Congonhas International Airport
Encyclopedia
Congonhas/São Paulo Airport is one of the three commercial airports serving São Paulo
, Brazil. The airport is named after the neighborhood where it is located, formerly called Vila Congonhas, property of the descendants of Lucas Antônio Monteiro de Barros (1767–1851), Viscount of Congonhas do Campo
, first president of the Province of São Paulo after the independence of Brazil in 1822, during the Empire. Congonhas, in turn, is the name of the shrub Congonha-do-campo (Luxemburgia polyandra, of the Ochnaceae
family).
In 2010, the airport was ranked 2nd in terms of transported passengers and aircraft operations in Brazil, placing it amongst the busiest airports in the country.
It is owned by the City of São Paulo and operated by Infraero
.
Congonhas has slot restrictions operating with a maximum of 30 operations/hour, being one of the three airports with such restrictions in Brazil.
The airport was initially planned in 1919, but it did not open until 12 September 1936. In the beginning it was the private airport of VASP
, built as an alternative to Campo de Marte
which, already at that time, had operational difficulties. By 1957, the airport was the third busiest in the world for air cargo
.
On 21 May 1959, a formal agreement between Varig
, Cruzeiro do Sul
and VASP created the shuttle service
, which made the airport famous, being the first of its kind in the world. Baptized as Air Bridge and inspired on the Berlin Airlift
, the first flight was operated on 6 July 1959. This service operated between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and Congonhas Airports and comprised regular hourly departures, a common check-in counter and simplified tickets and formalities. The service was an instant success. Sadia
joined the partnership in 1968. In 1999 the service was discontinued, as airlines decided to operate their own independent services.
Until 1985 Congonhas was the main airport of São Paulo
operating domestic and international flights to neighbouring countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Intercontinental flights required changing planes at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão or were operated at Viracopos airports. However, the distant location of the latter, in Campinas
, 100 km (62.1 mi) from downtown São Paulo, made this choice inconvenient for passengers and airlines, so the earlier option was preferred.
However, since the opening of Guarulhos Airport in 1985, international flights are no longer operated at Congonhas and domestic operations underwent restrictions. Even so, Congonhas remains important to the city for regional and short-distance domestic flights. Given the concentration of Brazil's economy in the Central-Southern region, where São Paulo is located, such flights make up the greatest share of the country's domestic air traffic. Therefore, even after Guarulhos International Airport was opened, Congonhas continued to face congestion problems, regarding both the number of passengers and the number of flight operations. On ther other hand, its short distance from downtown and from the major business areas of Paulista, Faria Lima
and Luís Carlos Berrini avenues still makes Congonhas a favorite of passengers, especially business travelers.
The airport administrator Infraero
started in 2003 a comprehensive renovation plan of the airport complex: a remodeling of departure and arrival halls with installation of 12 jetways was completed on 15 August 2004; in December 2005 a new parking garage was opened; the runways received new surface between February and September 2007. They however cannot be extended because of the sheer urban growth of São Paulo, which has completely surrounded and engulfed the airport. Indeed, the view from the landing approach to Congonhas can be spectacular, with aircraft flying very low over massive clusters of tall skyscrapers, especially when approaching from the north.
The airport has been troubled by slippery runways and has had several accidents where water accumulation has been a significant factor, being the most notable the one involving TAM Airlines Flight 3054
on 17 July 2007: although the main runway had been repaved in June 2007, its new rainwater drainage grooves were only finished in September 2007. As a consequence to this accident and the subsequent public outcry for more safety and reduction of noise, the airport has had its operations significantly altered, through the reduction of landing slots, restrictions on flight distance, and of operating times, presently from 6:00 to 22:30 hours. Furthermore, the maximum allowable gross weight of aircraft was reduced.
The largest aircraft now operating at Congonhas are the Airbus A320
, Boeing 737–800
and the Fokker 100. However, in the past the airport used to have operations with Boeing 767–200
and Airbus A300
, by the now-defunct airlines Transbrasil
, VASP and Cruzeiro do Sul.
In 2008 Congonhas lost its international category.
