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.[6]
On 18 January 1958, a new passenger terminal was inaugurated, replacing the original facility. During this time, runway 14/32 was extended from 1,800 to 2,010 m (5,910 to 6,590 ft), and runway 18/36 was extended from 1,800 m to 2,400 m (7,900 ft).
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 3,300 meters (10,800 feet) 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.[7] The work was completed on 1 July 2011, and the airport was then considered ready for the FIFA Cup.[8]
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.[9]
Previously operated by Infraero, on March 15, 2019, AENA won a 30-year concession to operate the airport.[10]
The Brazilian Integrated Air Traffic Control and Air Defense Center, section 3 (Cindacta III) is located in the vicinity of the airport.[11]
Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-2019) and AENA (2020-2023) reports:[14][15][1]
Year
Passenger
Aircraft
Cargo (t)
2023
9,046,145 4%
84,516 5%
50,756 19%
2022
8,725,495 16%
80,230 10%
62,817 3%
2021
7,523,046 56%
73,247 52%
61,020 63%
2020
4,836,890 44%
48,044 41%
37,543 17%
2019
8,714,119 3%
80,887 3%
45,111 2%
2018
8,422,566 8%
78,766 5%
44,442 26%
2017
7,776,881 14%
75,099 9%
35,310 21%
2016
6,811,676 2%
69,108 4%
29,218 11%
2015
6,700,696 7%
72,080 4%
32,912 8%
2014
7,190,381 5%
75,418 8%
35,625 13%
2013
6,840,276 6%
81,824 1%
31,494 3%
2012
6,433,410 1%
82,997 1%
32,483 33%
2011
6,383,369 7%
83,638 8%
48,152 27%
2010
5,958,982 13%
77,322 16%
38,018 15%
2009
5,250,565 12%
66,415 3%
44,758 22%
2008
4,679,457 12%
64,625 8%
57,264 5%
2007
4,188,081
59,781
60,381
Accidents and incidents
1 November 1961: a Panair do BrasilDouglas 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.[16][17] The aircraft was operating the Voo da amizade (Friendship Flight).
11 November 1991: a NordesteEmbraer 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.[18][19]
23 November 2008: a Beechcraft Super King Air operated by JC Show Ltda crashed 5 km (3.1 mi) N on final approach to REC when both engines quit possibly because of fuel starvation and carried out a forced landing in a residential area. Two occupants out of 10 on board died.[20]
The airport is located 14 km (9 mi) 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.
^"Cindacta III" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Air Force: Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo DECEA. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2011.
^Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Buraco negro". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 197–203. ISBN978-85-7430-760-2.
^Germano da Silva, Carlos Ari César (2008). "Fogo na decolagem". O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 364–369. ISBN978-85-7430-760-2.
