The Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports has authorised the tender for a new regional airport in Caxias do Sul, gateway to the booming wine-tourism and manufacturing cluster of Serra Gaúcha in Rio Grande do Sul. Announced on 29 October by Minister Silvio Costa Filho, the R$ 200 million (US$ 40 million) project will be financed entirely by the National Civil Aviation Fund.
The facility will replace the capacity-constrained Hugo Cantergiani airfield and feature a 2,000-metre runway, precision-approach lighting and a 6,000 m² passenger terminal designed for narrow-body jets such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Once operational, it will cut travel time for business visitors to the region’s metal-mechanical plants and vineyards, who currently rely on Porto Alegre—two hours away by road—or operate weight-restricted charter flights into the existing airport.
Local industry associations estimate the new airport could handle 1.2 million passengers annually within five years, unlocking R$ 1.5 billion in tourism and logistics revenue. The project includes plans for a bonded logistics zone, which would simplify temporary-import procedures for machinery and exhibition goods, benefiting multinational manufacturers with plants in the region.
Construction bids will open in December, with ground-breaking expected in mid-2026 and entry into service targeted for 2029. Environmental licensing has already been secured, and the state government has committed to upgrading highway BR-116 links to integrate the airport into the regional transport grid.
For mobility teams the development promises more direct flight options for short-term assignees and faster freight clearance for project cargo, though they should monitor potential temporary road closures once construction starts.
The facility will replace the capacity-constrained Hugo Cantergiani airfield and feature a 2,000-metre runway, precision-approach lighting and a 6,000 m² passenger terminal designed for narrow-body jets such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Once operational, it will cut travel time for business visitors to the region’s metal-mechanical plants and vineyards, who currently rely on Porto Alegre—two hours away by road—or operate weight-restricted charter flights into the existing airport.
Local industry associations estimate the new airport could handle 1.2 million passengers annually within five years, unlocking R$ 1.5 billion in tourism and logistics revenue. The project includes plans for a bonded logistics zone, which would simplify temporary-import procedures for machinery and exhibition goods, benefiting multinational manufacturers with plants in the region.
Construction bids will open in December, with ground-breaking expected in mid-2026 and entry into service targeted for 2029. Environmental licensing has already been secured, and the state government has committed to upgrading highway BR-116 links to integrate the airport into the regional transport grid.
For mobility teams the development promises more direct flight options for short-term assignees and faster freight clearance for project cargo, though they should monitor potential temporary road closures once construction starts.