The central hall of the passenger terminal is considered one of the most outstanding examples of modern architecture
in São Paulo. However, modernizing and enlargement works conducted at the terminal from 2003 onwards, while trying to preserve the look of the older, historic section, still made the latter lose much of its former character. Today the main terminal has 51,535 m2 (554,718 sq.ft.).
Azul Brazilian Airlines
offers for its passengers free bus transfers between Congonhas and Campinas-Viracopos International Airport
at regular times.
Gol Airlines
and TAM Airlines offer for their passengers free bus transfers between Congonhas and Guarulhos/Gov. André Franco Montoro Airport airports at regular times.
Further bus transportation is also available through the Airport Bus Service, an executive bus line, administered by EMTU
and operated by Consórcio Internorte – Área 3. This service provides transportation between Guarulhos and Congonhas airports, via Tietê Bus Terminal
, Palmeiras-Barra Funda Intermodal Terminal
, Itaim Bibi, Praça da República, Tatuapé Metro Station
and the circuit of hotels along Avenida Paulista
and Rua Augusta. The ride takes about one hour, depending on traffic.
unveiled a BRL164.7 million (USD86.8 million; EUR60.8 million) investment plan to up-grade Congonhas Airport focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup
which will be held in Brazil, São Paulo being one of the venue cities. The investiment will be distributed as follows:
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil. The airport is named after the neighborhood where it is located, formerly called Vila Congonhas, property of the descendants of Lucas Antônio Monteiro de Barros (1767–1851), Viscount of Congonhas do Campo
Congonhas
Congonhas is a historical Brazilian city located in the state of Minas Gerais. It is situated south from Belo Horizonte, the capital of state of Minas Gerais, by the highway BR-040...
, first president of the Province of São Paulo after the independence of Brazil in 1822, during the Empire. Congonhas, in turn, is the name of the shrub Congonha-do-campo (Luxemburgia polyandra, of the Ochnaceae
Ochnaceae
The family Ochnaceae, or wild plane family, comprises mainly trees or shrubs, and more rarely herbaceous plants. Species of the Ochnaceae are found from subtropical to tropical regions. They are best represented in South America...
family).
In 2010, the airport was ranked 2nd in terms of transported passengers and aircraft operations in Brazil, placing it amongst the busiest airports in the country.
It is owned by the City of São Paulo and operated by Infraero
Infraero
Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, Infraero in short, is a Brazilian government corporation created in 1972 and responsible for operating the main Brazilian commercial airports. In 2009, Infraero's airports carried 128,135,616 passengers and 1,114,754 tons of cargo and operated...
.
Congonhas has slot restrictions operating with a maximum of 30 operations/hour, being one of the three airports with such restrictions in Brazil.
History
VASP
Viação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
, built as an alternative to Campo de Marte
Campo de Marte Airport
Campo de Marte Airport is the first airport built in São Paulo, Brazil, opened in 1919. It is named after Champ de Mars, in Paris, which in turn got its name from Campus Martius, in Rome....
which, already at that time, had operational difficulties. By 1957, the airport was the third busiest in the world for air cargo
Cargo airline
Cargo airlines are airlines dedicated to the transport of cargo. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines.-Logistics:...
.
On 21 May 1959, a formal agreement between Varig
Varig
VARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
, Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
and VASP created the shuttle service
Air shuttle
An air shuttle is a scheduled airline service that operates a frequent, regular service on short routes with a simplified fare and class structure. Although no exact specifications exist, frequency is normally once per hour or more often and travel time is typically an hour or less, although longer...
, which made the airport famous, being the first of its kind in the world. Baptized as Air Bridge and inspired on the Berlin Airlift
Berlin Blockade
The Berlin Blockade was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War and the first resulting in casualties. During the multinational occupation of post-World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway and road access to the sectors of Berlin under Allied...
, the first flight was operated on 6 July 1959. This service operated between Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont and Congonhas Airports and comprised regular hourly departures, a common check-in counter and simplified tickets and formalities. The service was an instant success. Sadia
Transbrasil
TransBrasil is a defunct Brazilian airline which ceased operations in December 2001. During most of its history, Transbrasil was owned by local entrepeneur Omar Fontana. Its aircraft usually featured a colorful livery, remarkably with a rainbow on the tail fin. Transbrasil base was Brasilia...
joined the partnership in 1968. In 1999 the service was discontinued, as airlines decided to operate their own independent services.
