Brasília President Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB) serves the eponymous Brazilian capital. It is the country’s third-busiest airport, after the two main ones in São Paulo - Guarulhos (GRU) and Congonhas (CGH).
Due to Brasília’s central geographic location within Brazil, BSB is an important domestic connecting hub between the south and the north parts of the country. More than 90% of all flights to/from the airport are domestic.
The airport is located 11 km south of the city center, just outside the Plano Piloto federal district.
Brasília Airport handled nearly 17 million passengers in 2025, ranking as the 6th-busiest in South America.
Major Airlines - LATAM, GOL
LATAM Brasil and Gol Linhas Aéreas are the two largest airlines at Brasília Airport. Combined, they account for the majority of commercial flights and serve the most destinations (>35), although many of them overlap. Both airlines use Brasília as a hub.
Azul Brazilian Airlines, the last of the main 3 carriers in Brazil, offers direct flights to its hubs in the country (i.e., Belo Horizonte, Recife, and São Paulo), but does not otherwise maintain an extensive network.
The only foreign airlines to fly to Brasília are Copa Airlines (to Panama), LATAM Perú (to Lima), and TAP Air Portugal to Lisbon, as the only transcontinental service. Aerolíneas Argentinas offers a seasonal direct service to Buenos Aires, while Sky Airline flies to Santiago de Chile, also seasonally.
Click here to see all destinations you can reach by a direct flight from Brasília Airport.
Terminal Layout
The airport operates one large, modern terminal building with two piers. It underwent a major renovation and expansion ahead of the 2014 World Cup, resulting in a modern, spacious facility.
The terminal consists of three main sections:
Main Terminal Building: A large hall that houses the central security area, all check-in counters, and baggage claim.
North Pier (Ponte Norte): Handles exclusively domestic flights.
South Pier (Ponte Sul): Handles all international flights and some domestic flights.
The two piers are connected airside. International and domestic areas are separated within the South Pier by an Immigration control checkpoint by Polícia Federal.
Walking from the security check to the farthest gate takes less than 15 minutes.
Brasília Airport is one of Brazil’s most efficient domestic connection hubs. The minimum connection time between two domestic flights (which is 99% of all transits) is about 45-60 minutes.
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal's public areas. Connect to the “Brasília Airport” network to use. There is no time limit or bandwidth controls.
Other passenger services at BSB include:
ATMs: Several cash machines by Brazilian banks are available landside.
Banks: Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, and Caixa have branches near the Food Court.
Currency exchange: Global Exchange has multiple counters throughout the terminal. Europa Cambio also has a desk in Arrivals, open from 7 AM to 10 PM.
Information desk: Located in the Departures Hall and available 24/7.
Pharmacy: Located landside in the main lobby.
Lost & Found: Located on the Ground Floor, behind the International Arrivals area. Open from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday, except holidays.
SIM Cards: You can buy a local SIM at one of the kiosks in Arrivals. Brazilian major carriers include Vivo, Claro, and TIM.
Luggage storage: Located landside in Arrivals. Open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM; outside these hours, you can ask for help at the nearby Grão Café. Storage fee starts at 25 BRL for small items and 50 BRL for larger items.
Lounges at Brasilia Airport
There are 4 lounges at Brasilia Airport:
Domestic VIP Room: To reach, take the escalator to the right of the Dufry mega store as you exit the inspection module. Then, follow the corridor to the end. The lounge accepts various passes and premium credit cardholders. Paid entrance is available for 300 BRL (~60 USD). Open 24/7. Offers showers.
Sala VIP Express Lounge North: Located near gate 10 on the mezzanine level. The lounge accepts various passes and premium credit cardholders. Paid entrance is available for 300 BRL (~60 USD). Open from 6 AM to 10 PM.
Sala VIP Express Lounge South: Located near gate 41 on the mezzanine level. The lounge accepts various passes and premium credit cardholders. Paid entrance is available for 300 BRL (~60 USD). Open from 6 AM to 10 PM.
BRB VIP Lounge: This lounge has its own Security screening channel and can be accessed from both the public area of the airport and the departure lounge. The main entrance is in the Service Plaza, on the 2nd floor of the terminal (public area). The other entrance is inside the Dufry mega store, up the escalator, and on the right. Entrance is exclusive and only to holders of BRB Dux, Visa Infinite, and Mastercard Black cards who have reached the minimum spending requirements. Open from 5 AM to 12 AM. Offers showers.
All lounges offer an open buffet with a variety of meals and drinks, seating areas with charging ports and/or workspaces, reading materials, and wi-fi.
