Azul-Dominated Viracopos Grows as Key São Paulo Gateway

Viracopos International Airport (VCP), serving the city of Campinas about 100 kilometers north of São Paulo, continues to play a vital role in Brazil’s domestic aviation market. Ranked as the fifth busiest airport in the country, Viracopos is heavily dominated by Azul Airlines, which uses the airport as a major hub for its network. The airport primarily handles domestic traffic, with TAP Portugal being the sole international carrier offering flights, connecting Campinas to Europe.

Despite its location outside São Paulo’s city limits, Viracopos functions as one of the region’s three main airports alongside São Paulo/Guarulhos and São Paulo/Congonhas. It operates under two IATA codes: CPQ and VCP, though VCP is the code used for São Paulo-bound flights in the global distribution systems.

Since its privatization in 2012, Viracopos has been operated by the Aeroportos Brasil consortium, which holds a controlling 51% stake. Brazil’s state-run airport operator Infraero continues to own a 49% minority share. The privatization was part of a broader strategy to modernize and expand Brazil’s airport infrastructure to support growing demand and prepare for major international events.

Although its international reach is limited, Viracopos is strategically positioned for expansion, particularly as São Paulo’s main airports face congestion and capacity limitations. With Azul continuing to strengthen its presence and potential for future route development, Viracopos remains an important piece of Brazil’s air travel puzzle and a candidate for further international connections as travel demand grows.

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