IndianAirports.com
Powered by Google TranslateTranslate
SDU · large airport

Santos Dumont Airport

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Airports
SDUlarge airport

Santos Dumont Airport

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Explore Rio de Janeiro city guide Navigate to this airport
30
Routes out
18
Destinations
SBRJ
ICAO
11 ft
Elevation
TravelerPulse profile

Rio's downtown airport named after aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont.

Opened
1936
Location
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) is a domestic airport located in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, situated on a small peninsula jutting into Guanabara Bay. It serves as a key hub for short-haul flights within Brazil, particularly the busy Rio de Janeiro–São Paulo air bridge (ponte aérea) connecting SDU with Congonhas Airport. The airport is named in honor of Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont, widely celebrated in Brazil as the true father of aviation. Its central location makes it highly convenient for travelers heading to downtown Rio, the historic center, and the South Zone neighborhoods. Despite its compact footprint and single runway, SDU handles millions of passengers annually and is a critical piece of Brazil's domestic air transport network. It complements the larger international Galeão Airport (GIG), which handles most long-haul international traffic.
Terminals
The airport has a single integrated passenger terminal building designed to handle both departures and arrivals efficiently within a compact footprint.
Getting to & from
The airport is accessible by taxi, ride-hailing services, and public bus, with its downtown location placing it within minutes of Rio's central business district and major hotels.
Airlines here
LATAM Airlines and Azul Brazilian Airlines are among the primary carriers operating domestic routes from Santos Dumont, with LATAM dominating the high-frequency Rio–São Paulo air bridge.
Notable facts
  • ›Named after Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont.
  • ›Hosts one of the world's busiest air routes: the Rio de Janeiro–São Paulo shuttle (ponte aérea).
  • ›Located on a landfill peninsula on the shores of Guanabara Bay.
  • ›Has a single runway (02R/20L) approximately 1,323 meters long, limiting aircraft size.
  • ›Situated approximately 45 km closer to central Rio than the international Galeão Airport (GIG).
Official website Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (18 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

SDU → BPSAD · E90
SDU → CAWAD · AT7
SDU → CGHAD · E90
SDU → CNFAD · E90 E95
SDU → CWBAD · E90
SDU → GRUAD · E90 E95
SDU → GYNAD · E90
SDU → MEAAD · AT4
SDU → POAAD · E90
SDU → SJKAD · AT7 E90
SDU → VCPAD · E95 E90
SDU → VIXAD · E90 E95
SDU → BSBG3 · 738 73G
SDU → CGHG3 · 738
SDU → CNFG3 · 73G 738
SDU → GRUG3 · 738 73G
SDU → VIXG3 · 73G 738
SDU → AJUJJ · 319
SDU → BSBJJ · 319
SDU → CGHJJ · 319
SDU → CNFJJ · 319
SDU → IOSJJ · 319
SDU → VIXJJ · 319
SDU → BSBO6 · 318 319
SDU → CGHO6 · 319
SDU → SSAO6 · 319
SDU → CFBTE · L4T
SDU → MEATE · L4T
SDU → SJKTE · L4T
SDU → RAOY8 · EM2

Stay, Eat & Explore: Rio de Janeiro

The marvelous city

  • •Christ the Redeemer — The 38-metre Art-Deco Christ atop Corcovado.
  • •Sugarloaf Mountain — Two cable cars to the bay's most famous view.
  • •Copacabana & Ipanema — The world's most celebrated urban beaches.
  • •Escadaria Selarón — The 215 tiled steps of Lapa.
  • •Tijuca National Park — The world's largest urban rainforest — waterfalls included.

Getting around: Metro lines link the Zona Sul beaches to downtown; use app-cabs at night. Santos Dumont airport is downtown; Galeão connects by BRT.

Full Rio de Janeiro guide → Places to stay Dining guide
Hotels near SDU

Pick what matters for your layover or early flight, then compare on your favorite booking site.

Compare stays for your dates

IndianAirports may receive compensation when you book or purchase through some of the links on this page, at no additional cost to you. Prices and availability are set by the booking provider and may change. We never share your private trip details with partners — only the destination, dates and party size you searched.

City & Place Guide

No guide exists for this place yet — Click to generate a Traveler Pulse guide.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via SDU? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Brazil from official government sources.

Brazil visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →
Santos Dumont Airport
Encyclopaedia

Santos Dumont Airport is the second major airport serving Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is more of a domestic hub, with Galeão International Airport serving international flights after 2023.

Read full article on Wikipedia