Until 1985 Congonhas was the main airport of São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
operating domestic and international flights to neighbouring countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia. Intercontinental flights required changing planes at Rio de Janeiro-Galeão or were operated at Viracopos airports. However, the distant location of the latter, in Campinas
Campinas
Campinas is a city and municipality located in the coastal interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. is the administrative center of the meso-region of the same name, with 3,783,597 inhabitants as of the 2010 Census, consisting of 49 cities....
, 100 km (62.1 mi) from downtown São Paulo, made this choice inconvenient for passengers and airlines, so the earlier option was preferred.
However, since the opening of Guarulhos Airport in 1985, international flights are no longer operated at Congonhas and domestic operations underwent restrictions. Even so, Congonhas remains important to the city for regional and short-distance domestic flights. Given the concentration of Brazil's economy in the Central-Southern region, where São Paulo is located, such flights make up the greatest share of the country's domestic air traffic. Therefore, even after Guarulhos International Airport was opened, Congonhas continued to face congestion problems, regarding both the number of passengers and the number of flight operations. On ther other hand, its short distance from downtown and from the major business areas of Paulista, Faria Lima
Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima
Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, most commonly known as just Faria Lima, is an important avenue in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. It is also an important commercial and financial center that rivals the downtown and Paulista Avenue areas...
and Luís Carlos Berrini avenues still makes Congonhas a favorite of passengers, especially business travelers.
The airport administrator Infraero
Infraero
Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, Infraero in short, is a Brazilian government corporation created in 1972 and responsible for operating the main Brazilian commercial airports. In 2009, Infraero's airports carried 128,135,616 passengers and 1,114,754 tons of cargo and operated...
started in 2003 a comprehensive renovation plan of the airport complex: a remodeling of departure and arrival halls with installation of 12 jetways was completed on 15 August 2004; in December 2005 a new parking garage was opened; the runways received new surface between February and September 2007. They however cannot be extended because of the sheer urban growth of São Paulo, which has completely surrounded and engulfed the airport. Indeed, the view from the landing approach to Congonhas can be spectacular, with aircraft flying very low over massive clusters of tall skyscrapers, especially when approaching from the north.
The airport has been troubled by slippery runways and has had several accidents where water accumulation has been a significant factor, being the most notable the one involving TAM Airlines Flight 3054
TAM Airlines Flight 3054
TAM Airlines Flight 3054 was an Airbus A320 airliner, registration PR-MBK, operating as a scheduled domestic passenger flight between Porto Alegre and São Paulo, Brazil, which crashed upon landing during rain in São Paulo on July 17, 2007...
on 17 July 2007: although the main runway had been repaved in June 2007, its new rainwater drainage grooves were only finished in September 2007. As a consequence to this accident and the subsequent public outcry for more safety and reduction of noise, the airport has had its operations significantly altered, through the reduction of landing slots, restrictions on flight distance, and of operating times, presently from 6:00 to 22:30 hours. Furthermore, the maximum allowable gross weight of aircraft was reduced.
The largest aircraft now operating at Congonhas are the Airbus A320
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
, Boeing 737–800
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
and the Fokker 100. However, in the past the airport used to have operations with Boeing 767–200
Boeing 767
The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail...
and Airbus A300
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
, by the now-defunct airlines Transbrasil
Transbrasil
TransBrasil is a defunct Brazilian airline which ceased operations in December 2001. During most of its history, Transbrasil was owned by local entrepeneur Omar Fontana. Its aircraft usually featured a colorful livery, remarkably with a rainbow on the tail fin. Transbrasil base was Brasilia...
, VASP and Cruzeiro do Sul.
In 2008 Congonhas lost its international category.
The central hall of the passenger terminal is considered one of the most outstanding examples of modern architecture
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
in São Paulo. However, modernizing and enlargement works conducted at the terminal from 2003 onwards, while trying to preserve the look of the older, historic section, still made the latter lose much of its former character. Today the main terminal has 51,535 m2 (554,718 sq.ft.).
