Rio’s Galeão airport to accommodate more flights amid Santos Dumont restrictions: what to expect?

In a bid to rejuvenate Galeão International Airport in Rio’s North Zone, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has sanctioned a plan by Rio de Janeiro authorities to restrict operations at the downtown Santos Dumont Airport.

Mayor Eduardo Paes announced that the only routes continuing from Santos Dumont will be the airlift to Congonhas, São Paulo, and flights to Brasília. The shift raises several questions concerning the impact of these changes.

Which Santos Dumont flights will shift to Galeão?

Flights connecting Rio to international destinations or Brazilian cities other than São Paulo and Brasília will be transferred to Galeão.

The downtown Santos Dumont Airport will serve only airliners bound for São Paulo and the federal capital.

When will these shifts to Galeão start?

Mayor Eduardo Paes indicated that restrictions at Santos Dumont could take effect as early as January, but an official timeline hasn’t been established.

From an operational standpoint, Cláudio Frischtak, president of Inter.B Consultoria, considers the January deadline feasible.

This gives airlines and RIOGaleão, the concessionaire operating the terminal, time to brace for increased flight numbers and passenger flow at Santos Dumont.

Why are domestic flights being moved from Santos Dumont to Galeão?

The decline in passenger traffic at Galeão has been the focal point of discussions between the Rio de Janeiro city hall and the regional government.

They argue that the problem is rooted in Santos Dumont, hence the flight restrictions at this central terminal.

In their opinion, the availability of medium-distance flights from Santos Dumont has contributed to Galeão’s underutilization.

In 2014, Galeão facilitated the travel of 17 million passengers, a figure that dropped to roughly 6 million last year.

Conversely, Santos Dumont saw over 10 million passengers last year, pushing its capacity limits.

Will international flights connecting through Brasília or São Paulo allow check-in at Santos Dumont?

As per Mayor Eduardo Paes’ announcement, this will not be the case. The restrictions aim to prevent international flights at Santos Dumont and reestablish Galeão as the hub for flight distribution.