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Santos Dumont Airport International Hub illustrationInternational Hub
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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
AirlinesAirports 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 Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.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

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City & Place Guide

Sun, samba, and stunning scenery where mountains meet the sea.

Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's most visually dramatic cities, framed by lush Atlantic Forest peaks, sweeping Atlantic beaches, and a vibrant, pulsing street culture. Known as the Cidade Maravilhosa — the Marvelous City — it blends colonial history, Afro-Brazilian traditions, and modern energy in a way that few destinations can match.

The city is divided into distinct neighborhoods, each with its own personality: the bohemian lanes of Santa Teresa, the upscale shore of Ipanema, the historic center of Lapa, and the famous party strip of Copacabana. Visitors will find world-class cuisine, live music nearly every night, and natural escapes within minutes of the urban core.

Despite its festive reputation, Rio rewards slow exploration. Hiking through Tijuca National Park, sipping caipirinhas at a boteco bar, or watching the sunset from Arpoador rock can be just as memorable as the famous carnival spectacle.

  • •Christ the Redeemer — iconic Art Deco statue atop Corcovado with panoramic city views.
  • •Sugarloaf Mountain — cable-car ride to a granite peak overlooking Guanabara Bay.
  • •Copacabana Beach — legendary 4 km crescent of sand buzzing with vendors and volleyballers.
  • •Lapa Arches — historic 18th-century aqueduct now flanking Rio's vibrant nightlife district.
  • •Tijuca National Park — world's largest urban rainforest with trails, waterfalls, and wildlife.
  • •Ipanema Beach — stylish, trendy beach immortalized by Bossa Nova and famous for sunsets.

Getting around: Rio's Metro (Metrô Rio) is clean, affordable, and covers key areas including Ipanema, Copacabana, and downtown; BRT bus corridors link the west zone and international airport. Municipal buses are cheap but can be confusing for first-timers. Taxis are widely available, and rideshare apps like Uber and 99 are reliable, safe, and strongly recommended for nighttime travel or reaching hillside neighborhoods.

Best time: Visit between May and October for cooler, drier weather — ideal for sightseeing and hiking — while February brings the world-famous Carnival if you can handle the crowds and heat.

Local food: Do not leave without trying feijoada (black bean and pork stew), fresh açaí bowls on the beach, pastéis at a street market, churrasco at a rodízio grill, and a classic caipirinha made with cachaça and fresh lime.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

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