Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport

{{Infobox airport

| name = Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport

| nativename = {{lang|pt|Aeroporto Internacional do Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre|italic=yes}}

| nativename-a =

| nativename-r =

| ensign =

| ensign_size =

| ensign_alt =

| image = Aena Recife.svg

| image-width = 220

| caption =

| image2 = Aeroporto_Internacional_de_Guararapes.jpg

| image2-width = 250

| caption2 =

| IATA = REC

| ICAO = SBRF

| LID = PE0001

| GPS =

| WMO =

| type = Public

| owner-oper =

| owner =

| operator = {{Plainlist|

Infraero (1974–2019)
AENA (2019–present)

}}

| city-served = Recife

| location =

| hub = Azul Brazilian Airlines

| focus_city = Gol Linhas Aéreas

| timezone = BRT

| utc = UTC−03:00

| metric-elev = yes

| elevation-f = 33

| elevation-m = 10

| website = {{URL|https://www.aenabrasil.com.br/pt/aeroportos/aeroporto-internacional-do-recife-guararapes-gilberto-freyre/index.html}}

| coordinates = {{coord|08|07|35|S|034|55|22|W|region:BR|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map = Brazil

| pushpin_label = REC

| pushpin_label_position =

| pushpin_map_alt =

| pushpin_mapsize =

| pushpin_image =

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Brazil

| metric-rwy = yes

| r1-number = 18/36

| r1-length-f = 9,026

| r1-length-m = 2,751

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| stat-year = 2024

| stat1-header = Passengers

| stat1-data = 9,593,804 {{increase}} 6%

| stat2-header = Aircraft Operations

| stat2-data = 91,314 {{increase}} 8%

| stat3-header = Metric tonnes of cargo

| stat3-data = 55,970 {{increase}} 11%

| footnotes = Statistics: AENA{{cite web|url=https://www.aenabrasil.com.br/pt/corporativo/Estatisticas.html|title=Estatísticas|website=Aena Brasil|access-date=3 February 2025|language=pt}}
Sources: Airport Website,{{cite web|url=https://www.aenabrasil.com.br/pt/aeroportos/aeroporto-internacional-do-recife-guararapes-gilberto-freyre/index.html|title=Aeroporto Internacional do Recife Gurararapes-Gilberto Freyre|website=Aena Brasil|access-date=3 May 2022|language=pt}} ANAC,{{cite web|url=https://www.anac.gov.br/dadosabertos/areas-de-atuacao/aerodromos|title=Aeródromos|website=ANAC|date=29 June 2020|access-date=9 April 2021|language=pt}} DECEA{{cite web|url=https://aisweb.decea.mil.br/?i=aerodromos&codigo=SBRF|title=Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre (SBRF)|website=DECEA|access-date=30 August 2023|language=pt}}

}}

Aeroporto Internacional do Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre {{airport codes|REC|SBRF}} is the airport serving Recife, Brazil. Since December 27, 2001 it is named after the Recife-born Anthropologist and Sociologist Gilberto de Mello Freyre (1900–1987).{{Cite web|url=https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/LEIS_2001/L10361.htm|title=Lei nº 10.361, de 27 de dezembro de 2001|website=Presidência da República|date=8 July 2002|access-date=1 November 2023|language=pt}} Some of its facilities are shared with the Recife Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.

Since 2019 it is operated by AENA.

History

Originally called Ibura Airport, the airport had its name changed to Guararapes Airport in 1948. The facility originated during World War II, when a new airport was built to replace the earlier airfield, Parque do Encanta Moça. With the end of the War, the facility became strategically important as a technical and refueling stop on the route from South America to Europe.

On July 21, 1953, within a law prescribing rules for the naming of airports, the name of the facility was officially and exceptionally maintained as Guararapes Airport.{{cite web|url=https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1950-1969/l1909.htm|title=Lei no 1.909, de 21 de julho de 1953|website=Presidência da República|date=21 July 1953|access-date=15 October 2023|language=pt}}

On 18 January 1958, a new passenger terminal was inaugurated, replacing the original facility. During this time, runway 14/32 was extended from {{convert|1,800|to|2,010|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and runway 18/36 was extended from 1,800 m to {{convert|2,400|m|ft|abbr=on}}.

In 1979, an agreement with Infraero was made in order to further develop the airport complex. The passenger terminal underwent its first major renovation in 1982, and another enlargement occurred in 1990.

In 2004, a brand-new passenger terminal was built, including a new shopping mall, thus generating more traffic and revenue. Furthermore, a new concourse was opened in 2004, and the airport's capacity increased from 1.5 to 9 million passengers/year. Today, the runway is {{convert|3,300|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} long, the longest in Northeastern Brazil.

