Viracopos International Airport#Airlines and destinations

File:Vista_a%C3%A9rea_do_Aeroporto_de_Viracopos.tif

The IATA airport code of Viracopos is VCP and the specific city code of Campinas is CPQ. Sometimes both codes are used as one although there is a distinction between them in airline reservation systems: VCP, together with CGH (Congonhas) and GRU (Guarulhos), is part of the multiple airport system set around the city of São Paulo (code SAO). An airline that files services with the code VCP has flights displayed when passengers or travel agents request service from São Paulo, whereas flights filed with the code CPQ are displayed as service from Campinas, not São Paulo. A similar example is New York City (NYC), in which the airport codes LGA (LaGuardia Airport), JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport), and EWR (Newark Liberty International Airport) are used for the same city, although Newark is located in a different city and state.

There are two versions of the origin of the name Viracopos, which means "turn (or overturn) glasses" in Portuguese and can be metaphorically understood as drinking a large amount of an alcoholic beverage at once. According to the first version, in the beginning of the 20th century, during an annual fair, there was a misunderstanding between the parish priest and the residents of the neighborhood. This resulted in excessive drinking and quarrels, in which the festival booths were torn down, or overturned, during the confusion. The name "Viracopos" was later used by the priest in sermons to refer to the event. Another version says that, on the site of the present airport, previously there had been a bar where herders had regularly met to exchange views and drink ("turn glasses"). So "Viracopos" was first the name of the district and later of the airport.

The origin of the Viracopos Airport can be traced to a simple airfield near Campinas built during the 1932 Constitutionalist Revolution in São Paulo. In 1946, shortly after World War II, the first runway was paved. In the following years, the airport began to take shape, with the construction of the first hangar in 1948 and the terminal in 1950.{{Cite web |last=Basseto |first=Murilo |date=2020-10-19 |title=Aeroporto de Viracopos completa 60 anos de história comercial |url=https://aeroin.net/aeroporto-viracopos-60-anos-historia-comercial/ |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=AEROIN |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |date=2020-05-18 |title=O início do aeroporto internacional de Viracopos |url=https://www.arghi.com.br/aeroporto-de-internacional-de-viracopos-sbkp |access-date=2023-06-19 |website=www.arghi.com.br |language=pt}} During the 1950s, it started being used by cargo companies. In 1960, it was improved with a 3,240 m runway, long enough to accommodate the first generation of intercontinental jet planes such as the Boeing 707, de Havilland Comet, Vickers VC10, Convair 990, and Douglas DC-8, and the airport was officially inaugurated on 19 October 1960, same day where it also received its first international flight.{{cite journal | editor=Azul Brazilian Airlines | year=2011 | title=Viracopos, o nosso escolhido | journal=Bem-vindo à bordo | issue=8 | pages=23–25 | location=Campinas | publisher=Azul Brazilian Airlines | language=pt}} Furthermore, Viracopos Airport served (and still serves) as an alternate airport for Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport and São Paulo airports particularly because it rarely closes due to bad weather conditions (an average of only 5 days per year).{{cite journal | first=Carmen Lígia | last=Torres | year=2011 | title=Capital privado dá novo impulso: Plano do governo federal é criar o maior centro aeroportuário do país | journal=Polo de inovação: Centros de pesquisa são a base do desenvolvimento | page=36 | location=São Paulo | publisher=Valor Econômico | language=pt}}

After 1960, Viracopos became the primary international airport for São Paulo, because the runway of São Paulo-Congonhas Airport was too short to accommodate intercontinental jet planes. In practice, however, the distance of nearly 100 km from Viracopos to São Paulo made it very inconvenient for passengers and airlines. As a result, direct international passenger service was limited, because most international passengers simply opted to fly instead to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão International Airport and then connect to Congonhas Airport, which is located very close to downtown. At that time, Viracopos even appeared on the Guinness Book of Records as the furthest airport from the city it allegedly served.

The airport's title as the main international airport of São Paulo ended in 1985 with the opening of São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, and Viracopos entered into a decade of stagnation, with all international and most domestic flights transferred to Guarulhos and Congonhas.

