Flying around Brazil: airports, routes and how to get around

Brazil is the size of a continent: going from São Paulo to Manaus or from Rio to Porto Alegre covers distances that take days by car. That's why, within Brazil, flying almost always wins. The good news is that the country has one of the densest domestic air networks in the region.

This guide helps you understand how it's organized and how to build your connections.

The major hubs

Most domestic flights pass through a handful of connection centers:

• São Paulo (GRU / CGH) — the main hub of the country and of South America. Guarulhos (GRU) handles international flights; Congonhas (CGH), domestic flights and the air shuttle to Rio.
• Brasília (BSB) — central by geography: many routes stop here because it's in the middle of the country.
• Rio de Janeiro (GIG / SDU) — Galeão (GIG) for long-haul and international, Santos Dumont (SDU) for the air shuttle with São Paulo.

If you enter Brazil from another country, your first destination is most likely one of these three.

The most common domestic routes

The São Paulo ↔ Rio de Janeiro "air shuttle" is one of the busiest in the world: departures almost every half hour and a ~1-hour flight. From São Paulo and Brasília there are connections to practically every state capital.

To see the full map of Brazilian cities with connections, go to destinations in Brazil.

Tips for getting around

• Book ahead. Domestic fares rise sharply close to the date.
• Look at the airport, not just the city. São Paulo and Rio each have two airports; flying out of the one nearest your accommodation saves you hours.
• Stopovers via Brasília are normal. Don't be put off if the cheapest route isn't direct: by geography, many pass through the center of the country.
• Luggage: the cheapest fares often don't include checked bags. Read the fine print.

Bus or plane?

For short legs (for example, within the south or between neighboring cities), the bus is a comfortable and economical option: Brazil has a very developed long-distance coach culture. But to cross regions, the time you save by flying is unbeatable.

On every route page we show both options side by side so you can decide.

Flight durations are approximate and the airlines shown come from open data: they may not reflect the full current offering. Check availability with each airline.