Airlines and destinations
Major accidents involving fatalities
- 27 August 1943: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Junkers Ju-52/3mg3eJunkers Ju 52The Junkers Ju 52 was a German transport aircraft manufactured from 1932 to 1945. It saw both civilian and military service during the 1930s and 1940s. In a civilian role, it flew with over 12 air carriers including Swissair and Deutsche Luft Hansa as an airliner and freight hauler...
registration PP-SPD, flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas struck a building of the Naval AcademyBrazilian Naval SchoolThe Brazilian Naval School is an Academy of the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian equivalent of the US Naval Academy, located in Rio de Janeiro, on Villegagnon Island just inside of Guanabara Bay....
located close to the airport shortly after take-off under fog. The aircraft broke in two and one part fell in the water. Of the 21 passengers and crew, 3 survived. - 31 August 1944: a Panair do BrasilPanair do BrasilPanair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar registration PP-PBI crashed while on night approach to São Paulo-Congonhas. All 18 occupants died. - 13 March 1948: a Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
Douglas C-53D-DODouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-CBX flying to São Paulo-Congonhas crashed on Cantareira Range, near São Paulo. All 6 passengers and crew aboard died. - 2 August 1949: a VarigVarigVARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
Curtiss C-46AD-10-CU Commando registration PP-VBI operating a flight from São Paulo-Congonhas to Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
made an emergency landing on rough terrain near the location of Jaquirana, approximatelly 20 minutes before landing in Porto Alegre, following fire on the cargo hold. Of the 36 passenger and crew aboard, 5 died. - 8 September 1951: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Douglas C-47B-20-DKDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-SPQ struck a house after take-off from São Paulo-Congonhas and crashed. Thirteen passengers and crew and three persons on the ground died. - 13 May 1952: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Douglas C-47B-45-DKDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-SPM operating a flight from São Paulo-Congonhas to BauruBauru AirportBauru State Airport is an airport serving Bauru, Brazil.It is operated by DAESP.-History:The airport was built in 1939 but all scheduled traffic was transferred to Moussa Nakhl Tobias Airport, located in the adjoining municipality of Arealva upon its opening in May 2006...
lost control when carrying out an emergency landing following an engine failure. Two crew members and 3 passengers died. - 17 June 1953: a Panair do BrasilPanair do BrasilPanair do Brasil is a defunct airline of Brazil. Between 1945 and 1965 it was considered to be the largest carrier not only in Brazil but in all of Latin America.-NYRBA do Brasil :...
Lockheed L-049 ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
registration PP-PDA crashed on final approach to São Paulo-Congonhas. Apparently causes are related to night operations with little visibility. All 17 passengers and crew died. - 4 June 1954: a VarigVarigVARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando registration PP-VBZ operating a cargo flight between São Paulo-Congonhas and Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
crashed during take-off from São Paulo. All crew of 3 died. - 12 September 1954: a Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
Douglas C-47A-70-DLDouglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
registration PP-CDJ flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas was forced to return to Rio de Janeiro due to technical problems and bad weather at São Paulo. On finals to Rio de Janeiro the aircraft came in too high. An overshoot was attempted but the aircraft descended and crashed into the Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
. Six passengers out of 30 occupants died. - 10 April 1957: a Transportes Aéreos NacionalTransportes Aéreos NacionalTransportes Aéreos Nacional was a Brazilian airline founded in 1946. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Transportes Aéreos Nacional was one of the partners.-History:...
Douglas DC-3/C-47Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
operated by Real Transportes AéreosReal Transportes AéreosReal Transportes Aéreos was a Brazilian airline founded in 1945. It was merged into Varig in 1961, when Varig bought the Consórcio Real-Aerovias-Nacional, of which Real was the main carrier....
registration PP-ANX, en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas crashed into a mountain over the location of Ubatuba. The no. 2 engine caught fire, which forced the crew to make an emergency descent for Ubatuba. Due to rain, the crew noticed Papagaio Peak on Anchieta Island too late. The aircraft stalled during the evasive manoeuvre and crashed into the mountain. Of the 30 passengers and crew aboard, 26 died. - 30 December 1958: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQE flying from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Congonhas, during climb after take-off had a failure on engine no. 1. The pilot initiated procedures to return to the airport but during the second turn the aircraft stalled and crashed into Guanabara BayGuanabara BayGuanabara Bay is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On its western shore lies the city of Rio de Janeiro, and on its eastern shore the cities of Niterói and São Gonçalo. Four other municipalities surround the bay's shores...
