Flights to Brazil: direct flights to Rio and how long they take

At a glance

Direct flights to Rio de Janeiro by region

International flights to Rio land at Galeão (GIG), officially Aeroporto Internacional Tom Jobim. The Spanish airport group Aena took over its management on 6 October 2026. The airline list below comes from the airport, airline schedule filings and Aena’s high-season plan. Routes and timetables change by season, so confirm with the airline before you plan around a flight.

Europe and the Middle East

Swiss, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways and Air Europa are not on the airport’s airline list, so they do not fly to Rio non-stop.

North America

Latin America

From Mexico, Central America (other than Panama) and Asia, you will usually connect, through Panama City, a US hub, a European hub, Dubai or São Paulo.

How long is the flight to Brazil

These are approximate times to Rio de Janeiro, worked out from published departure and arrival times or taken from route data. Schedules change by season, so check your airline for your date.

The flight back to Europe is often a little shorter. Lufthansa’s schedule, for example, takes about 12 hours from Frankfurt to Rio and about 11 hours and 15 minutes from Rio to Frankfurt.

Connecting via São Paulo

If your city has no direct flight to Rio, São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) is the usual way in, since many long-haul flights land there. Guarulhos Terminal 3 serves international airlines including Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines, which do not fly to Rio non-stop.

From Guarulhos, domestic flights continue to Rio in about an hour:

• GOL and LATAM fly non-stop to Galeão (GIG);
• Azul and LATAM fly non-stop to Santos Dumont (SDU), next to Rio’s city centre.

The other option is the air shuttle known locally as the ponte aérea: Congonhas (CGH), São Paulo’s city airport, to Santos Dumont, about an hour in the air with Azul, GOL and LATAM. To get from Guarulhos to Congonhas you need to cross the city; the Airport Bus Service runs line 258 from the Terminal 2 bus terminal.

Two things to watch:

• At Guarulhos, domestic flights leave from Terminals 1 and 2, and many international flights arrive at Terminal 3. On separate tickets you also collect and re-check your bags, so leave plenty of time.
• Santos Dumont and Galeão are different airports. If you fly into Santos Dumont, remember that your international flight home will leave from Galeão.

Bus and car options are in our São Paulo to Rio guide.

Transit in Europe or the US

Many routes to Rio connect in Europe. The Schengen area has 29 countries. Munich Airport explains the usual pattern for connections: arriving from outside Schengen and flying on to a Schengen city means passport control at the connecting airport, while a connection from one non-Schengen flight to another usually needs no passport control if you stay in the gate area. So if you fly Rio to Lisbon, for example, and then on to another Schengen city, expect to clear passport control in Lisbon.

Some nationalities need an airport transit visa even to change planes in Schengen. Spain’s foreign ministry says this visa lets you stay in the international transit area and does not allow entry to the Schengen territory. Rules for connecting in the US, the UK or elsewhere depend on your passport, so check the official website of the country where you change planes.

Arriving in Rio

Galeão arrivals are in Terminal 2. From there you reach Copacabana or Ipanema by taxi from the official counters, by ride app from the dedicated pickup point, or by a private transfer. Public transport needs at least one change, which is slow with suitcases. Santos Dumont connects with the city by VLT tram and metro, though the tram does not take large luggage. The details are in our Rio airports guide and on the Rio airport transfer page.

Booking around Carnival and New Year

December to February is the high season in Rio, with New Year’s Eve and Carnival in those weeks. Aena’s plan for Galeão adds flights for the October 2026 to January 2027 peak, but seats on popular dates still go early. If you are travelling for these events, book flights as soon as your dates are fixed, then hotels and transfers. Dates and seasons are in our best time to visit Brazil guide and on the Rio Carnival page.

Entry documents

Before you book, check what your passport needs to enter Brazil, and to transit through any connecting country. Our Brazil visa requirements page explains where to find the official rules. We do not arrange visas.

How we help

We do not sell flights. Once your tickets are booked, send us your flight numbers. We arrange the driver who meets you at Galeão or Santos Dumont, connections between the two airports, and the rest of the trip: guides, day trips, a full program. See private trips in Rio, or write to us with your dates.