In 2019, a general aviation terminal (GAT) opened at São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (SBGR). This terminal is owned and operated by GATGRU, a consortium that was awarded by the SBGR airport authorities. Here’s everything business aviation operators need to know.

São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport

History of the GAT

The new GAT opened on Oct. 21, 2019, for GA operations at SBGR. Initially, all GA operations were required to operate through the GAT. This created confusion among operators, and eventually, usage of the GAT became optional.

Although the GAT adds convenience to the traveler, there are concerns that need to be considered when traveling to this location.

The General Aviation Terminal (GAT) operates under a policy that restricts it to managing one operation at a time. This means that there may be occasions when crew and passengers are required to wait in their aircraft until it is their turn for service. To manage this and minimize operational conflicts, the GAT has instituted a scheduling system where flights are accepted every 30 minutes. This approach effectively regulates the flow of operations, similar in concept to slot allocation. It’s important for crews and passengers to be aware of this system to set appropriate expectations regarding potential waiting times upon arrival at the GAT.

Is the GAT Mandatory for Business Aviation?

No, initially upon opening, the GAT was required for all GA flights. However, it is now optional. Private flights can clear CIQ in Terminal 3 for no additional charge. However, clearance is done along with the commercial airline traffic, with no priority.

The distance between the ramp and the terminal is around 15 minutes, plus 10 minutes of customs clearance and walking.

GAT Amenities

The GAT offers exclusive services (CIQ, security, VIP lounge, car parking lot, a short distant from aircraft to GAT and between airport and external area) for the aircraft, crew and pax into the scheduled date/time.

GAT Booking Lead Time & Fees

Booking Lead Time

To ensure the best service, all booking requests must be placed at least 24 hours in advance. If a request is made in less than 24 hours, it will be subject to availability.

Cost

The total cost to use the GAT upon arrival is USD $2,000, and an equal amount is required for departure. Pre-payment is mandatory for all services.

Schedule Changes

Any adjustments to the booking that amount to more than 1 hour and 30 minutes from the originally scheduled time, made with less than 12 hours’ notice, will subject the client to a new surcharge fee.

Cancellations

In the event of a cancellation, no additional charges will be incurred if the booking is cancelled more than 12 hours in advance. However, any cancellation made with less than 12 hours’ notice will not be eligible for any reimbursement.

Refunds

Refunds are only partial for pre-paid services. If a cancellation is made more than 12 hours in advance, the client will be eligible for a 50 percent reimbursement. No reimbursement is available for cancellations made with less than 12 hours’ notice.

Handlers Still Required

All GA operations to SBGR still require a handling agent. Crew and pax are only allowed inside the aircraft ground perimeter. Universal Aviation Brazil is still the liaison providing all pre arrival coordination in order to guarantee the best ground experience as well as transport passengers and crew from the aircraft to the GAT. Additionally, Universal Aviation Brazil will also ensure operators understand upfront all fees associated with using the various amenities within the GAT.

CIQ Process

Customs authorities are not based at the GAT. Requests must be placed at least 12 hours prior to arrival/departure.

All crew and passengers will have to disembark at the same time. Meanwhile, one of the crew members can stay behind in order to keep the APU running; however, the authorities will wait a maximum of 15 minutes for remaining crew to disembark and clear immigration as well.

After all crew members are cleared, they can return to the aircraft, bearing only the essentials to keep working on their aircraft. All baggage will be stored at GAT GRU facilities until they are ready to exit the airport.

Customs agents work both commercial and GA terminals, so it might depend on peak hours; however, until this day, we haven’t had any availability issues.  Further, if multiple aircraft arrive to the GAT close to the same time, only one aircraft will be cleared at a time in order of arrival, and the passengers of the subsequent aircraft will have to await clearing onboard.

Be Prepared for More Thorough Inspections When Using the GAT

The authorities will be completely dedicated to the crew and passengers arriving and departing. For this reason, inspections will be more complete than they were when the operation was in the commercial aviation terminal. Recently, our current president approved a GLO (Law and order guarantee) for our ports. Therefore, our Armed Forces might perform security checks and inspections upon arrival.

The preparation for a trip will also be more detailed. While in the past, just a Gendec would work, now the handler will need to send the crew and pax manifest to the customs authorities within 24 hours, along with any updates.

What if I Have Pets Onboard?

There is only one quarantine agent on the whole airport per shift, so everything will be checked previously. We ask that you send all PET documentation in advance, and they will analyze if everything is in order. Upon arrival, they will only perform a local or remote check to see the animal and complete admission. Please send your queries to our team in advance. We’ll be ready to assist you.

Conclusion

If you’re operating to Sao Paulo or anywhere in Brazil, Universal Aviation Brazil can help.

Both frequent and non-frequent flyers will enjoy the benefits of the new terminal. Any use of the GAT will result in a $2,000 USD charge.  To decide the best option for your mission, it’s important to understand the layout of the GAT and work closely with your ground handler.