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Unprecedented survey by PMCTA shows a 21.2% increase in offshore air transport between 2022 and 2024, with a strong concentration of operations in Rio de Janeiro.
The offshore air transport in the oil and gas sector grew significantly along the Brazilian coast.
According to an unprecedented survey by the Macrorregional Aircraft Traffic Characterization Program (PMCTA), the number of passengers transported increased from 775,000 in 2022 to 939,889 in 2024.
In practice, the increase was 21.2% in two years.
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During the three-year period, offshore support operations handled 2.58 million passengers and totaled 137,209 flights.
The records involved operations in Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo.
Technical survey reveals the strength of offshore aviation in Brazil
The study is part of the PMCTA, an action linked to the Federal Environmental Licensing.
The initiative is conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama).
The responsibility for the program lies with Petrobras.
According to the survey, the strategic airports used by the oil and gas industry in the South and Southeast of the country were identified.
In total, the study considered operations of ten operators in the sector.
Thus, the PMCTA revealed how aviation has become an essential piece in Brazilian offshore logistics.
Rio de Janeiro concentrates almost all offshore support flights
Rio de Janeiro appears as the main hub of offshore aviation in Brazil.
The state accounted for 92.2% of support flights recorded between 2022 and 2024.
Among the main operational centers are Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Cabo Frio, Macaé, and Maricá.
These cities gained prominence due to activities related to the Campos and Santos basins.
In this scenario, Rio has consolidated itself as a strategic center for the air transport of sector workers.
Campos Basin leads the national ranking of offshore air transport
The Campos Basin occupies the first position in the national ranking.
Between 2022 and 2024, the region accounted for 44.6% of transported passengers.
This percentage represents 1.15 million people moved during the period.
Next comes the Santos Basin, with 37.4% of the total monitored flow.
Operations related to Espírito Santo represented 18% of the movement.
Thus, the three areas concentrate most of the offshore air demand observed by PMCTA.
Four airports concentrate 88% of passenger movement
The sector’s air infrastructure showed strong operational concentration.
Only four airports accounted for 88% of all passenger movement recorded between 2022 and 2024.
The main highlight was the Farol de São Tomé Heliport (SBFS), in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro.
The terminal maintained the national lead and recorded 380,743 passengers in 2024 alone.
In the three-year total, the heliport summed about 980 thousand passengers.
With this result, it alone concentrated 38% of all offshore air movement in Brazil.
Maricá grows 396% and becomes a new strategic base for the Santos Basin
The Maricá Airport (SBMI) also appears as one of the major highlights of the survey.
The Rio de Janeiro terminal recorded an increase of 396% in the annual number of passengers.
In 2022, there were 14,018 passengers.
In 2024, the volume reached 69,601 passengers.
In the three-year total, the airport moved 103 thousand passengers.
In this way, Maricá consolidated itself as a new strategic base for industry operations in the Santos Basin.
Ranking of offshore airports between 2022 and 2024
The PMCTA survey detailed the accumulated movement per airport over the three-year period.
1. Farol de São Tomé Heliport (SBFS), Campos dos Goytacazes: 980 thousand passengers, or 38%.
2. Jacarepaguá Airport (SBJR), Rio de Janeiro: 586 thousand passengers, or 22.7%.
3. Cabo Frio Airport (SBCB), Cabo Frio: 360 thousand passengers, or 13.9%.
4. Macaé Airport (SBME), Macaé: 351 thousand passengers, or 13.6%.
5. Eurico de Aguiar Salles Airport (SBVT), Vitória: 143 thousand passengers, or 5.5%.
6. Maricá Airport (SBMI), Maricá: 103 thousand passengers, or 4%.
7. Bartolomeu Lisandro Airport (SBCP), Campos dos Goytacazes: 40 thousand passengers, or 1.5%.
8. Ministro Victor Konder Airport (SBNF), Navegantes: 18 thousand passengers, or 0.7%.
9. Santos Dumont, Galeão and other airports: 1 thousand passengers, or 0.03%.
What the data shows about oil logistics
The numbers indicate that air transport has become an essential part of offshore operations in Brazil.
The sector’s logistics remain strongly concentrated in Rio de Janeiro.
The leadership of the Campos Basin, the advancement of the Santos Basin, and the growth of Maricá reinforce this concentration.
At the same time, the data shows the importance of airports and heliports in the movement of oil workers.
According to the PMCTA, the program monitors production and transportation operations of oil and natural gas in the Santos, Campos, and Espírito Santo basins.
Therefore, the study helps to understand how aircraft traffic supports the operational routine of the Brazilian offshore industry.
Offshore air transport shows the industry’s impact on the Brazilian coast
The growth of 21.2% between 2022 and 2024 reinforces the relevance of aviation for the oil and gas sector.
The mark of 2.58 million passengers over the three-year period also highlights the scale of logistics involved in offshore operations.
In this context, airports in Rio de Janeiro have gained a central role in a mechanism that connects workers, onshore bases, and offshore activities.
What do you think this growth reveals more: the strength of the oil and gas sector or the need to expand logistics infrastructure in Brazil? Share your opinion!
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