Brazil's Catarina International Executive Airport, the country's only privately owned airport, is planning to double its hangar space in response to the booming demand for business jet travel. The airport, which opened in 2019 and is located just a short helicopter ride or drive from São Paulo, currently has 12 hangars and intends to expand to 25 in the future.
Managed by luxury developer and mall operator JHSF Participacoes SA, Catarina is equipped to handle both domestic and international flights, boasting a runway that can accommodate the largest private aircraft. Currently, nearly 100 planes utilize Catarina as their home base. Brazil possesses the second-largest fleet of executive jets globally, trailing only the United States. Additionally, São Paulo ranks among the top cities worldwide for helicopter traffic, according to JHSF. Constructed to rival prestigious private terminals like London's Farnborough, Paris' Le Bourget, and Teterboro Airport near New York City, Catarina has experienced sustained growth following an initial surge caused by disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"In 2020, the global private jet market boomed," stated Ronie Guimaraes, Managing Director of Catarina. "Everyone who owned a jet started using it more frequently. Those who possessed the financial means but didn't have their own jet began either purchasing or leasing one."
The airport generates revenue through hangar leases, fuel sales, and short-term stays. Some clients are willing to pay a premium of up to 40% for personalized hangar space, which is often shared among family members or friends. While Guimaraes declined to disclose specific fees, he mentioned that they have been increasing at a rate surpassing inflation.
Operating 24 hours a day, Catarina accommodates large business jets with price tags ranging from $60 million to $100 million, including models such as the Embraer Lineage 1000E, Gulfstream G650, Bombardier Global 7500, and Dassault Falcon 8X. Approximately 90% of the airport's traffic is domestic, with the remaining 10% being international.
Presently, Catarina experiences approximately 1,200 flights per month, with the potential to expand to as many as 10,000. To manage the flow of traffic, a new taxiing runway has been constructed. According to Guimaraes, Brazil has lengthy waiting lists for various aircraft types, particularly those capable of landing on dirt runways, which are popular among large farm owners.
JHSF has formed agreements with aircraft manufacturers to provide maintenance services within the hangar spaces, giving owners another reason to choose Catarina over options such as Guarulhos, the main international airport. Guimaraes confidently stated, "We're going to capture 80% of the long-distance heavy jet market in São Paulo. Every 15 days, clients who own these types of aircraft are traveling to destinations like Switzerland, the US, Paris, or London for either business or pleasure."