On 31 August 2009, Infraero unveiled a BRL 8.75 million (US$4.6 million; EUR 3.2 million) investment plan to upgrade Guararapes International Airport, focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Recife being one of the venue cities. The investment was spent in finishing the passenger terminal renovation and installing eight more jetways.{{Cite news | last=Rittner | first=Daniel | last2=Braga | first2=Paulo Victor | title=Infraero vai gastar R$5 bi em reforma de aeroportos | newspaper=Valor Econômico | pages=A4 | date=31 August 2009 | url=http://www.valoronline.com.br | language=pt | access-date=4 October 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706155020/http://www.valoronline.com.br/ | archive-date=6 July 2011 | url-status=live }} The work was completed on 1 July 2011, and the airport was then considered ready for the FIFA Cup.{{cite web | url=http://www.diariodepernambuco.com.br/economia/nota.asp?materia=20110630193900 | title=Infraero conclui obra no Aeroporto Internacional do Recife | publisher=Diário de Pernambuco | language=pt | date=1 July 2011 | access-date=1 July 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007112949/http://www.diariodepernambuco.com.br/economia/nota.asp?materia=20110630193900 | archive-date=7 October 2011 | df=dmy-all }}

Responding to critiques to the situation of its airports, on May 18, 2011, Infraero released a list evaluating some of its most important airports according to its saturation levels. According to the list, Recife was considered to be in good situation, operating with less than 70% of its capacity.{{Cite web|url=http://economia.estadao.com.br/noticias/economia+brasil%2Cgoverno-muda-criterio-de-avaliacao-e-%27melhora-desempenho-de-aeroportos%2Cnot_67673%2C0.htm|title=Governo muda critério de avaliação e 'melhora' desempenho de aeroportos|publisher=O Estado de S. Paulo|date=19 May 2011|access-date=20 May 2011|language=pt|archive-date=22 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522054026/http://economia.estadao.com.br/noticias/economia+brasil%2Cgoverno-muda-criterio-de-avaliacao-e-%27melhora-desempenho-de-aeroportos%2Cnot_67673%2C0.htm|url-status=dead}}

Previously operated by Infraero, on March 15, 2019, AENA won a 30-year concession to operate the airport.{{cite web | url=http://www.anac.gov.br/noticias/2019/governo-obtem-r-2-377-bilhoes-em-concessao-de-aeroportos-em-blocos | title=Governo obtém R$ 2,377 bilhões em concessão de aeroportos em blocos | website=ANAC | date=15 March 2019 | access-date=1 October 2019 | language=pt | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511213650/http://www.anac.gov.br/noticias/2019/governo-obtem-r-2-377-bilhoes-em-concessao-de-aeroportos-em-blocos/ | archive-date=11 May 2019 | url-status=live }}

The Brazilian Integrated Air Traffic Control and Air Defense Center, section 3 (Cindacta III) is located in the vicinity of the airport.{{cite web | url=http://www.decea.gov.br/unidades/cindacta-iii/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730181359/http://www.decea.gov.br/unidades/cindacta-iii/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 July 2012 | title=Cindacta III | publisher=Brazilian Air Force: Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo DECEA | language=pt | access-date=4 May 2011 }}

The facility covers 319 hectares (788 acres) of land.{{cite web|url=https://www.aenabrasil.com.br/en/airports/recife-guararapes-gilberto-freyre-international-airport/characteristics.html|title=Characteristics-Recife Int'l Airport|website=aenabrasil.com.br|accessdate=October 22, 2023}}

Airlines and destinations

=Passenger=

{{Airport-dest-list

|{{nowrap|Azul Brazilian Airlines}} | Aracaju, Belém, Belo Horizonte–Confins, Brasília, Campina Grande, Campinas, Caruaru, Fernando de Noronha, Fortaleza, Goiânia, João Pessoa, Maceió, Madrid (begins 10 June 2025),{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/governo-de-pernambuco-confirma-voos-da-azul-de-recife-para-madri/|title=Governo de Pernambuco confirma voos da Azul de Recife para Madri|website=Aeroin|date=17 February 2025|access-date=7 March 2025|language=pt}} Manaus, Montevideo, Natal, Orlando, Petrolina, Porto (begins 4 June 2025),{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/azul-confirma-voos-de-recife-para-porto-com-boeing-767-alugado/|title=Azul confirma voos de Recife para Porto com Boeing 767 alugado|website=Aeroin|date=11 February 2025|access-date=11 February 2025|language=pt}} Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Salvador da Bahia, São Luís, São Paulo–Congonhas, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Teresina, Vitória
Seasonal: Asunción,{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroflap.com.br/quatro-cidades-brasileiras-passam-a-contar-com-voos-da-azul-para-assuncao/|title=Quatro cidades brasileiras passam a contar com voos da Azul para Assunção|website=Aeroflap|date=5 August 2024|access-date=5 August 2024|language=pt}} Bauru/Arealva,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Campo Grande,{{cite web |title=Azul Dec 2024/Jan 2025 Recife Network Additions |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241223-addec24rec |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=23 December 2024}} Curitiba,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Florianópolis,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Foz do Iguaçu,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Navegantes, Palmas, Porto Velho, Presidente Prudente,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Ribeirão Preto,{{cn|date=April 2025}} São José do Rio Preto,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Uberlândia{{cn|date=April 2025}}

