Fortaleza Airport

It is named after Euclides Pinto Martins (1892–1924), a Ceará-born aviator who in 1922 was one of the pioneers of the air link between New York City and Rio de Janeiro.

Fortaleza–Pinto Martins International Airport Aeroporto Internacional de Fortaleza–Pinto Martins
IATA: FOR ICAO: SBFZ LID: CE0001
Summary
Airport type	Public & Military
Operator	Infraero (1974–2017) Fraport Brasil (2017–present)
Serves	Fortaleza
Hub for	LATAM Brasil
Time zone	BRT (UTC−03:00)
Elevation AMSL	25 m / 83 ft
Coordinates	03°46′33″S 038°31′56″W / 3.77583°S 38.53222°W / -3.77583; -38.53222
Website	www.fortaleza-airport.com.br/en
Map
FOR Location in Brazil
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 13/31 2,755 9,039 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Passengers 5,564,542 3% Aircraft Operations 53,199 2% Metric tonnes of cargo 62,768 56%
Statistics: Fraport Sources: Airport Website, ANAC, DECEA

The airport is operated by Fraport Brasil.

Some facilities are shared with Fortaleza Air Force Base.

 

The airport had its origins on a runway built in the 1930s and used by Ceará Flying School until 2000.

During World War II, the airport was an important Allied base supporting South Atlantic operations.

On May 13, 1952, the original name, Cocorote Airport, was changed to its present name paying tribute to Ceará-born aviator Euclides Pinto Martins.

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 Pinto Martins Airport.

In 1966, a passenger terminal and apron were built. On the north area, this former passenger terminal, now serves as a General Aviation Terminal for private aircraft, where general aviation, executive, and air taxi operations occur.

In 1997, the airport was upgraded to the status of international airport (Portaria 393 GM5, of June 9, 1997).

From January 7, 1974, to December 31, 2017, the facility was operated by Infraero. Through a partnership between Infraero, the federal government, and the state government, a new 35,000 m² passenger terminal was built in the southern area. It was opened in February 1998.

On August 31, 2009, Infraero unveiled a BRL 525 million (US$276.6 million, EUR 193.8 million) investment plan to upgrade the airport focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Brazil, Fortaleza being one of the venue cities. The investment focused in the renovation and enlargement of the passenger terminal, apron, and parking with completion due in November 2013.

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, Fortaleza was considered to be requiring attention, operating between 70% and 85% of its capacity.

On March 16, 2017, the concession of the airport was auctioned to the consortium Fraport AG of Frankfurt, Germany, for R$425 million for use for 30 years. Among the improvements established in the contract signed on July 28, 2017, was to renew and complete the investments of Infraero related to the passenger terminal, and the lengthening of the runway. Following the auction, between June 2017 to 2018 a transition period took place in which Fraport and Infraero managed the airport. Since January 2, 2018, Fraport is the sole administrator.

On April 27, 2018, the construction of the two-story terminal extension started as well as expansion of the terminal and tracks, a remodeled taxi and traffic area, and a redesigned airport road system with a viaduct. On June 25, 2019, a 60-position check-in area was opened, and finally on April 14, 2020, the renovation was completed. Presently, the airport can handle 4 million passengers per year, and it has 14 aircraft parking positions.

Fraport launched the idea of an airport real estate project to call attention to investments in huge warehouses, shopping centers, and hotels, but nothing has been constructed until 2024.

The present facility covers 531 hectares (1,312 acres) of land with one runway.

Passenger

Note:
^a: Flights operated with Voepass equipment on behalf of LATAM Brasil.

Cargo

 

 

 

Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-2017) and Fraport Brazil (2018-2023) reports:

Year	Passenger	Aircraft	Cargo (t)
2023	5,564,542   3%	53,199   2%	62,768   56%
2022	5,748,892   45%	54,294   31%	40,353   18%
2021	3,971,382   27%	41,343   26%	34,155   5%
2020	3,129,551   57%	32,897   45%	32,613   33%
2019	7,211,701   8%	59,693   4%	48,341   5%
2018	6,648,967   12%	57,465   10%	46,146   8%
2017	5,935,288   4%	52,290   2%	42,756   6%
2016	5,706,489   10%	53,133   14%	40,165   15%
2015	6,347,543   2%	61,556   10%	47,087   7%
2014	6,501,822   9%	68,695   3%	50,504   28%
2013	5,952,629	66,814   2%	39,389   11%
2012	5,964,308   6%	65,391   1%	44,310   12%
2011	5,647,104   11%	65,853   5%	50,380   4%
2010	5,072,721   20%	62,570   21%	48,336   24%
2009	4,211,651   21%	51,861   9%	38,923   8%
2008	3,465,791   4%	47,703   1%	36,153   5%
2007	3,614,439	47,226	38,172

• June 8, 1982: a VASP Boeing 727-212 registration PP-SRK operating flight 168 from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão to Fortaleza collided with a mountain during approach procedures 25 km (16 mi; 13 nmi) south to airport. Aircraft descended too low during approach. All 137 passengers and crew died.
• October 21, 1998: a Capital Táxi Aéreo Embraer EMB 120 Brasília crashed into a house 2 km (1.2 mi; 1.1 nmi) short of the runway during approach. All three people on board and one person on the ground died.

The airport is located 6 km (4 mi) south of downtown Fortaleza.

• List of airports in Brazil
• Fortaleza Air Force Base