. Of the 37 passengers and crew aboard, 21 died. - 23 September 1959: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SQV en route from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont during climb after take-off did not gain enough height and crashed 1 1/2 minutes out of São Paulo killing all 20 passengers and crew. - 26 November 1962: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Saab Scandia 90A-1 registration PP-SRA en route from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont collided in the air over the Municipality of Paraibuna, State of São Paulo with a private Cessna 310Cessna 310The Cessna 310 is an American six-seat, low-wing, twin-engined monoplane that was produced by Cessna between 1954 and 1980. It was the first twin-engined aircraft that Cessna put into production after World War II.-Development:...
registration PT-BRQ en route from Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont to São Paulo-Campo de MarteCampo de Marte AirportCampo de Marte Airport is the first airport built in São Paulo, Brazil, opened in 1919. It is named after Champ de Mars, in Paris, which in turn got its name from Campus Martius, in Rome....
. Both were flying on the same airwayAirway (aviation)In aviation, an airway is a designated route in the air. Airways are laid out between navigational aids such as VORs, NDBs and Intersections ....
AB-6 in opposite directions and failed to have visual contact. The aircraft crashed killing all 23 passengers and crew of the Saab and 4 occupants of the Cessna. - 15 January 1963: a Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
Convair 240-D registration PP-CEV on initial climb from São Paulo-Congonhas crashed into houses after an engine failed. Of the 45 passengers and crew aboard, 6 died. Six persons on the ground were also killed. - 3 May 1963: a Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do SulServiços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul, was the second oldest airline of Brazil, tracing its origins to 1927, when it was founded as Syndicato Condor, a subsidiary of Deutsche Luft Hansa. Syndicato Condor retained rights and interests of a former German trade company, Condor Syndikat, which previously...
Convair 340-59 registration PP-CDW flying from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont had to return to São Paulo after no. 2 engine caught fire. When on finals to touch down, the aircraft nosed up 45°, stalled and struck a house. Of the 50 passengers and crew aboard, 37 died. - 3 November 1967: a Sadia Handley Page Dart Herald 214Handley Page Dart HeraldThe Handley Page Dart Herald was a 1950s British turboprop passenger aircraft.-Design and development:In the mid 1950s the Handley Page Aircraft Company developed a new fast short-range regional airliner, intended to replace the venerable Douglas DC-3, particularly in third-world countries...
registration PP-SDJ flying from São Paulo-Congonhas to Curitiba-Afonso PenaAfonso Pena International AirportAfonso Pena International Airport is the main airport serving Curitiba, Brazil, located in the adjoining municipality of São José dos Pinhais. It is named after Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena , the 6th President of Brazil....
collided with a hill during approach to land at Curitiba. All crew and 21 passengers died, 4 passengers survived. - 12 April 1972: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
NAMC YS-11A-211NAMC YS-11The NAMC YS-11 is a turboprop airliner built by a Japanese consortium, the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation. The program was initiated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1954, the aircraft was rolled out in 1962, and production ceased in 1974.-Development and design:In...
registration PP-SMI flying from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont flew into the side of a mountain while on descent 50km north of Rio de Janeiro due to pilot mistake. All 25 passengers and crew died. - 27 February 1975: a VASPVASPViação Aérea São Paulo S/A, or VASP, was an airline with its head office in the VASP Building on the grounds of Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in São Paulo, Brazil...
Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
registration PP-SBE operating a flight from São Paulo-Congonhas to BauruBauru AirportBauru State Airport is an airport serving Bauru, Brazil.It is operated by DAESP.-History:The airport was built in 1939 but all scheduled traffic was transferred to Moussa Nakhl Tobias Airport, located in the adjoining municipality of Arealva upon its opening in May 2006...
crashed after take-off from Congonhas. All 2 crew members and 13 passengers died. - 8 February 1979: a TAM Airlines Embraer EMB 110 BandeiranteEmbraer EMB 110 BandeiranteThe Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
registration PT-SBB operating a flight from BauruBauru AirportBauru State Airport is an airport serving Bauru, Brazil.It is operated by DAESP.-History:The airport was built in 1939 but all scheduled traffic was transferred to Moussa Nakhl Tobias Airport, located in the adjoining municipality of Arealva upon its opening in May 2006...
