โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
110
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Pinheiro Airport (PHI), officially known as Aeroporto Regional de Pinheiro โ Prefeito Diogo de Sousa, is a domestic aviation facility serving the Baixada Maranhense region in the state of Maranhรฃo, Brazil. The airport functions primarily as a regional landing ground and is currently undergoing a major revitalization project led by the State Government to modernize its infrastructure. It acts as a critical link for the surrounding agricultural and fishing communities, primarily supporting air taxis, private charters, and essential medical transport.
The current terminal infrastructure is modest and focused on basic transit services, providing a functional waiting area and administrative offices. However, as of early 2026, the facility is nearing the completion of a comprehensive upgrade that includes an expanded passenger terminal building, new security fencing, and modernized access roads. While the building lacks large-scale commercial amenities like retail shops or food courts, it provides a secure environment for travelers and pilots transitioning to the interior of the state.
Operationally, the airport features a substantial 5,709-foot (1,740m) asphalt runway capable of supporting medium-sized aircraft like the Boeing 737. The ongoing upgrades include the installation of a new night lighting system (*balizamento noturno*), which will eventually allow for 24-hour emergency operations and medical evacuations. Ground transportation to central Pinheiro, located approximately 3.7 miles (6 km) to the southeast along the MA-106 highway, is informal and typically managed via local taxi services or pre-arranged private vehicle transfers.
๐ Connection Tips
Pinheiro Airport is the local gateway to Pinheiro and the surrounding area in Maranhรฃo, so the connection is a short road transfer into town rather than a major commercial interchange. If you are arriving for family, business, or a regional visit, a taxi or pre-arranged car is usually the cleanest way to finish the trip because the airport is not built around a dense terminal-side transport network. For travelers continuing deeper into western Maranhรฃo, the airport is best treated as the first step in a ground itinerary and not as a hub for changing airlines. That makes PHI useful precisely because it is simple: you land close to town, get into the vehicle, and move on with the rest of the day. The key is to know who is meeting you before you leave the last airport, because small regional fields do not leave much room for improvisation if the pickup is late. If you are connecting from a larger city, it is usually wiser to plan the regional road segment separately and keep the airport arrival protected. In practice, PHI works best when the next leg is already visible on the map and the airport is just the quick start to it. The airport is efficient when used that way, and frustrating when you expect it to function like a larger connector in the Brazilian network.
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 Pinheiro Airport