Humaitá Airport (HUW)

Humaitá Airport, identified by the IATA code HUW and ICAO code SWHT, is a significant regional aviation facility serving the municipality of Humaitá in the southern part of the state of Amazonas, Brazil. Officially known as Francisco Correa da Cruz Airport, it is strategically located approximately 6 kilometers from the city center on the banks of the Madeira River. The airport serves as a critical transport link for this part of the Amazon basin, providing an essential aerial connection for a region where road travel can be exceptionally difficult during the tropical wet season. The airport features a single asphalt runway measuring between 1,200 and 1,520 meters in length, situated at an elevation of 230 feet above sea level. While the facility does not host a conventional commercial passenger terminal with large-scale retail or dining, it provides a functional base for regional domestic traffic and general aviation. Operations at HUW are restricted to daylight hours under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), as the facility currently lacks advanced night lighting systems. Despite its modest scale, the airport is a vital component of the local infrastructure, supporting regional administration, health services, and the transport of goods. Currently, scheduled commercial airline services at Humaitá are intermittent, with the airport primarily serving private charters, government transport, and executive aviation related to the region's prominent agricultural and forestry sectors. Travelers reaching the area often do so via connections through major regional hubs such as Porto Velho or Manaus, utilizing specialized air taxi companies that are experienced in operating within the unique constraints of the Amazonian environment. The airport is part of the national Regional Aviation Development Plan, with future projects aimed at modernizing the terminal and expanding its operational capabilities to attract regular regional carriers back to the city.