Ten. Cel. Aviador César Bombonato Airport

Uberlandia Airport – officially Tenente-Coronel Aviador César Bombonato Airport – sits 9 kilometres south of downtown Uberlandia, in the Triângulo Mineiro region of Minas Gerais. It is a domestic airport handling around 1.5 million passengers annually, connecting the city to São Paulo, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, and other Brazilian hubs. The terminal is compact, modern, and designed for efficiency rather than spectacle, but it serves a city whose economic weight in agribusiness, logistics, and industry far exceeds its population of 700,000.

The airport is named after a local aviation hero, a Tenente-Coronel who served in the Brazilian Air Force. Its single terminal opened in its current form in 2004, after the original 1960s building became inadequate for the region’s growth. What passengers encounter today is a clean, functional space that handles both arrivals and departures on one level, with clear signage in Portuguese and English.

Getting There

Uberlandia Airport is 9 km from the city centre along Avenida Amazonas, which becomes BR-050. A taxi from the city centre takes about 20 minutes in light traffic and costs around 50–70 Brazilian Reais (R$). Ride-hailing services like Uber and 99 operate reliably; expect fares of R$ 25–40 depending on demand. Buses are the cheapest option: the airport line departs from the central bus station (Terminal Central) approximately every 30 minutes. The journey takes 35 minutes and costs R$ 5. The bus stops directly outside the terminal entrance. For those driving, the airport is easily reachable via BR-050 from São Paulo or Brasília, and parking is available (see Practical Information).

Inside the Terminal

The terminal building is a single-story structure with two floor levels only in the check-in area (where the baggage drop is elevated). On the ground floor: check-in counters, airline ticket offices, and a small convenience store. After security, the airside waiting area has seating, toilets, and a food court with two snack bars and a coffee shop. The airport Wi-Fi is free and reasonably fast, connected to the network “Aeroporto Wi-Fi.”

Facilities confirmed include wheelchair-accessible entrance, parking lots, and toilets throughout the terminal. There is a designated wheelchair-accessible car park near the entrance. Gender-neutral and wheelchair-accessible toilets are located in the departures area. A changing table is available in the accessible toilet. The airport promotes itself as LGBTQ+ friendly, and staff are trained accordingly. The seating area has designated wheelchair-accessible spaces, though some fixed seats in the restaurant area may be less accessible.

Security is standard: one line for domestic flights. Wait times are short except during peak hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings (7 pm) and Wednesday afternoons (2 pm). There is no priority lane for premium passengers. Duty-free shopping is absent, as this is a domestic-only airport. A small souvenirs shop exists pre-security. For passengers with layovers, the terminal can feel tight, but there is enough to occupy 30–45 minutes.

Airline counters are shared: Azul, Gol, Latam, and Voepass (formerly Passaredo) operate here. Check-in opens two hours before departure. The airport has one baggage carousel. In peak times after flight arrivals, the landside area fills quickly, so if someone is picking you up, arrange to meet curbside rather than inside.

Uberlandia Airport and Uberlandia

Uberlandia is the second-largest city in Minas Gerais state and anchors a metropolitan area of over 1 million people. Its name means "land of water," a reference to the abundant rivers and aquifers that sustain the surrounding Cerrado savanna. The city sits in the Triângulo Mineiro (Mineiro Triangle), a region that is both the breadbasket of Brazil and a hub for industry. As a visitor, you will find a city that is safe, prosperous, and surprisingly cosmopolitan for its inland location.

What brings people to Uberlandia? Agribusiness is the backbone: soy, corn, cattle, and sugar cane dominate the rural landscape. Many travellers are business professionals visiting the headquarters of major cooperatives like the Cargill plant or the logistics hubs along BR-050. But the city also draws tourists. The Parque do Sabiá, a large urban park with a lake, jogging trails, and a zoo, is a favourite for families. The Museu Municipal offers insight into the region’s indigenous and colonial history. For architecture, the Catedral de Santa Teresa d’ Ávila is a striking mid-century modern structure.

Uberlandia is also a university town: the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) brings a youthful energy, reflected in its nightlife along Avenida Paulo Gracindo, filled with bars and restaurants featuring live music. The city’s food scene is strong: try the local pão de queijo (cheese bread), or the grilled meat at churrascarias that are among the best in Minas Gerais. The nearby town of Araxá, about two hours east, offers hot springs and colonial charm.

The airport itself is emblematic of the city’s growth: it expanded in the 2010s to handle increasing passenger demand, with a new control tower and larger apron. It does not operate every day of the week; some airlines reduce frequencies on weekends, so check schedules carefully. The airport’s website (aenabrasil.com.br) is only in Portuguese, but Google Translate works adequately.

Practical Information

The airport is open daily from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. However, not all airlines operate every day; flights to smaller regional cities like Patos de Minas may only run on weekdays. The telephone number for general inquiries is +55 34 3233-5416. The official website: https://www.aenabrasil.com.br/pt/aeroportos/aeroporto-ten-cel-aviador-cesar-bombonato/index.html

Parking: there is a paid parking lot immediately outside the terminal, parking costs R$ 10 for up to an hour, R$ 6 per additional hour, with a daily maximum of R$ 40. A multi-storey car park is also available, though most passengers prefer the open lot. Payment is by card or cash at the exit booth.

Wi-Fi: free, no password required, with a 30-minute session limit that can be renewed. Speed is adequate for messaging and browsing but not streaming.

Food: the food court airside has a coffee shop and a snack bar; landside has a small cafe. Options are limited, so consider eating before arrival or bringing snacks.

One concrete piece of advice: if you are flying out on a Monday or Tuesday evening, arrive at least 90 minutes before departure, as those are among the busiest times (7 pm peak). During Wednesday afternoons, the airport also fills up quickly. Otherwise, 60 minutes is sufficient given the airport’s compact size.