Campo de Marte Airport is the first airport built in São Paulo, Brazil, opened in 1929. It is named after Champ de Mars, in Paris, which in turn took its name from Campus Martius, in Rome.

The airport is operated by Pax Aeroportos.

History Campo de Marte was the first airport built in São Paulo, officially opened on 26 July 1929.

The airport was bombarded during the 1932 Constitutionalist Revolution.

On 12 November 1933 a ceremony marking the start-up of scheduled flights of VASP took place at the airport. The first two routes linked Campo de Marte to São Carlos and São José do Rio Preto, and to Ribeirão Preto and Uberaba.

It handled all air operations in São Paulo until VASP opened Congonhas Airport in 1936. VASP considered it a necessary move because of unexpected growing demands, and to avoid a problem of constant flooding by the adjoining Tietê River, particularly the one that happened in 1929.

São Paulo Air Force Base was created on 22 May 1941 by Decree 3,302 at Campo de Marte Airport. On 26 January 1945 the base at Campo de Marte was decommissioned and transferred to its present location, then called Cumbica Farm at Guarulhos.

Presently it houses the São Paulo Flying club, founded in 1931, helicopters and general aviation services. It has limited night operations capability, usually reserved to helicopters.

The 4th command of the Brazilian Air Force is also located on the premises.

On 11 May 2007, Pope Benedict XVI canonized the first Brazilian-born saint, Frei Galvão, during a mass on the site.

An agreement to establish an aerospace museum at the airport was signed in 2017.

Previously operated by Infraero, on 18 August 2022 Pax Aeroportos controlled by XP Inc. won a 30-year concession to operate the airport.

An agreement between the federal and municipal governments over the use of the land was finally reached by February 2025, allowing work to progress on the aviation museum.

Airlines and destinations

No scheduled flights operate at this airport.

Statistics

Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-31 August 2023) and Pax (2024) reports:

Year Passenger Aircraft Cargo (t) 2024 58,304 2023 66,445 35,796 0 2022 103,361 7% 57,194 3% 0 2021 96,897 29% 55,671 21% 0 2020 75,171 22% 45,988 27% 0 2019 96,735 19% 63,281 13% 0 2018 118,872 72,376 5% 0 2017 118,984 5% 69,137 3% 0 2016 125,324 17% 71,044 24% 0 2015 151,275 18% 93,354 20% 0 2014 185,494 25% 116,924 13% 0 2013 246,087 42% 135,155 6% 0 2012 427,160 10% 143,799 8% 0 2011 388,100 7% 133,509 9% 0 2010 361,984 16% 123,009 18% 0 2009 312,460 16% 104,502 2% 0 100% 2008 269,498 17% 102,088 9% 252 22% 2007 230,276 93,452 206 Note: : Neither Infraero or Pax Airports have informed statistics for 1 September – 31 December 2023.

Accidents and incidents 4 November 2007: an Air Taxi Learjet 35A registration PT-OVC crashed over a house in a residential area nearby after a failed takeoff attempt from Campo de Marte, killing the pilot, co-pilot, and 6 people on the ground. 19 March 2016: a private kit aircraft, model Comp Air 9 registration PR-ZRA crashed into one house in the neighborhood of Casa Verde, about one mile after takeoff, killing 7 people on board and injuring one resident. Among the victims were entrepreneur Roger Agnelli and his family. 7 February 2025: a private Beechcraft F90 King Air registration PS-FEM crashed shortly after takeoff.The aircraft came down on Avenida Marquês de São Vicente, Barra Funda, São Paulo, and burst into flames as it skidded down the road after hitting a bus. Both occupants perished and the aircraft was destroyed. Also six people on the ground were injured.

Access The airport is located from downtown São Paulo in the district of Santana.

See also

List of airports in Brazil

References

External links