|Azul Conecta | Araripina, Cajazeiras, Garanhuns, Patos, Serra Talhada

|Gol Linhas Aéreas | Brasília, Buenos Aires–Aeroparque, Cordoba (AR),{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/anunciada-a-volta-de-uma-rota-internacional-entre-o-nordeste-e-a-argentina-agora-pela-gol-linhas-aereas/|title=Anunciada a volta de uma rota internacional entre o Nordeste e a Argentina, agora pela GOL Linhas Aéreas|website=Aeroin|date=14 February 2025|access-date=14 February 2025|language=pt}} Fernando de Noronha, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Salvador da Bahia, São Paulo–Congonhas, São Paulo–Guarulhos
Seasonal: Campinas,{{cn|date=April 2025}} Vitória{{cn|date=April 2025}}

|Iberia |Seasonal: Madrid (resumes 13 December 2025){{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/iberia-programa-voos-regulares-com-airbus-a350-para-duas-cidades-do-nordeste-brasileiro/|title=Iberia programa voos regulares com Airbus A350 para duas cidades do Nordeste brasileiro|website=Aeroin|date=23 March 2025|access-date=23 March 2025|language=pt}}

|JetSmart Argentina | Buenos Aires–Ezeiza (begins 1 July 2025){{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/aena-celebra-o-novo-voo-internacional-do-aeroporto-de-recife-para-buenos-aires-com-a-chegada-da-jetsmart/|title=Aena celebra o novo voo internacional do Aeroporto de Recife, para Buenos Aires, com a chegada da JetSMART|website=Aeroin|date=18 March 2025|access-date=18 March 2025|language=pt}}

|LATAM Brasil | Brasília, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Santiago de Chile, São Paulo–Congonhas, São Paulo–Guarulhos

|TAP Air Portugal | Lisbon

}}

=Cargo=

{{Airport-dest-list

|LATAM Cargo Brasil | Miami

|Lufthansa Cargo | Campinas,{{cite web | url=https://lufthansa-cargo.com/home | title=Schedule | website=Lufthansa Cargo | access-date=23 July 2020}} Curitiba, Frankfurt

|Modern Logistics | Brasília, Campinas, Manaus

}}

Statistics

File:Recife airport 2022 3.jpg

File:Recife airport 2022 1.jpg

File:Aeroporto Internacional do Recife-Guararapes .jpg

Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-2019) and AENA (2020-2024) reports:{{cite web|url=http://www.infraero.gov.br/images/stories/Estatistica/anuario/anuario_2011_2.pdf|title=Anuário Estatístico Operacional|website=Infraero|date=12 April 2012|access-date=31 March 2024|language=pt}}{{cite web|url=https://transparencia.infraero.gov.br/estatisticas/|title=Estatísticas|website=Infraero|access-date=21 October 2024|language=pt}}

