"Within a few seconds we shall be landing in Galeão..." Rio de Janeiro International Airport is named for the greatest name in Brazilian Bossa Nova - Antônio Carlos Jobim, due to the above words, immortalized in "Samba do Avião" ("Airplane Samba").

Around 230 domestic and international flights per day land and take off on the two 4,000 meter runways - the longest in Brazil - and one of 3,180 meters. The 24 principal international airlines have flights regularly linking Rio de Janeiro to the major capitals of the world. Miami and New York are around 9 flying hours away, whereas flights to the main European capitals take more like 11 or 12 hours. Through agreements between airlines, Rio is linked to airports in more than 80 countries. Rio is the Brazilian city most visited by foreigners, and the domestic and international airports have connections to domestic flights all over Brazil. Most of the flight arrivals and departures in Rio are at night, allowing executives or tourists to use their time to the full before embarking or after arrival. The international airport now has two modern terminals, with a capacity for 15 million passengers per year, and restaurants, banks, exchange facilities, and shopping - including Duty Free. Located on the Ilha do Governador (Governor’s Island) the airport is linked to downtown Rio and the South Zone by the Linha Vermelha expressway (Red Line), the trip taking about 20 minutes in normal traffic conditions, whether by special taxi, air-conditioned bus, or exclusive transport services to set points or to the principal hotels. There is also transport to the West Zone - Barra - where Riocentro, the largest Convention Center in Latin America is located, also around 20 minutes on another expressway, the Linha Amarela (Yellow Line). The city also has a domestic airport - Santos Dumont Airport, main link to São Paulo and other Brazilian cities ­ a port and a bus terminal. The Airport Santos Dumont is downtown ten minutes distant from the South Zone, with 6 gates for arrivals and departures, capacity for 5 million passengers per year and around 273 daily flights. For those arriving in the city, another verse of the "Samba do Avião" is eminently suitable: "Christ the Redeemer, open arms over Guanabara Bay." What a wonderful welcome for visitors to the city of Rio de Janeiro.