# Fortaleza Airport

Fortaleza–Pinto Martins International Airport (IATA: FOR, ICAO: SBFZ) is the international airport serving Fortaleza, Brazil. It is named after Euclides Pinto Martins (1892–1924), a Ceará-born aviator who in 1922 was one of the pioneers of the air link between New York City and Rio de Janeiro.
The airport is operated by Fraport Brasil.
Some facilities are shared with Fortaleza Air Force Base.

## History

The airport had its origins on a runway built in the 1930s and used by Ceará Flying School until 2000.
During World War II, the airport was an important Allied base supporting South Atlantic operations.
On May 13, 1952, the original name, Cocorote Airport, was changed to its present name paying tribute to Ceará-born aviator Euclides Pinto Martins.
On July 21, 1953, within a law prescribing rules for the naming of airports, the name of the facility was officially and exceptionally maintained as Pinto Martins Airport.
In 1966, a passenger terminal and apron were built. On the north area, this former passenger terminal now serves as a general aviation terminal for private aircraft, where general aviation, executive, and air taxi operations occur.
In 1997, the airport was upgraded to the status of international airport (Portaria 393 GM5, of June 9, 1997).
From January 7, 1974, to December 31, 2017, the facility was operated by Infraero. Through a partnership between Infraero, the federal government, and the state government, a new 35,000 m$^2$ passenger terminal was built in the southern area. It was opened in February 1998.
On August 31, 2009, Infraero unveiled a BRL 525 million (US$276.6 million, EUR 193.8 million) investment plan to upgrade the airport focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Brazil, Fortaleza being one of the venue cities. The investment focused on the renovation and enlargement of the passenger terminal, apron, and parking with completion due in November 2013.
Responding to critiques to the situation of its airports, on May 18, 2011, Infraero released a list evaluating some of its most important airports according to its saturation levels. According to the list, Fortaleza was considered to be requiring attention, operating between 70% and 85% of its capacity.
On March 16, 2017, the concession of the airport was auctioned to the consortium Fraport AG of Frankfurt, Germany, for R$425 million for use for 30 years. Among the improvements established in the contract signed on July 28, 2017, was to renew and complete the investments of Infraero related to the passenger terminal, and the lengthening of the runway. Following the auction, between June 2017 to 2018 a transition period took place in which Fraport and Infraero managed the airport. Since January 2, 2018, Fraport is the sole administrator.
On April 27, 2018, the construction of the two-story terminal extension started as well as expansion of the terminal and tracks, a remodeled taxi and traffic area, and a redesigned airport road system with a viaduct. On June 25, 2019, a 60-position check-in area was opened, and finally on April 14, 2020, the renovation was completed. Presently, the airport can handle 4 million passengers per year, and it has 14 aircraft parking positions.
Fraport launched the idea of an airport real estate project to call attention to investments in huge warehouses, shopping centers, and hotels, but nothing has been constructed until 2024.
The present facility covers 531 hectares (1,312 acres) of land with one runway.

## Airlines and destinations
### Passenger

| Airlines | Destinations |
| Air France | Cayenne (begins 22 April 2025), Paris–Charles de Gaulle |
| Azul Brazilian Airlines | Belém, Belo Horizonte–Confins, Campina Grande, Campinas, Manaus, Recife, São Paulo–Congonhas, Teresina Seasonal: Goiânia, Ribeirão Preto, São José do Rio Preto, Uberlândia |
| Gol Linhas Aéreas | Brasília, Buenos Aires–Aeroparque, Manaus, Miami, Orlando, Recife, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Salvador da Bahia, São Paulo–Congonhas, São Paulo–Guarulhos Seasonal: Belo Horizonte–Confins, Buenos Aires–Ezeiza, São Luís |
| LATAM Brasil | Belém, Brasília, Juazeiro do Norte (begins 23 June 2025), Manaus, Miami, Natal, Recife, Rio de Janeiro–Galeão, Salvador da Bahia, Santiago de Chile, São Luís, São Paulo–Congonhas, São Paulo–Guarulhos, Teresina Seasonal: Belo Horizonte–Confins, Lisbon (begins 7 April 2025), Vitória |
| TAP Air Portugal | Lisbon |

### Cargo

| Airlines | Destinations |
| Gol Transportes Aéreos | São Paulo–Guarulhos |
| Sideral Linhas Aéreas | São Paulo–Guarulhos |

## Statistics

Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-2017) and Fraport Brazil (2018-2024) reports:
| Year | Passenger | Aircraft | Cargo (t) |
| 2024 | 5,628,394 1% | 53,968 1% | 37,712 40% |
| 2023 | 5,564,542 3% | 53,199 2% | 62,768 56% |
| 2022 | 5,748,892 45% | 54,294 31% | 40,353 18% |
| 2021 | 3,971,382 27% | 41,343 26% | 34,155 5% |
| 2020 | 3,129,551 57% | 32,897 45% | 32,613 33% |
| 2019 | 7,211,701 8% | 59,693 4% | 48,341 5% |
| 2018 | 6,648,967 12% | 57,465 10% | 46,146 8% |
| 2017 | 5,935,288 4% | 52,290 2% | 42,756 6% |
| 2016 | 5,706,489 10% | 53,133 14% | 40,165 15% |
| 2015 | 6,347,543 2% | 61,556 10% | 47,087 7% |
| 2014 | 6,501,822 9% | 68,695 3% | 50,504 28% |
| 2013 | 5,952,629 | 66,814 2% | 39,389 11% |
| 2012 | 5,964,308 6% | 65,391 1% | 44,310 12% |
| 2011 | 5,647,104 11% | 65,853 5% | 50,380 4% |
| 2010 | 5,072,721 20% | 62,570 21% | 48,336 24% |
| 2009 | 4,211,651 21% | 51,861 9% | 38,923 8% |
| 2008 | 3,465,791 4% | 47,703 1% | 36,153 5% |
| 2007 | 3,614,439 | 47,226 | 38,172 |

## Accidents and incidents

* June 8, 1982: a VASP Boeing 727-212 registration PP-SRK operating flight 168 from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão to Fortaleza collided with a mountain during approach procedures 25 km (16 mi; 13 nmi) south to airport. Aircraft descended too low during approach. All 137 passengers and crew died.
* October 21, 1998: a Capital Táxi Aéreo Embraer EMB 120 Brasília crashed into a house 2 km (1.2 mi; 1.1 nmi) short of the runway during approach. All three people on board and one person on the ground died.

## Access

The airport is located 6 km (4 mi) south of downtown Fortaleza.