However, recognizing the strategic importance of Viracopos for the economy, Infraero, the airport administrator in 1995, started to implement a master plan of renovations aiming at the building of a new airport, focusing its efforts on the segment of cargo transportation. The first phase was completed in the first half of 2004, when the airport received new passenger departure and arrival lounges, public areas, commercial concessions and a new cargo terminal. The second phase of the passenger terminal expansion project was completed in 2005 and a new control tower was built, storage and processing facilities for the cargo terminal expanded, and the passenger terminal was entirely revamped. A third phase of expansion, which would build a second runway by 2013, was projected. However, since the airport was conceded in 2012, the deadline for the new runway was postponed until 2018.

Being the second busiest cargo airport in Brazil, Viracopos has 77,000 square meters (646,000 square feet) of cargo terminals, 1,700 square meters (18,300 square feet) for animal cargo, and 1,480 cubic meters (52,200 square feet) of refrigerated space. As a major import/export hub, Viracopos enjoys 'express lanes' for courier traffic which are exceptionally quick and unbureaucratic by Brazilian standards.

Between 2008 and 2010, passenger traffic grew from 1.02 million in 2008 to 7.5 million in 2011. The airport can handle 7 million passengers/year. The number of flights offered has increased dramatically since Azul Brazilian Airlines made Viracopos its main hub.

In August 2009, the previous operator Infraero unveiled a R$2,814 million (US$1,482.6 million; €1,038.8 million) investment plan to upgrade Viracopos International Airport, focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. The investment intended to provide a new runway, a new passenger terminal, and a new train route, with its main goal being to alleviate the air-traffic concentrated at Guarulhos International Airport.{{Cite news | last1=Rittner | first1=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=8 July 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706155020/http://www.valoronline.com.br/ | archive-date=6 July 2011 | url-status=live }}

However, due to legal and bureaucratic issues, the Infraero original plan never occurred. Since the concession to Consortium Aeroportos Brasil, a new investment program focusing particularly on the construction of a new terminal was announced. The phase 1 of the new passenger terminal opened in May 2015.{{cite web | url=http://www.viracopos.com/terminal.html | publisher=Viracopos | title=Home | language=pt | access-date=13 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424004442/http://www.viracopos.com/terminal.html | archive-date=24 April 2013 | url-status=live }}

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, Viracopos was considered to be requiring attention, operating between 70% and 85% of its capacity.{{Cite web|url=http://economia.estadao.com.br/noticias/economia+brasil,governo-muda-criterio-de-avaliacao-e-'melhora-desempenho-de-aeroportos,not_67673,0.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}}

