Galeão - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, Brazil

Galeão - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport is located on Governador Island, 20km north of Rio de Janeiro. It is the major international airport in Rio and an important gateway to Brazil. The airport was formerly known as Galeão International Airport and is managed by Brazilian Government company Empresa Brasileira de Infra-Estrutura Aeroportuaria (Infraero).

The airport was started in February 1952. By 1970 it had become a major international and domestic hub.

In 1977 a new terminal was opened and passenger facilities and amenities were improved. The terminal was named Passenger Terminal 1 (TPS1). In 1991 Infraero renovated TPS1 ahead of the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit.

After the expansion the airport's capacity increased to 7.5 million passengers per year. In July 1999 Passenger Terminal 2 (TPS2) opened. The airport currently has two passenger terminals. In August 2004 the airport became the main gateway to Brazil when many flights were transferred from the overloaded Santos Dumont Airport.

In addition to domestic destinations Galeão connects to more than 18 countries and can handle 15 million passengers a year. In 2008 the airport handled 10.75 million passengers, 8.3 million tons of cargo and witnessed 130,597 aircraft movements.

Expansion

In August 2009 an investment plan to upgrade Galeão was unveiled by Infraero. About $268m will be invested in the airport by 2011 to increase annual handling capacity to 20 million passengers. The decision to upgrade was taken ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, which will both be held in Brazil.

The upgrade will include the renovation of TPS1, TPS1 and the runways. The project will also include modernisation of passenger gates and construction of new parking areas. Construction work at TPS1 is expected to finish in February 2011. Work on TPS2 should finish in the first half of 2011 and the extra parking areas will be available in May 2013.

The replacement of the first seven elevators in TPS1 began in August 2008. The work is expected to finish in December 2009 and will provide the terminal with 22 elevators for passengers and ten for cargo.

Terminal features

The two passenger terminals are arranged in an oval shape and each feature 12 jetways. The terminals are connected by a travelator (moving walkway). Each of the three-storey terminal buildings accommodates arrivals on level one, check-ins and ticketing on level two and departures on level three. The airport also features a cargo terminal (TECA).

TPS1 features a range of banks, bureau de change facilities and restaurants and a post office. TPS2 has restaurants, bars and cafés in its central commercial area, which also accommodates duty-free shops and gift shops. Together, the two terminals have 168 check-in desks and 38 baggage claim belts. Both terminals provide baggage wrapping services and have lost and found offices.

Other facilities at the terminals include tourist help desks, car rentals, taxi services, first aid, baby / parent rooms and business centres. The terminals are equipped with lifts, automatic doors, telephones, toilets and car parking spaces for disabled passengers. TPS1 has one four-star hotel and one three-star hotel.

The cargo terminal can handle 20,000t of cargo including dangerous goods, radioactive goods and heavy cargo. The terminal includes a warehouse and transit zone. Storage facilities such as heated storage, cold storage and deep-freeze storage are available. It also has facilities for quarantine, fresh meat inspection and livestock handling.

Airport IT systems

The supervisory and control system of the air-conditioning is installed at the airport. Programming software developed by Amir Engineering assists in the operation of the aircraft docking system at TPS1. The company also provided communications software that monitors flight information.

Runways

The airport has two parallel runways. The first runway is 3,180m long, lies along 15/33 and it is made from asphalt. The second runway is 4,240m long, lies along 10/28 and is made from concrete.

Transportation

The airport is connected to several access routes including the Linha Vermelha and Linha Amarela freeways and Avenida Brasil.

Other major roads connected to the airport include the Avenida Vinte de Janeiro, the Estrada Itacolomi and the Estrada das Canárias.

The airport shuttle bus, which calls at major hotels and resorts, arrives at one-hour intervals. Public buses run from the airport to the city centre and Novo Rio Rodoviaria bus station. Empresa Real also operates air-conditioned frescao buses from the airport to seafront destinations and hotels. Passengers can also use metered taxis or buy prepaid taxi vouchers from the Rio de Janeiro State Tourism Authority desk.

Parking

The airport has multi-storey and covered car parking areas. More than 1,200 short-term parking spaces are available. Short-term and long-term parking spaces are available in all car parks. The airport also has a parking area for disabled passengers.