to São Paulo-Congonhas, while on initial climb from Bauru, struck trees and crashed into flames. All 2 crew and 16 passengers died. - 12 April 1980: a TransbrasilTransbrasilTransBrasil is a defunct Brazilian airline which ceased operations in December 2001. During most of its history, Transbrasil was owned by local entrepeneur Omar Fontana. Its aircraft usually featured a colorful livery, remarkably with a rainbow on the tail fin. Transbrasil base was Brasilia...
Boeing 727-27CBoeing 727The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
registration PT-TYS operating flight 303Transbrasil Flight 303Transbrasil Flight 303 was a flight from São Paulo-Congonhas to Florianópolis on April 12, 1980. The aircraft was a Boeing 727-27C aircraft, registration PT-TYS with 58 people on board. The aircraft crashed on approach to the Hercilio Luz Airport. Only three individuals survived.-Aircraft:The...
from São Paulo-Congonhas to FlorianópolisHercílio Luz International AirportFlorianópolis-Hercílio Luz International Airport , is the airport serving Florianópolis, Brazil. It is named after Hercílio Pedro da Luz , 3 times Governor of Santa Catarina and senator.It is operated by Infraero....
was on a night instrumental approach to Florianópolis under a severe thunderstorm. The aircraft went off course, struck a hill and exploded. Probable causes are misjudgment of speed and distance, inadequate flight supervision, failure to initiate a go-around and improper operation of the engines. Of the 58 passengers and crew aboard, 3 passengers survived. - 12 February 1990: a TAM Airlines Fokker F27Fokker F27The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
registration PT-LCG operating a flight from São Paulo-Congonhas to BauruBauru AirportBauru State Airport is an airport serving Bauru, Brazil.It is operated by DAESP.-History:The airport was built in 1939 but all scheduled traffic was transferred to Moussa Nakhl Tobias Airport, located in the adjoining municipality of Arealva upon its opening in May 2006...
, due to faulty approach procedures touched down at Bauru 775m past the runway threshold. The pilot was unable to initiate a go around procedure and went past the end of the runway hitting a car that was passing on a road nearby. One crew member and 2 occupants of the car died. - 31 October 1996: a TAM Airlines Fokker 100 registration PT-MRK and operating flight 402TAM Transportes Aéreos Regionais Flight 402TAM Transportes Aéreos Regionais Flight 402 was a Fokker 100 airliner, operating as a scheduled domestic flight from Congonhas/São Paulo International Airport in São Paulo, Brazil to Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro on October 31, 1996, which crashed shortly after take-off, killing a total...
from São Paulo-Congonhas to Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont crashed on urban area during take-off procedures and after engine no.2 suffering an uncommanded reverse thrust and thus losing power, stalled, yawed to the right and struck a building. All 95 passengers and crew on board and 4 people on the ground died. - 9 July 1997: a TAM Airlines Fokker 100 registration PT-WHK operating flight 283 en route from São José dos Campos to São Paulo-Congonhas was climbing after take-off from São José dos Campos when a bomb exploded in the rear part of the passenger cabin. The uncontrolled decompression blew one passenger out of the aircraft. The aircraft made a successful emergency landing in São Paulo, despite the hole in the fuselage.
- 17 July 2007: a TAM Airlines Airbus A320Airbus A320 familyThe Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
registration PR-MBK operating flight 3054TAM Airlines Flight 3054TAM Airlines Flight 3054 was an Airbus A320 airliner, registration PR-MBK, operating as a scheduled domestic passenger flight between Porto Alegre and São Paulo, Brazil, which crashed upon landing during rain in São Paulo on July 17, 2007...
from Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
to São Paulo-Congonhas overran the runway while landing at Congonhas, crossed a major thoroughfare and impacted against a TAM Express warehouse. All 186 passengers and crew perished. 199 bodies were recovered from the crash site, including passengers, crew and people that were working at the warehourse.
