Congonhas Airport expansion causes traffic congestion in São Paulo

Expansion works at Congonhas Airport in São Paulo have led to increased traffic congestion for taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, and passengers. The disruptions follow changes to vehicle flow implemented on the 17th to facilitate construction.

The Spanish company Aena, which has managed the airport for over two years, is undertaking a R$ 2.4 billion project scheduled for completion by June 2028. The modernization includes expanding the passenger terminal and aircraft apron, specifically increasing boarding bridges from 12 to 19.

Drivers report that travel times during peak hours have increased to approximately 25 minutes, with some claiming passengers are missing flights due to delays in the Paulo Autran tunnel. Aena stated that the road changes were necessary for the works to proceed and noted that internal monitoring did not show an increase in average traffic speeds.