Following a decision made on 26 April 2011 by the Federal Government for private companies being granted concessions to operate some Infraero airports,{{Cite web | url=http://www.valoronline.com.br/online/transportes/15/417433/governo-define-concessao-de-obras-em-3-aeroportos-diz-palocci | title=Governo define concessão de obras em 3 aeroportos, diz Palocci | publisher=Valor Online | date=26 April 2011| access-date=16 May 2011| language=pt | first=Rafael | last=Bitencourt}} on 6 February 2012, the administration of the airport was conceded, for 30 years, to the Consortium Aeroportos Brasil composed of the Brazilian Triunfo,{{cite web | url=http://www.triunfo.com/ | title=Home | publisher=Triunfo | language=pt | access-date=30 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806013211/http://www.triunfo.com/ | archive-date=6 August 2012 | url-status=live }} an Investments and Funds Society (45%), UTC Engenharia e Participações,{{cite web | url=http://www.utc.com.br/index.php | title=Home | publisher=UTC Engenharia e Participações | language=pt | access-date=30 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618224949/http://www.utc.com.br/index.php | archive-date=18 June 2012 | url-status=live }} an Engineering and Investments Society (45%), and the French Aeroports Egis Avia{{cite web | url=http://www.egis-avia.com/domains/Aeroports | title=Home | publisher=Egis Avia | access-date=30 August 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216072916/http://www.egis-avia.com/domains/Aeroports | archive-date=16 February 2013 | url-status=live }} (10%).{{cite web | url=http://www.valor.com.br/impresso/empresas/cumbica-viracopos-e-brasilia-sao-privatizados | title=Cumbica, Viracopos e Brasília são privatizados | publisher=Valor Econômico | date=7 February 2012 | access-date=22 March 2012 | language=pt | first=Daniel | last=Rittner | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210020723/http://www.valor.com.br/impresso/empresas/cumbica-viracopos-e-brasilia-sao-privatizados | archive-date=10 February 2012 | url-status=live }} Infraero, the state-run organization, remains with 49% of the shares of the company incorporated for the administration.{{Cite web | url=http://www.estadao.com.br/estadaodehoje/20110601/not_imp726552,0.php | title=Governo pretende privatizar três aeroportos e abrir o capital da Infraero | publisher=O Estado de S. Paulo: Economia | date=1 June 2011| access-date=22 March 2012| language=pt | first1=Marta | last1=Salomon | first2=Tânia | last2=Monteiro}}{{cite web | publisher=CAPA | title=Brazil moves swiftly (at last) to award airport concessions | url=http://www.centreforaviation.com/analysis/brazil-moves-swiftly-at-last-to-award-airport-concessions-67568 | access-date=5 March 2012 | date=9 February 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315134601/http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/brazil-moves-swiftly-at-last-to-award-airport-concessions-67568 | archive-date=15 March 2014 | url-status=live }}{{cite magazine| url=http://exame.abril.com.br/negocios/noticias/conheca-o-consorcio-aeroportos-brasil-que-ira-operar-em-viracopos| title=Conheça o Consórcio Aeroportos Brasil que irá operar em Viracopos| magazine=Exame| language=pt| date=6 February 2012| access-date=13 April 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522130922/http://exame.abril.com.br/negocios/noticias/conheca-o-consorcio-aeroportos-brasil-que-ira-operar-em-viracopos| archive-date=22 May 2014| url-status=live}}

The facility encompasses 1,766 hectares (4,364 acres) of airport property and contains one 3,240m runway.{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroportoviracopos.net/en/campinas-viracopos-airport-information|title=Facts about Campinas/Viracopos Int'l Airport|website=aeroportoviracopos.net|accessdate= October 26, 2023}}

{{Airport-dest-list

|{{nowrap|Azul Brazilian Airlines}} | Alta Floresta,{{cite web|url=https://www.panrotas.com.br/aviacao/novas-rotas/2025/01/azul-anuncia-voos-conectando-campinas-sp-a-alta-floresta-mt_213706.html|title=Azul anuncia voos conectando Campinas (SP) a Alta Floresta (MT)|website=Panrotas|date=24 January 2025|access-date=28 January 2025|language=pt}} Aracaju, Araçatuba, Asunción, Bauru/Arealva, Belém, Belo Horizonte–Confins, Bonito, Brasília, Cacoal,{{cite web |title=Azul March 2025 Sao Paulo Viracopos/Campinas Network Addition |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250205-admar25vcp |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=5 February 2025}} Campo Grande, Cascavel, Caxias do Sul, Chapecó, Corumbá, Cuiabá, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Fort Lauderdale, Foz do Iguaçu, Goiânia, Ilhéus, Ji-Paraná, João Pessoa, Joinville, Juazeiro do Norte, Juiz de Fora, Lisbon, Londrina, Maceió, Madrid (begins 9 June 2025),{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/azul-confirma-segunda-rota-inedita-para-madri-agora-saindo-de-campinas/|title=Azul confirma segunda rota inédita para Madri, agora saindo de Campinas|website=Aeroin|date=7 March 2025|access-date=7 March 2025|language=pt}} Manaus, Marília, Maringá, Montevideo (begins 1 July 2025),{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/azul-anuncia-volta-de-voos-diretos-do-aeroporto-de-viracopos-a-porto-portugal-e-montevideu-uruguai/|title=Azul anuncia volta de voos diretos do Aeroporto de Viracopos a Porto, Portugal, e Montevidéu, Uruguai|website=Aeroin|date=26 February 2025|access-date=26 February 2025|language=pt}} Natal, Navegantes, Orlando, Palmas, Paris–Orly, Passo Fundo, Pato Branco, Petrolina, Ponta Porã, Porto (resumes 1 June 2025), Porto Alegre, Porto Seguro, Presidente Prudente, Recife, Ribeirão Preto, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Rio de Janeiro–Santos Dumont, Rondonópolis, Salvador da Bahia, São José do Rio Preto, São Luís, Sinop, Teresina, Uberaba, Uberlândia, Una-Comandatuba, Vilhena, Vitória
Seasonal: Campina Grande,{{cn|date=January 2025}} Mendoza (begins 17 June 2025),{{cite web|url=https://passageirodeprimeira.com/azul-anuncia-voos-diretos-para-bariloche-e-mendoza-de-tres-cidades-brasileiras/|title=Azul anuncia voos diretos para Bariloche e Mendoza de três cidades brasileiras|website=Passageiro de Primeira|date=7 February 2025|access-date=7 February 2025|language=pt}} Punta del Este,{{cn|date=January 2025}} San Carlos de Bariloche (begins 23 June 2025)

