Airliner World – May 2018

66 AIRLINER WORLD JUNE 2018

Gateway to the

Samba Capital

Recently privatised, Rio de Janeiro’s Tom Jobim International Airport has undergone an impressive

transformation, as Sebastian Schmitz discovers.

R

io de Janeiro – the Cidade

Maravilhosa or Marvellous

City is neither Brazil’s capital,

nor its largest metropolis. Yet,

its title as the nation’s most

beautiful is undisputed and its spectac-

ular surroundings and the relaxed life-

style of its inhabitants, are unrivalled in

Brazil. As demand for exotic long-haul

holidays increased, Rio became one

of the planet’s top destinations. To get

there, most international visitors

used, and still use, Rio’s Tom Jobim

International Airport (GIG/RJGG),

more commonly known by its original

name Galeão. Located around 12 miles

(20km) from the city centre, it is one of

South America’s busiest facilities.

Ninety Years in the Making

Galeão began as a Brazilian Air Force

base in 1924 – which still uses it today

• and handed a limited number of
  commercial passenger flights until
  after World War Two. Located on Ilha
  do Governador (Governor’s Island), the
  largest in Guanabara Bay, the city of Rio
  de Janeiro borders most of its