Rio de Janeiro Galeao - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG)
History, Facts and Overview

(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

A fairly historic airport first established more than 50 years ago, Galeao International Airport dates back to 1952, when is was constructed on Governador Island. A location was chosen to have good access to central Rio de Janeiro and the airport quickly gained notability, becoming Brazil's busiest and most important airport by 1970, receiving the majority of all international flights.

Rio de Janerio's Galeao Airport was thoroughly renovated in 1977, improving passenger facilities and amenities greatly. However, in 1985, Sao Paulo's Guarulhos Airport replaced Galeao International Airport as Brazil's number one hub and this understandably saw a decrease in passenger numbers.


Soon after and in an attempt to regain its status, an additional terminal was built, costing around US$600 million. In the last few years, Rio de Janeiro has seen an enormous rise in passengers flying into Galeao Airport, rising from just over four million in 2004 to almost 14 million at present.

Today, Rio de Janeiro Airport is now officially known as the Galeao - Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (GIG), being named after a famous Brazilian musician, and offers a range of modern facilities. Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 offer a selection of shops, including duty-free outlets and news agencies, along with cafes serving a range of refreshments. For business facilities, the Luxor Hotel can be found onsite and offers a good choice of meeting rooms and more besides.