Year	style="text-align:center;"\| Passenger	Aircraft	Cargo (t)
class="wikitable"
style="text-align:center;"	2024	style="text-align:center;"\| 9,593,804 {{increase}} 6%	91,314 {{increase}} 8%	55,970 {{increase}} 11%
style="text-align:center;"	2023	style="text-align:center;"\| 9,046,145 {{increase}} 4%	84,516 {{increase}} 5%	50,756 {{decrease}} 19%
style="text-align:center;"	2022	style="text-align:center;"\| 8,725,495 {{increase}} 16%	80,230 {{increase}} 10%	62,817 {{increase}} 3%
style="text-align:center;"	2021	style="text-align:center;"\| 7,523,046 {{increase}} 56%	73,247 {{increase}} 52%	61,020 {{increase}} 63%
style="text-align:center;"	2020	style="text-align:center;"\| 4,836,890 {{decrease}} 44%	48,044 {{decrease}} 41%	37,543 {{decrease}} 17%
style="text-align:center;"	2019	style="text-align:center;"\| 8,714,119 {{increase}} 3%	80,887 {{increase}} 3%	45,111 {{increase}} 2%
style="text-align:center;"	2018	style="text-align:center;"\| 8,422,566 {{increase}} 8%	78,766 {{increase}} 5%	44,442 {{increase}} 26%
style="text-align:center;"	2017	style="text-align:center;"\| 7,776,881 {{increase}} 14%	75,099 {{increase}} 9%	35,310 {{increase}} 21%
style="text-align:center;"	2016	style="text-align:center;"\| 6,811,676 {{increase}} 2%	69,108 {{decrease}} 4%	29,218 {{decrease}} 11%
style="text-align:center;"	2015	style="text-align:center;"\| 6,700,696 {{decrease}} 7%	72,080 {{decrease}} 4%	32,912 {{decrease}} 8%
style="text-align:center;"	2014	style="text-align:center;"\| 7,190,381 {{increase}} 5%	75,418 {{decrease}} 8%	35,625 {{increase}} 13%
style="text-align:center;"	2013	style="text-align:center;"\| 6,840,276 {{increase}} 6%	81,824 {{decrease}} 1%	31,494 {{decrease}} 3%
style="text-align:center;"	2012	style="text-align:center;"\| 6,433,410 {{increase}} 1%	82,997 {{decrease}} 1%	32,483 {{decrease}} 33%
style="text-align:center;"	2011	style="text-align:center;"\| 6,383,369 {{increase}} 7%	83,638 {{increase}} 8%	48,152 {{increase}} 27%
style="text-align:center;"	2010	style="text-align:center;"\| 5,958,982 {{increase}} 13%	77,322 {{increase}} 16%	38,018 {{decrease}} 15%
style="text-align:center;"	2009	style="text-align:center;"\| 5,250,565 {{increase}} 12%	66,415 {{increase}} 3%	44,758 {{decrease}} 22%
style="text-align:center;"	2008	style="text-align:center;"\| 4,679,457 {{increase}} 12%	64,625 {{increase}} 8%	57,264 {{decrease}} 5%
style="text-align:center;"	2007	style="text-align:center;"\| 4,188,081	59,781	60,381

Accidents and incidents

1 November 1961: a Panair do Brasil Douglas DC-7C registration PP-PDO flying from Sal to Recife, during its final approach struck an 84-m hill 2.7 km from the runway and broke up. The aircraft was doing a night approach too low and outside the regular traffic pattern. Forty-five passengers and crew out of the 88 persons aboard died.{{Cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19611101-1 | title=Accident description PP-PDO | website=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=20 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103224759/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19611101-1 | archive-date=3 November 2012 | url-status=live }}{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Buraco negro | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=197–203 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}} The aircraft was operating the Voo da amizade (Friendship Flight).
11 November 1991: a Nordeste Embraer EMB110P1 Bandeirante registration PT-SCU, operating flight 115 from Recife to Maceió, during on initial climb had an engine failure followed by fire. The aircraft crashed on a populated area. All 13 aircraft occupants and 2 persons on the ground died.{{Cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19911111-0 | title=Accident description PT-SCU | website=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=20 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103231130/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19911111-0 | archive-date=3 November 2012 | url-status=live }}{{cite book | first=Carlos Ari César | last=Germano da Silva | title=O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 | chapter=Fogo na decolagem | publisher=EDIPUCRS | edition=2 | place=Porto Alegre | year=2008 | pages=364–369 | isbn=978-85-7430-760-2 | language=pt}}
23 November 2008: a private Beechcraft Super King Air registration PT-OSR operating for Banda Calypso crashed 5 km (3.1 mi) N on final approach to Recife when both engines quit possibly because of fuel starvation and carried out a forced landing in a residential area. Two occupants, the pilot and the producer, out of 10 on board died.{{cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/321605|title=Accident description PT-OSR|website=Aviation Safety Network|accessdate=18 April 2025}}
13 July 2011: a Noar Linhas Aéreas Let L-410 Turbolet registration PR-NOB operating flight 4896 from Recife to Natal crashed shortly after take-off from Recife. All 16 occupants were killed.{{Cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20110713-0|title=Accident description PR-NOB|website=Aviation Safety Network|access-date=13 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104044138/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20110713-0|archive-date=4 November 2012|url-status=live }}

Access

The airport is located {{convert|14|km|0|abbr=on}} from downtown Recife.

Recife's subway Airport Station is connected to the terminal by a footbridge. Besides main bus lines that serve the neighborhoods of Boa Viagem and Cidade Universitária, in Recife, and Piedade, in Jaboatão dos Guararapes.