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
Marcelo Pires Halzhausen Airport (AIF), also known as the Assis State Airport, is a significant regional aviation facility located in the western part of Sรฃo 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 Sรฃo Paulo's most dynamic regional centers.
๐ 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.
โ Back to Pinheiro Airport