complex also has Brazil’s longest runway at 4,240 meters, and one of South America’s largest and best equipped cargo logistics terminals.