SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL – Brazil’s first international executive airport was inaugurated on December 15th.
Part of the JHSF’s Catarina project, the new airport is located the municipality of São Roque, at kilometer 60 of Castello Branco Highway, and represents an investment of R$600 (US$150) million.
Named São Paulo Catarina Executive Airport (SPCA), it will allow up to 200,000 landings and take-offs per year and will focus on executive aviation, smaller aircraft, and few passengers.
Due to its location, it is expected to meet the demand of the western region of the São Paulo megametropolis, where the cities of Sorocaba, Campinas, and Jundiaí, in addition to the capital, are located.
The new airport is able to accommodate large executive jets, such as the Lineage 1000E models from Embraer, G650, G600, and G550 from Gulfstream, Global 7500 and 8000 from Bombardier or the Falcon 8X and 6X models from Dassault Falcon Jet. This will enable non-stop intercontinental flights to cities such as London or New York.
The operation is expected to take place uninterrupted, with no schedule restrictions. The airport runway is 2,470 meters long. For comparison purposes, the runway at Congonhas airport, one of the busiest in the country, is 1,940 meters.
The airport was certified by ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency) in early December and already has its own Air Traffic Control and instrument operation. The Catarina airport covers an area of two million square meters, with approximately 50,000 m2 of hangars and 50,000 m2 of patios.
At the airport’s inauguration, São Paulo State governor João Doria highlighted the significance of the initiative. “São Paulo is Brazil’s great gateway, not only for passengers but also for investments. From now on, investors will be able to land here, with quick access by helicopter to the capital”, he stressed in his speech.
The governor took the opportunity to commit to internationalize Congonhas airport. Moreover, according to him, the onset of the new airport is another step towards the deactivation of the Field of Mars Airport in the capital, used only by helicopters.
São Paulo Catarina comes with a delay of almost six years, as the original forecast was for it to be operating flights during the Soccer World Cup in 2014 when Brazil hosted the competition. The construction work was announced by the company JHSF in 2013 but went through several environmental embargoes.
The work is part of an urban project of contractor JHSF for the region of São Roque that also includes a fashion outlet and a corporate center with several towers, auditorium, meeting rooms, and event venues.