|Azul Conecta | Araraquara, Barretos, Divinópolis, Franca, Rio de Janeiro–Jacarepaguá

|{{nowrap|Gol Linhas Aéreas}} | Brasília, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Salvador da Bahia
Seasonal: Maceió,{{cn|date=January 2025}} Natal,{{cn|date=January 2025}} Recife{{cn|date=January 2025}}

}}

{{Airport-dest-list

| AeroLogic | Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Frankfurt, Montevideo, Natal

| Atlas Air{{cite web|title=Atlas Air Schedule|url=http://jumpseat.atlasair.com/travel/schedule.asp|website=Atlas Air|access-date=19 December 2023}} | Bogotá, Guadalajara, Lima, Miami, Quito, Santiago de Chile

| Avianca Cargo | Bogotá, Ciudad del Este, Curitiba, Medellín

| Cargolux | Curitiba, Luxembourg, Quito, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão

| DHL Aviation | Bogotá,{{cite web | url=https://aeroin.net/aviao-que-fez-o-voo-inaugural-da-dhl-tem-pane-e-nao-consegue-decolar-de-campinas/ | title=Avião que fez o voo inaugural da DHL tem problema e não consegue decolar de Campinas | website=Aeroin | date=11 July 2022 | access-date=22 July 2022 | language=pt}} Miami

| Emirates SkyCargo | Ciudad del Este, Dakar–Diass, Dubai–Al Maktoum, Quito

| {{nowrap|Ethiopian Airlines Cargo}} | Miami,{{cite web | url=https://www.panrotas.com.br/aviacao/aeroportos/2021/03/viracopos-passa-a-receber-voos-cargueiros-da-ethiopian-airlines_180011.html | title=Viracopos passa a receber voos cargueiros da Ethiopian Airlines | website=Panrotas | date=3 March 2021 | access-date=4 March 2021 | language=pt}} Santiago de Chile

| FedEx Express | Memphis{{cite web|url=https://aeroin.net/fedex-inclui-voos-para-mais-um-destino-na-america-do-sul-e-um-no-oriente-medio/|title=FedEx inclui voos para mais um destino na América do Sul e um no Oriente Médio|website=Aeroin|date=24 November 2022|access-date=24 November 2022|language=pt}}

| Kalitta Air | Miami, Santiago de Chile

| Korean Air Cargo | Anchorage, Lima, Los Angeles, Miami, Santiago de Chile, Seoul–Incheon

| LATAM Cargo Brasil | Belo Horizonte–Confins, Cabo Frio, Copenhagen, Huntsville, Lima, Manaus, Medellín, Miami, Porto Alegre, Quito, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Salvador da Bahia, Vitória
Seasonal: Tucumán

| LATAM Cargo Chile | Amsterdam, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Frankfurt, Iquique, Miami, Salvador da Bahia, Santiago de Chile, Vitória
Seasonal: Tucumán

| {{nowrap|LATAM Cargo Colombia}} | Bogotá, Manaus, Miami

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

| Martinair | Amsterdam, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Lima, Miami, Quito, Santiago de Chile

| Mas Air | Guayaquil, Mexico City, Quito

| Modern Logistics | Brasília, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão

| Qatar Airways Cargo | Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Dallas/Fort Worth, Doha, Lima, Luxembourg

| Turkish Airlines Cargo | Dakar–Diass

| UPS Airlines | Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, Louisville, Miami

