Brazil seeks to expand international aviation hubs via Galeão airport

Brazilian aviation authorities and private investors are moving to strengthen the country's international connectivity by developing Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro as a major secondary hub to São Paulo's Guarulhos airport.

Tiago Faierstein, president of the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), stated that Brazil's continental dimensions require more than one major international gateway to meet growing demand. While Guarulhos handled 46.3 million passengers in 2025, Galeão reached a record 17.5 million, with a capacity to serve up to 37 million travelers annually.

To support this growth, the Spanish company Aena, which recently assumed management of the terminal, announced plans for at least R$ 1 billion in private investments over the next three years. Key projects include a R$ 430 million logistics warehouse by Hire Capital, a R$ 300 million testing center for Chinese automaker BYD, a R$ 100 million maintenance hangar for Gol, and a R$ 90 million Accor hotel. Aena aims to increase passenger flow to a projected 19 million by the end of the year and attract more international airlines to the terminal.