Eduardo Gomes International Airport is one of the biggest airports in Brazil. It is located 14km north of downtown Manaus.
It replaced Ponta Pelada Airport in 1976 and was named after Air Marshall Eduardo Gomes, a Brazilian politician and military personality.
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The airport has a single runway (10/28) which is 2,700m long and is paved with asphalt.
The airport serves more than three million passengers and records 56,000 aircraft operations annually. It handles about 175,000mt of cargo.
Expansion plans for Eduardo Gomes airport
In August 2009, Infraero initiated an upgrade plan with an estimated investment of BRL793.5m ($316.1m) to make the airport ready for hosting the FIFA World Cup 2014. The project includes construction of a second runway, extending the existing runway and apron, plus renovation of the passenger terminal.
In September 2011, a consortium of Encalso, Engevix and Kallas won a $193m contract for the renovation and expansion of the airport. The project includes expansion of the terminal one from the existing 43,000m² to 97,250m², increasing the parking spaces and adding two new boarding bridges.
It also includes replacement of facilities with new standards of accessibility, improving road axis, providing covered parking and complete landscaping. It is expected to be completed by December 2013.
The logistics terminal three at the airport is being restructured with the latest equipment and advanced technology available.
Terminal features of the Brazillian airport
The airport has two passenger terminals. Terminal one is used for domestic and international fights. It has a space of more than 44,000m². Terminal two, which was opened in March 1985, is for general aviation.
Terminal one includes five fixed and one mobile point for embarkation and disembarkation, four rooms for boarding domestic flights, a departure lounge for international flights and 36 check-in counters.
It also includes an information desk, duty-free shops in the lobby, a car rental service, taxis, banking services and restaurants.
The facilities at terminal two include a departure lounge, an arrival hall and a VIP room. The facilities also include an information desk, banking services, car rental and taxi services at the lobby.
The airport has three cargo terminals with storage space of 49,000m². The three terminals were opened in 1976, 1980 and 2004. Cargo terminals one and two are used for exportation and the third terminal is used for imports.
The terminals can process up to 12,000t of cargo in a month.
Maintenance facilities
The FBO (fixed base operators) and ground handling companies at the airport include Universal Aviation, Lider Signature, Aero Manaus, Southeast Aviation Brazil, S.A.T.A, Swissport Exec Aviation and City 1 Handling.
The airport has public bus transport and taxi services. The car rental company desks are located in the lobby of the terminals.
The airport has 662 parking spaces, which include both short and long term spaces. It also has parking spaces reserved for the disabled.
Controversy regarding Eduardo Gomes International Airport
In March 1989, a cargo flight belonging to Transbrasil crashed before touching down on the runway. Three crew members and 22 civilians on the ground died in the incident. The accident occurred as one of the crew members activated dynamic brakes to touch down before the scheduled closure of the runway.
In May 2004, Rico Linhas Aéreas flight 4815 crashed in a forest about 18nm from Manaus. All 33 people on board including the crew members died in the accident.
In September 2006, a Gol Airlines flight collided with an Embraer Legacy business jet. All 154 passengers and crew of the Gol Airlines flight died in the incident.
