⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
40
minutes
Domestic → International
85
minutes
International → Domestic
85
minutes
International → International
100
minutes
Interline Connections
140
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
São Paulo Guarulhos operates three terminals with T2 and T3 handling the majority of traffic. Terminal 1 serves domestic routes, Terminal 2 handles both domestic and international flights with extensive amenities, while Terminal 3 is the modern international gateway dedicated to long-haul intercontinental flights and serves as LATAM's primary hub. Walking time between T2 and T3 is 10-15 minutes via direct airside connector, while T1 requires 8-12 minutes to T2 or 15-25 minutes to T3. Free shuttle buses operate every 15 minutes between all terminals (10-minute journey).
Terminal 2 features eight lounges including GOL Premium facilities and Plaza Premium options, plus over 20 dining venues after security ranging from familiar franchises (McDonald's, Subway) to local Brazilian cuisine. Terminal 3 houses 11 premium lounges including the expansive 20,000-square-foot LATAM VIP Lounge, and offers gates 301-332 with five A380-capable gates. Security wait times average 20-45 minutes during peak periods with Fast Track lanes available in all terminals.
Immigration processing in Terminal 3 typically takes 30-60 minutes for international arrivals, while customs clearance adds 10-20 minutes with random inspections common. Family facilities include children's play areas in lounges, baby care rooms, and accessible services throughout. The airport provides comprehensive amenities including currency exchange, ATMs, medical services, shopping from luxury brands to duty-free, and spa facilities. Terminal changes require exiting security and re-screening, taking 45-90 minutes total.
🔄 Connection Tips
Connecting through São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) requires an understanding of the terminal layout and Brazilian customs regulations. The airport primarily uses Terminal 2 for domestic and some regional flights, while Terminal 3 is the main hub for long-haul international departures. If you are arriving on an international flight and connecting to a domestic destination within Brazil, you must clear immigration, collect your checked baggage, and pass through customs at GRU, even if your luggage is tagged to your final destination. After customs, you can use the 'Baggage Drop' counters to re-check your bags before moving to the domestic gates in Terminal 2.
For international-to-international transfers on a single ticket, you can usually stay airside and use the connecting corridor between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. This walk takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes; follow the red floor tiles to reach Terminal 3 or the black tiles for Terminal 2. If your journey involves separate tickets, or if you are flying with Azul (which often uses the isolated Terminal 1), you will need to exit the secure area and use the free circular shuttle bus that runs between all three terminals every 15 to 20 minutes.
A minimum connection time of 3.5 hours is recommended for international arrivals connecting to domestic flights due to potential queues at immigration and the baggage re-check process. For domestic to international connections, 2.5 hours is typically sufficient if your bags are checked through. Be aware that most premium lounges are located in Terminal 3, so travelers with long layovers in Terminal 2 may wish to walk to Terminal 3 to access these facilities, keeping in mind the return walk to their departure gate.
⏰ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic → Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic → International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
🏢 Terminal Information
Marcelo Pires Halzhausen Airport (AIF), also known as the Assis State Airport, is a significant regional aviation facility located in the western part of São Paulo state, Brazil. Serving the city of Assis and the surrounding agricultural region, the airport is a critical hub for general aviation, business travel, and regional logistics. Currently operated by Aeroportos Paulistas (ASP) and managed by Socicam, the airport features a single, functional passenger terminal that supports a high volume of private aircraft operations and is poised for the resumption of scheduled commercial services.
The terminal building is designed for practical efficiency, providing essential services for both local and transient aviators. Inside, travelers have access to a clean and comfortable waiting lounge, basic administrative desks, and modern restrooms. While it does not offer the extensive commercial concourses of major hubs like Guarulhos, it provides a professional environment suitable for corporate executives and agricultural contractors. The layout is minimalist, with the terminal entrance situated within a short walking distance of the aircraft parking apron, ensuring that boarding and deplaning procedures are quick and uncomplicated.
Operational stability is a priority at AIF, with the airport recently undergoing infrastructure improvements to align with modern safety standards. The facility is equipped with a well-maintained asphalt runway capable of handling regional turboprop aircraft such as the Cessna Grand Caravan, which is planned for use by Azul Conecta in its upcoming shuttle services. Beyond its civil transport role, the airport serves as a vital base for emergency medical flights and aerial application services for the region's productive sugarcane and grain farms. For visitors, the terminal represents a professional and welcoming entry point to one of São Paulo's most dynamic regional centers.
🔄 Connection Tips
Marcelo Pires Halzhausen Airport serves Assis as a local aviation facility, but it should not be treated as a dependable scheduled-airline connection point unless you have current confirmation from the carrier involved. Public reporting in recent years has linked the airport to efforts to restore service through regional operators such as Azul Conecta, yet the airport's practical role remains far closer to local access and general aviation than to a high-frequency airline network. That means travelers should not build a complex same-day itinerary around AIF without verifying the exact operating reality for their date.
For most trips, the safer strategy is to anchor the main airline segment at a larger airport in Sao Paulo state or Campinas and then use road transport or a confirmed regional leg into Assis. The airport is convenient once you are headed specifically to Assis, but it does not offer the kind of dense fallback options that make a short self-connection reasonable. If the regional sector changes, the recovery path can be much slower than at a major commercial field.
Ground planning matters too. Assis itself is accessible once you land, but local transport should be arranged rather than assumed, especially if you are arriving outside the busiest hours. If the trip has business importance, confirm both the flight status and the pickup before departure and keep your key travel documents accessible. AIF can work well for local access, but the prudent approach is to treat it as the last controlled segment of the trip rather than the place where you rely on network resilience.
← Back to São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport