Belo Horizonte/Confins–Tancredo Neves International Airport
The Belo Horizonte/Confins–Tancredo Neves International Airport (IATA: CNF, ICAO: SBCF) serves as the primary international gateway for Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Located in the municipality of Confins, the airport is named in honor of Tancredo de Almeida Neves, the President-elect of Brazil who served from 1910 to 1985.
Designed to modernize air travel in the region, the airport has evolved from a relief facility for the city's older airfield into a major aviation hub, facilitating millions of passengers and significant cargo movements annually.
Key Facts
- Primary Hub: Major hub for Azul Brazilian Airlines and a focus city for Gol Transportes Aéreos.
- Capacity: Maximum operational capacity of 22 million passengers per year.
- Runway: A single asphalt runway (16/34) measuring 3,600 meters (11,811 ft).
- Elevation: Situated at 829 meters (2,720 ft) above mean sea level.
- Recent Traffic: Handled over 13.3 million passengers in 2025.
History and Evolution
The airport was inaugurated in 1984 by Infraero to alleviate severe congestion at Pampulha Airport, which was operating at 120% of its 1.3 million annual passenger capacity. While early growth was slower than expected—taking 22 years to surpass the 1 million passenger mark—the facility has since seen exponential growth.
Privatization and Management
In November 2013, the Brazilian government initiated a bidding process to privatize the airport's operation. The contract was won by the Aerobrasil group (BH Airport), a consortium consisting of the Brazilian investment firm CCR (75%) and the Swiss operator Flughafen Zürich AG (25%).
Management has seen further transitions recently. On April 26, 2025, CCR was rebranded as Motiva. Subsequently, on November 18, 2025, Motiva sold its entire airport portfolio to the Mexican operator ASUR, a transaction that remained pending government approval as of February 10, 2026.
Infrastructure Expansion
To meet rising demand, Terminal 2 was constructed as an extension of Terminal 1 between September 2015 and December 2016. This expansion increased the airport's total capacity to 22 million passengers per year. Following the opening of Terminal 2 for domestic flights in December 2016 and the transfer of international operations in January 2017, Terminal 3 was closed.
Other critical upgrades include the completion of a parking lot in July 2010 and the expansion of the apron (the area where aircraft are parked, unloaded, or refueled) and runway. The runway extension to 3,600 meters was finalized in June 2016 after several delays.
Airlines and Connectivity
The airport provides extensive domestic and international connectivity. It serves as a strategic base for Azul Brazilian Airlines and its regional arm, Azul Conecta, while also hosting major carriers like Gol and LATAM.
Major Destinations
- International: Panama City (Copa Airlines), Lisbon (TAP Air Portugal), and Santiago de Chile (LATAM Chile, Sky Airline).
- Domestic: Key Brazilian cities including Brasília, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, and São Paulo (Congonhas and Guarulhos).
Airport Statistics and Capacity
The airport's growth is reflected in its passenger and aircraft data. In 2025, the airport saw an 8% increase in passengers and a 4% increase in aircraft operations compared to the previous year.
| Year | Passengers | Aircraft Operations | Cargo (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13,321,333 | 118,306 | N/A |
| 2024 | 12,357,280 | 114,194 | N/A |
| 2023 | 10,510,245 | 98,971 | N/A |
| 2022 | 9,537,289 | 91,206 | N/A |
| 2021 | 6,899,849 | 66,651 | N/A |
| 2020 | 4,811,942 | 46,619 | N/A |
Beyond passenger travel, the airport maintains robust cargo facilities with a warehouse of 6,400 m² and a handling capacity of 18,000 tonnes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who currently operates the Belo Horizonte/Confins airport?
The airport is operated by BH Airport S.A. While previously managed by Infraero and later by Motiva (formerly CCR), the portfolio was sold to the Mexican operator ASUR in November 2025, pending government approval.
What is the maximum passenger capacity of the airport?
Following the completion of Terminal 2 in 2016, the airport's maximum operational capacity was increased to 22 million passengers per year.
Which airlines use CNF as a primary hub or focus city?
Azul Brazilian Airlines uses the airport as a hub, and Gol Transportes Aéreos utilizes it as a focus city.
How long is the runway at Confins International Airport?
The airport has one asphalt runway (16/34) that measures 3,600 meters (11,811 ft) in length.
Why was the airport built in Confins rather than the city center?
It was constructed to reduce congestion at Pampulha Airport, which was operating well beyond its intended capacity of 1.3 million passengers per year at the time of Confins' inauguration in 1984.