Goiania Airport Guide: Santa Genoveva’s New Terminal Era
Goiania Airport, Santa Genoveva, serves the capital of Goias in central Brazil. Runway, 2016 terminal, airlines, routes and transport explained.
By The Aviation Hub
5 min read
Updated October 20, 2026 
Goiania Airport, officially Santa Genoveva International Airport, serves the capital of Goias state in Brazil’s agricultural heartland. The city of around 1.5 million people sits on the high cerrado plateau, about 130 miles (209 km) from Brasilia. Traffic jumped to almost 3.9 million passengers in 2025, and a terminal opened in 2016 gives room to grow. Busy business and general aviation flying reflects the wealth of the surrounding farm economy.
Goiania Airport at a Glance
The IATA code is GYN and the ICAO code is SBGO. The airport lies about 5 miles (8 km) north east of downtown Goiania, at an elevation of 2,450 feet (747 m). It has one runway and one passenger terminal. Goiania Airport handled 3,856,638 passengers and 57,605 aircraft operations in 2025, up sharply from 3,157,061 passengers in 2024.
Brazil’s three big domestic airlines, Azul, GOL and LATAM, provide nearly all scheduled flights. CCR, renamed Motiva in April 2025, held the concession from 2021, and the Mexican group ASUR took it over in 2026. Flight information and parking details are on the airport’s official website.
How Goiania’s Airport Came to Be
Goiania was built in the 1930s as a planned state capital, and air links followed. Flights operated from the site for a few years before the airport was formally commissioned in 1955. It takes its name from the surrounding Santa Genoveva district. The state owned operator Infraero took over in 1974 and ran it for almost five decades.
The original terminal was designed for 600,000 passengers a year. By 2015 it was handling more than five times that figure, with crowded halls and long queues. Relief came on 9 May 2016, when a new terminal opened on the opposite side of the runway with capacity for 6.3 million passengers a year.
Privatisation followed. On 7 April 2021 CCR won a 30 year concession covering Goiania Airport and several other regional fields. The company rebranded as Motiva on 26 April 2025, and on 18 November 2025 it agreed to sell its airport portfolio to the Mexican operator ASUR. The deal was completed in 2026.
Runways at Goiania Airport
There is one asphalt runway, 14/32, measuring 2,286 metres (7,500 feet) long and 45 metres wide. That length suits the Airbus A320 family, the Boeing 737 and the Embraer E195 that dominate Brazilian domestic flying. At 747 metres of elevation and in tropical heat, though, it limits heavier aircraft and longer flights, which helps explain the lack of long haul services.
Runway 32 approaches cross rising ground to the south east. On 14 January 2011 a Beechcraft King Air on a VOR approach in heavy rain struck Santo Antonio hill about 7 miles (11 km) short of the runway, killing all six people aboard. Summer thunderstorms between November and March bring the main weather challenge. Business jets, turboprops and agricultural aircraft keep the movement count high.
Terminals and Airlines
The 2016 terminal is a clean, functional building with 32 check in counters and eight jet bridges. It sits across the runway from the old terminal, which freed the original side of the field for other uses. Facilities are typical of a mid sized Brazilian airport, with food courts, shops and a small lounge offering.
Azul, GOL and LATAM share the schedule. Azul connects the city to its Campinas hub and its regional network, GOL focuses on Sao Paulo and Brasilia connections, and LATAM links Sao Paulo and other hubs. In 2010 the state cut the tax on aviation fuel from 15 per cent to 3 per cent to attract more flights. Airlines showed interest in building a hub at Goiania Airport, but operational limits held the idea back.
Routes and Destinations
Sao Paulo is the dominant market, served through Congonhas, Guarulhos and Campinas. Those flights carry both local business travellers and passengers connecting to the rest of Brazil and abroad. Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte are other key links, along with routes into the north and north east. There are no scheduled international flights, so most overseas journeys connect through Sao Paulo.
The strong growth in 2025 came largely from new and expanded domestic routes. Agribusiness generates steady demand all year, while school holidays in January and July bring leisure peaks. Cargo is modest and mostly carried in passenger holds. Goiania Airport also handles a large volume of private flying, from crop sprayers to executive jets serving the farms of Goias.
Getting to and from Goiania Airport
There is no rail link. Taxis and ride hailing apps are the quickest way into the city, with the centre around 20 minutes away outside rush hour. City bus lines also serve the airport and are the cheapest sensible option, though they are slower and less convenient with luggage. Car hire desks sit in the arrivals hall.
The airport is well placed for road trips. Brasilia is roughly three hours away by the BR 060 highway, and Anapolis is about an hour. Popular weekend escapes such as Pirenopolis and the hot springs at Caldas Novas are within a few hours’ drive. Parking is available in front of the terminal, with covered and open areas.
Spotting and Photography
The two sided layout makes Goiania Airport interesting for enthusiasts. Roads around the perimeter give views of the runway, and the general aviation side of the field offers a steady stream of business jets, turboprops and light aircraft. The dry season from May to September brings clear skies and crisp light, while wet season storms make for dramatic backdrops.
Airline traffic is mostly Azul A320neos and Embraer jets, GOL 737s and LATAM A320 family aircraft. Keep to public areas and stay well clear of fences. Security staff may approach anyone with long lenses, so carry identification, explain calmly and follow their instructions.
What Comes Next
The 2016 terminal still has spare capacity, so the immediate focus is on adding routes rather than buildings. The new owner, ASUR, could bring fresh investment and marketing, as the Mexican group has done at its other airports. Runway length remains the hard constraint on longer international flights.
The local economy is strong and the 2025 traffic surge shows real demand. The verdict: Goiania Airport has the terminal it needs and the market to grow, and its next step depends on new ownership attracting more airlines. Compare it with other Brazilian airports on the Airports of the World map.
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