Dining Options at Brasilia Airport
There is quite a lot of choice when it comes to dining options at BSB. You will find sit-down restaurants, fast food chains, cafés, bakeries, as well as plenty of Brazilian food too.
If you’re unsure what you want, you cannot go wrong by visiting the central airside hall after Security, where the food court is located.
Some of the best places for food and drinks at BSB include:
Casa do Pão de Queijo: A 24/7 bakery near Gate 23.
Vila Cinco: A sit-down Brazilian restaurant on the second floor in the Service Plaza. Open from 10 AM to 10 PM.
Viena Café: European-style bakery near Gate 34. Open 7 AM to 11 PM.
Subway: A famous international sandwich shop. Located near Gates 50 and 51 in the south pier.
Black Coffee: One of the best-rated coffee shops at BSB. Located near Gate 23. Open 7 AM to 10 PM.
Hot Dog Club: Fast food hot dogs. Located near Gate 8. Open 6 AM to 10 PM.
Madero: A classy steakhouse on the Mezzanine between Gates 48 and 49. Open 11:45 AM to 10 PM.
Bauducco House: Italian-style coffee and pastries near Gate 35. Open 6 AM to 9 PM.
Barbecue Mania!: Steaks and other grilled items at the Food Court near the South Pier. Open 7 AM to 10 PM.
Empada de Minas: Try this typical Brazilian snack near Gate 21 in the north pier.
There are also a few vending machines and a convenience store.
Transport to and from the airport
Driving distance from BSB to the downtown areas of Brasilia is around 20 minutes by car via the DF-047 highway (Airport Park Road).
Public transport is entirely by bus, at least at the time of writing in early 2026. The District Federal subway has plans to extend the green line to the airport.
There are over 25 public bus lines that stop at BSB airport while crisscrossing the city. Notable buses that serve the airport include:
Line 11 to 716 North / Esplanade
Line 30 to SQN 716 North and W3 North and South
Line 31 to 716 North / W3 North South
Line 73.1 to Candangolândia and Lago Sul.
Line 73.2 to Circular, Park Way Station, and QI 15.
Line 102 to Plano Piloto Bus Station.
Line 181.4 to São Sebastião, Residencial do Bosque, São Francisco, and SJ Q. 100-200.
To connect to the existing subway system, you can take Line 102 to the Bus Station and change to Line 131, which also reaches the Train Station.
Fares for the public buses are set at 3.80 BRL.
The taxi rank is located on the Arrivals level, on the access road, opposite the Domestic Arrivals exit. Metered fares to Rodoviária in the city center are around 50-70 BRL.
There is also the prepaid executive taxi service, Safer Black, which allows you to prepay your taxi at a fixed price, depending on your destination. To purchase the service, go to the desk in the public area on the ground floor in Domestic Arrivals.
Lastly, you may consider renting a car straight from Brasilia Airport. Three companies offer that service: Locate, Movida, and United, and their desks are all in the Arrivals area, open 24/7.
Parking at BSB
Brasilia International Airport offers more than 2900 parking spaces in 3 sections:
Premium section: has 168 covered spaces super close to the terminal. Costs 35 BRL for the first hour, plus 5-8 BRL for each additional hour, up to a daily maximum of 105 BRL.
Parking lot A: has 900 spaces, 400 meters from the terminal. Costs 25 BRL for the first hour, plus 2-5 BRL for each additional hour, up to a daily maximum of 66 BRL.
Parking lot B: has 1,900 spaces, 800 meters from the terminal. Costs 23 BRL for the first hour, plus 2-5 BRL for each additional hour, up to a daily maximum of 63 BRL.
Online reservations (at least 4 hours prior to the parking starting time) result in promotional rates for longer stays.
Hotels near Brasilia Airport
While not a hotel per se, the Siesta Boxes inside the terminal are an adequate option if you’re spending a layover in Brasilia Airport. The pods are in the domestic part of the terminal, so any international arrivals need to clear Immigration and security first. They also accept Priority Pass and Lounge Key.
In proximity to the terminal is the Ibis Styles Brasilia Aeroporto - a 3-star modern hotel with a good gym and a filling breakfast. Can’t be beat in terms of convenience.
There are over a dozen other hotels between the BR-450 and DF-075, roughly a 15-minute drive to the terminal. Options there include the Alfa Plaza Hotel, the Vida Plaza Hotel, and the Ilhabela Park Hotel.
For downtown Brasilia, many choose to stay in the Hotel Sector (Setor Hoteleiro Norte/Sul), where several business-oriented hotels are located.
Click here to see more airport hotels near Brasilia Airport.
Brasilia, Brazil