Incidents
- 30 May 1972: a VarigVarigVARIG was the first airline founded in Brazil, in 1927. From 1965 until 1990 it was Brazil's leading and almost only international airline...
Lockheed L-188 ElectraLockheed L-188 ElectraThe Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
registration PP-VJL operating a flight between São Paulo-Congonhas and Porto AlegreSalgado Filho International AirportSalgado Filho International Airport is the airport serving Porto Alegre, Brazil. It is named after the Senator and first Minister of the Brazilian Air Force Joaquim Pedro Salgado Filho , killed on June 20, 1950 in an accident with an aircraft which departed from Porto Alegre.In 2010 the airport...
was hijacked. The hijacker demanded money. The aircraft was stormed and the hijacker shot.
Access
The airport is located 8 km (5 mi) from downtown São Paulo, at Washington Luís Avenue, in the district of Campo Belo.Azul Brazilian Airlines
Azul Brazilian Airlines
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S/A is a Brazilian domestic low-cost airline based in Barueri. It was established on 5 May 2008 by Brazilian-born David Neeleman, founder and former-CEO of JetBlue. The airline began service on December 15, 2008 and has ordered a fleet of 76 Embraer 195 jets...
offers for its passengers free bus transfers between Congonhas and Campinas-Viracopos International Airport
Viracopos International Airport
Viracopos-Campinas International Airport is the international airport serving Campinas, Brazil. On January 6, 1987, the airport name was officially normalized to its present form....
at regular times.
Gol Airlines
Gol Transportes Aéreos
Gol Transportes Aéreos is a Brazilian airline based in Comandante Lineu Gomes Square, São Paulo City, Brazil....
and TAM Airlines offer for their passengers free bus transfers between Congonhas and Guarulhos/Gov. André Franco Montoro Airport airports at regular times.
Further bus transportation is also available through the Airport Bus Service, an executive bus line, administered by EMTU
Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos de São Paulo
The Empresa Metropolitana de Transportes Urbanos de São Paulo, or EMTU, is a company owned by the Secretaria de Estado dos Transportes Metropolitanos...
and operated by Consórcio Internorte – Área 3. This service provides transportation between Guarulhos and Congonhas airports, via Tietê Bus Terminal
Tietê Bus Terminal
The Tietê Bus Terminal is the largest bus terminal in Latin America, and the second largest in the world, after the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. The terminal is located in the Santana district in the city of São Paulo, Brazil...
, Palmeiras-Barra Funda Intermodal Terminal
Palmeiras-Barra Funda Intermodal Terminal
Palmeiras-Barra Funda Intermodal Terminal is the second largest intermodal transportation hub in São Paulo, Brazil. The terminal has access to the São Paulo Metro, CPTM commuter rail, and numerous bus lines.- Locations served :Domestic destinations...
, Itaim Bibi, Praça da República, Tatuapé Metro Station
Tatuapé (São Paulo Metro)
Tatuapé is a station on Line 3 of the São Paulo Metro.-CPTM Transfer:Passengers may transfer from here to, Line 11 , and Line 12 of the CPTM commuter train.-SPTrans Lines:...
and the circuit of hotels along Avenida Paulista
Avenida Paulista
Paulista Avenue is one of the most important avenues in São Paulo, Brazil...
and Rua Augusta. The ride takes about one hour, depending on traffic.
Future developments
On 31 August 2009, InfraeroInfraero
Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, Infraero in short, is a Brazilian government corporation created in 1972 and responsible for operating the main Brazilian commercial airports. In 2009, Infraero's airports carried 128,135,616 passengers and 1,114,754 tons of cargo and operated...
unveiled a BRL164.7 million (USD86.8 million; EUR60.8 million) investment plan to up-grade Congonhas Airport focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup
2014 FIFA World Cup
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international association football tournament that will take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014....
which will be held in Brazil, São Paulo being one of the venue cities. The investiment will be distributed as follows:
- New control tower. Value 11.9. Completion: January 2010 (work not yet completed in August 2011)
- Renovation of the apron. Value 20.6. Completion: January 2012
- Conclusion of the renovation on the south portion of the passenger terminal. Value 67.1. Completion: October 2012
- Renovation of the north portion of the passenger terminal. Value 65.1. Completion: October 2014