Having taken over operation of Manaus Airport in January, VINCI Airports now operates eight airports across Brazil. These variously sized facilities are helping support the country’s economic development, especially in the Amazon region. We review the details below.

With eight sites in operation, VINCI Airports becomes Brazil’s largest international airport concession company, employing 500 people. In addition to Salvador Bahia Airport, the first to join the VINCI Airports network, the network also covers the Amazon region in northern Brazil, close to the borders with Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Guyana and Surinam. This difficult-to-access region relies heavily on air transport to maintain links with the rest of Brazil and neighbouring countries.

The largest city in the State of Amazonas, Manaus holds a unique charm. It combines nature at its wildest with the idyllic freshwater beaches of the Rio Negro, together with the dynamism of a large metropolis of more than five million people. Its airport, the third-largest in Brazil in terms of cargo activity, is one of the country’s main freight transport hubs. VINCI Airports plans to increase cargo activity through the airport, which currently serves 13.5 million passengers per year. Thanks to effective cooperation between the teams from VINCI Airports and the state port infrastructure company Infraero, the transition took place seamlessly. Manaus Airport plays a key role in the Amazon region’s economic and social development. Improving its operation and performance will therefore give the whole region an economic and social boost.

VINCI Airports has operated Salvador Bahia International Airport since 2018. This was the first airport to join the VINCI Airports network and has quickly become a benchmark facility. Following a renovation and extension plan completed in synergy with teams from VINCI Energies, and €160 million in investment, the airport was named “Brazil’s most sustainable airport” for the third year in a row, offering 36 destinations, hosting 10 airlines and serving 7.8 million passengers per year. The expertise and best practice employed in taking over the operation of this airport are now standard across all VINCI Airports sites in Brazil.

The city of Tefé lies at the centre of Amazonas, more than 500 km from Manaus. This city of 55,000 inhabitants cannot be accessed by road. This makes its airport, operated by VINCI Airports since earlier this year, strategic and essential to local people’s businesses and daily lives. Located just 4 km from the city centre, this facility includes a 2,200-metre runway and eight aircraft parking stands. Other than the river, it provides the only transport link with the rest of the country.

The city of Tabatinga is a strategic location for Brazil’s economic development, thanks to its position on the borders with both Peru and Colombia. Tabatinga also lies on the left bank of the Solimões River, which is crucial to the transport of goods throughout Amazonas. In this area of intensive trade, VINCI Airports operates an airport located just 2 km from the centre of Tabatinga. With its 2,150-metre runway, it represents the main access route to the extreme west of Amazonas, and an excellent gateway between the region and the external Peruvian and Colombian markets.

Porto Velho is one of the Amazon region’s major economic motors. Immense in size (larger than some Brazilian States), the city shares a border with Bolivia and boasts extensive mineral deposits of tin oxide, which is widely used in the manufacture of glass paste and ceramics. VINCI Airports manages the city’s international airport, located 7 km from the city centre and equipped with a 2,400-metre runway. This facility plays a key role in the region’s economic and social development. It has become a strategic hub for conveying Brazilian agricultural produce to the Pacific. The historic Madeira‑Mamoré Railroad, not far from Porto Velho, is now one of the biggest tourist attractions in this part of Brazil.

Rio Branco is located on the triple border that separates Brazil, Peru and Bolivia. Its airport, now operated by VINCI Airports, welcomes national, international, civil and military air traffic, not to mention numerous air taxi services, which are extremely important in this region of limited transport options. Located around 18 km from the city centre, the airport offers a runway 2,158 metres long. This makes it a major asset for territorial cohesion in Brazil, providing the link between the rest of the country and Rio Branco, Brazil’s most westerly major city.

Cruzeiro do Sul is one of the best-known locations in Brazilian eco-tourism. Affectionately known as the “little princess”, this city in western Brazil boasts many well-preserved natural landscapes, including the Croa River and the Serra do Divisor National Park, an exceptional reserve with an impressive wealth of biodiversity.

The local airport joined the VINCI Airports network in January 2022. It plays an essential role in supplying the city and also provides a daily link to the capital and westerly towns of the State of Acre.

This is a city like no other. The only Brazilian State capital located north of the Equator, Boa Vista was built according to the Parisian model. In addition to this urban landscape, which is astonishing to find in this part of the world, tourists are entranced by its streams, freshwater beaches and stunning rocky scenery. Supporting the development of this high-potential destination, Boa Vista International Airport is located 3.5 km from the city centre, with a 2,700-metre runway, five aircraft parking stands and a freight terminal.