โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
30
minutes
Domestic โ International
60
minutes
Interline Connections
90
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Paulo Afonso Airport (PAV), officially known as Aeroporto de Paulo Afonso, is a regional aviation facility serving the city of Paulo Afonso in the northern state of Bahia, Brazil. The airport operates from a single, compact passenger terminal designed for high efficiency and ease of navigation. It acts as a vital infrastructure link for the region's economy, specifically supporting the operations of the CHESF hydroelectric power plant and local agribusiness.
The terminal infrastructure provides essential amenities for travelers, including a small cafรฉ in the public area offering light snacks, sandwiches, and beverages. Passengers have access to free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the building, and the waiting lounge is equipped with modern seating featuring integrated power outlets and USB charging ports. The facility is fully accessible, with a single-level layout that ensures short walking distances between check-in and the boarding gates.
Operationally, the airport is managed by GRU Airport and primarily serves domestic regional flights connecting the city to major hubs like Recife and Salvador. The airfield features a 5,906-foot (1,800m) asphalt runway and provides basic administrative and ground handling services for private and charter aviation. Ground transportation to downtown Paulo Afonso, located approximately 4 miles (6 km) away, is well-supported by local taxi services and ride-sharing apps.
๐ Connection Tips
Paulo Afonso Airport (PAV) serves northern Bahia, Brazil. While it is an active regional gateway, it currently handles NO regular scheduled commercial airline flights following its recent concession to the GRU Airport group. It primarily serves private pilots, agribusiness charters, and government missions.
Ground transport into the city center (approx. 5km away) is primarily via local taxis called from town or pre-arranged through your hotel. Local city buses pass near the terminal entrance but do not enter the airfield gates. If you are arriving at PAV via private aircraft, ensure you have coordinated your ground transport.
The facility is modern but handles a low volume of traffic. Arrive 60 minutes early for private departures. The area is a gateway for the spectacular Paulo Afonso waterfalls The airport is also a practical staging point for visits to the Paulo Afonso hydroelectric complex and the river gorge viewpoints, so many travelers treat it as the first leg of a sightseeing loop rather than a standalone transfer. A hotel taxi or pre-arranged driver is the cleanest way to handle the short city hop. The waterfalls and hydroelectric complex are the main reason visitors care about the airport at all. If you are there for the gorge or the dam, a timed road pickup keeps the visit efficient.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Deputado Joaquim d'Abreu Coelho Airport (AAI), serving the municipality of Arraias in the southeastern region of Tocantins, Brazil, functions primarily as a general aviation airfield with no scheduled commercial airline services. The airport's infrastructure is modern, having been completed in 2013, and the terminal building is small and functional, designed to accommodate the low volume of traffic from private planes, air taxis, and government aircraft. It includes a basic lounge area and parking facilities, providing essential services for those operating private flights into this remote part of the country.
The layout of the airport is very simple, consisting of a single runway and a small apron for aircraft parking. As there are no commercial flights, the usual passenger processing facilities such as check-in desks, security screening areas, and baggage claim carousels are not present. Operations are managed on a smaller scale, typically coordinated directly between pilots and the local airport administration. The environment is exceptionally quiet, with flight activity being intermittent and generally restricted to daylight hours due to the lack of advanced lighting systems.
Despite its new infrastructure, the airport remains uncertified by the Department of Airspace Control (as of late 2023), which limits its potential for future scheduled routes. For now, it remains a critical piece of local infrastructure, providing a vital connection for business in the region's agricultural sector and for private travel, significantly reducing travel time compared to the long overland journeys from major cities like Palmas or Brasรญlia.
๐ Connection Tips
Connections at Deputado Joaquim d'Abreu Coelho Airport require careful coordination within Brazil's general aviation network, as this uncertified facility in southeastern Tocantins exclusively handles private aircraft and air taxis supporting the region's agricultural economy. Located 15 kilometers from Arraias town center, serving a municipality of 10,534 residents across 5,787 square kilometers of agricultural land, the airport completed its infrastructure in August 2013 but remains uncertified by the Department of Airspace Control as of 2023, limiting operations to visual flight rules during daylight hours. This certification status requires all operators to verify current operational permissions with DECEA before planning any flights to or from the facility.
Transfers to Brazil's commercial aviation network necessitate ground transportation over considerable distances, with Palmas Airport 320 kilometers north via TO-110 highway requiring approximately four hours of driving through rural Tocantins terrain. Brasรญlia International Airport, 435 kilometers southwest, offers more extensive domestic and international connections but demands five to six hours of road travel across state boundaries. Alternative regional airports include Araguaรญna in northern Tocantins for connections to Belรฉm and Sรฃo Paulo, though this involves an even longer 600-kilometer journey. Agricultural aviation operators familiar with Brazil's 2,539-strong agricultural aircraft fleet may coordinate fuel stops at certified airstrips in nearby municipalities, as Arraias lacks refueling infrastructure.
Weather patterns significantly impact connection reliability, particularly during the October to March wet season when afternoon thunderstorms frequently develop across Tocantins plateau, potentially closing VFR operations without warning. The airport's role in supporting regional agriculture, particularly soybean and cattle operations characteristic of this cerrado region, means private aircraft movements often coincide with planting and harvest seasons, creating potential congestion despite the lack of scheduled services. Travelers must pre-arrange all ground transportation through local contacts or agricultural cooperatives, as the remote location offers no taxi services, rental cars, or public transit options, with most visitors relying on farm vehicles or pre-booked transfers from Arraias town.
โ Back to Paulo Afonso Airport