Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport (IATA: SLZ, ICAO: SBSL), known as Tirirical Airport until 1998, is an international airport in the municipality of São Luís, Maranhão. It is the main airport in the state of Maranhão. It regularly operates regional and national flights and eventually international charter flights to Barbados in Central America, Lisbon in Portugal, Miami in the United States and European countries. It usually receives medium-sized aircraft such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. In 2009, the landing (with restrictions) of an Antonov An-124, which carried cargo for Vale, was registered. On December 26, 2010, a charter flight by the company EuroAtlantic Airways, operated by a Boeing 767-300ER, brought tourists from Europe to spend New Year's Eve in São Luís. Since 2013, the largest aircraft that regularly operates at the airport is the Airbus A321 with capacity for 220 LATAM passengers.
In 1942, runway 09/27 (when it was grass) and measured a thousand meters in length, served the Brazilian Army Air Base and was the only means available to São Luís to receive flights. Runway 06/24 was built as part of the US base that began operating in 1943. In 1974, the then Ministry of Aeronautics (now COMAER) transferred the technical, administrative and operational jurisdiction of the airport to Infraero. The current passenger terminal at Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport was inaugurated in February 1998. Under Federal Law No. 7383, of October 17, 1985, the airport is named in honor of Marechal-do-Ar Hugo da Cunha Machado, born in Maranhão and remembered for his performance in his military career and in political life.
Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport is the main gateway to the State of Maranhão and contributes to the social, cultural and economic development of the state. The State of Maranhão, and especially the metropolitan area of influence, the capital São Luís, has been standing out as a hub for industrial and tourist investments with opportunities for sustainable economic growth, promoting social inclusion and reducing regional inequalities.
Currently, Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport has a commercial area, with restaurant, snack bars, ice cream parlor, travel agency, handicraft store, banks, post office, car rental companies, etc. The road network connects Maranhão from the North to the South of the country, the infrastructure consists of an 8,100m² air-conditioned passenger terminal, parking for 400 spaces, departure and arrival halls, escalators, elevators, boarding bridges, two lanes. landing and take-off, the largest of which measuring 2386m x 45m, is equipped with ILS Cat 1 (instrument flight), which allows it to meet the most diverse landing and take-off situations with relevant operational safety.
Repairs and Expansion
The airport's passenger terminal had its structure compromised by the rains that occurred in early March 2011, and a structure with limited capacity was used to fulfill its function while the main terminal was undergoing renovations. The reopening of the terminal was expected to take place in 150 days, but it only took place on August 27, 2012. Infrastructure problems led the airport to temporarily lose its international classification in June 2011. The repair works, in value of R$ 13 million, included air conditioning of the passenger terminal, doubling of the departure area, expansion of the arrival area by 118 m² and an increase in the number of check-in counters from 22 to 27.
In the second half of 2014, a new renovation was started, budgeted at R$ 14.5 million, which provides for the expansion of the terminal area from the current 6,200 m² to 11,100 m², construction of an exclusive space for flights international airports and installation of four operational modules, which will be attached to the terminal: embarkation, disembarkation, check-in and check-out. An increase in annual capacity to 5.9 million passengers was estimated. As of June 2015, only 10% of the works announced were completed. In early 2017, new embarkation and disembarkation terminals were inaugurated.
Main features of the aerodrome:
Renovated airport interior
Airport site: 6,022,000 m²
Passenger Terminal: 10.7 thousand m²
Cargo Terminal: 600 m²
Track 06/24
Material: asphalt
Resistance: 52/F/B/X/T
Dimensions: 2386 x 45 m
PAPI at the head 06
Track 09/27
Material: asphalt
Resistance: 39/F/B/X/T
Dimensions: 1464 x 45 m
Instrument approach systems: NDB, VOR and ILS Cat 1 (head 06)