}}

File:Viracopos_International_Airport_Entrance.jpg

File:Viracopos-Campinas_International_Airport_2017_002.jpg

File:Azul_Embraer_195_10_2009_VCP_7704.JPG]]

Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-2012) and Aeroportos Brasil (2013-2023) 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=29 February 2024|language=pt}}{{cite web|url=https://transparencia.infraero.gov.br/estatisticas/|title=Estatísticas|website=Infraero|date=20 May 2015|access-date=20 January 2024|language=pt}}

• 23 November 1961: an Aerolíneas Argentinas de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4 registration LV-AHR operating flight 322 from Campinas-Viracopos to Port of Spain after reaching an altitude of about 100m lost altitude, collided with a eucalyptus forest and crashed. All 12 crew and 40 passengers on board were killed. The accident was attributed to pilot error.{{Cite web | url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19611123-0 | title=Accident description LV-AHR | publisher=Aviation Safety Network | access-date=27 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024142908/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19611123-0 | archive-date=24 October 2012 | url-status=live }}
• 26 September 1976: a Serv-Jet Learjet 25 struck trees during an instrument approach to runway 14 in heavy rain, and crashed 1500m short of the runway. All seven occupants died.{{ASN accident|id=19760926-1|title=PT-IBR|access-date= October 25, 2023}}
• 4 January 1977: a Transbrasil BAC One-Eleven 520FN landed heavy at VCP because of an improper flare, causing the aircraft to bounce and touchdown nose gear first, collapsing the nose gear and causing a runway excursion. There were no fatalities among the 42 passengers and crew on board, but the aircraft was written off.{{ASN accident|id=19770104-1|title=PP-SDS|access-date= October 26, 2023}}
• 13 May 1980: a VOTEC Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander disappeared on a survey mission for Project Radam en route near to VCP. The aircraft was never found. Seven occupants perished.{{ASN accident|id=19800513-0|title=PT-KHK|access-date= October 25, 2023}}
• 13 October 2012: a Centurion Air Cargo McDonnell Douglas MD-11 registration N988AR operating flight 425 from Miami to Campinas-Viracopos lost a landing gear while landing on runway 15, causing damage to both the aircraft and runway. No injuries and deaths were reported. Following the incident, the airport was closed for 45 hours before the damaged aircraft was removed and the runway reopened. This caused a major traffic disruption with the airlines that operate at the airport.{{cite web | last=Hradecky | first=Simon | title=Accident: Centurion MD11 at Sao Paulo on Oct 13th 2012, left main gear collapsed during roll out | url=http://avherald.com/h?article=457695b2&opt=0 | publisher=Aviation Herald | date=15 October 2012 | access-date=16 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826091443/http://avherald.com/h?article=457695b2&opt=0 | archive-date=26 August 2018 | url-status=live }} This also marked the first time Viracopos Airport had been closed other than weather, ending the airport's 52 year clean record.

The airport is located {{convert|82|km|0|abbr=on}} northwest of the state capital city of São Paulo and {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=on}} southwest of downtown Campinas, adjacent to the Bandeirantes-Anhanguera highway complex, which connects the capital city to the interior of São Paulo state.

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{{Commons category-inline|Viracopos-Campinas International Airport}}

• {{GCM|SBKP|source=DAFIF}}
• {{NWS-current|SBKP}}
• {{ASN|VCP}}

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Category:Airports in São Paulo (state)

Category:Airports established in 1960

Category:Transport in Campinas

Category:1960 establishments in Brazil