São Paulo air charters in high demand ahead of global football showcase
São Paulo’s critics may dismiss it as a sprawling concrete jungle, but in recent years the city has started to shed this image and transform itself into a flight destination for business, arts, and entertainment.
If you include its wider metropolitan area, São Paulo is home to nearly 20 million inhabitants – making it the largest city in Brazil and Latin America. The bustling metropolis is the economic powerhouse of the country and home to the headquarters of multinational companies ranging from banking and finance to energy and manufacturing.
São Paulo may lack the scenic backdrop of Rio, but as one of the host cities for the World Cup it is now set to receive thousands of new visitors flying in from all over the world.
View our infographic to find out why the World Cup 2014 is set to be the biggest yet!
Flavia Rubira Nogueira, aircraft charter specialist at Chapman Freeborn’s São Paulo office, gives air travellers a quick introduction to her home city:
Getting there by air
São Paulo is served by two main airports – with Guarulhos International Airport being the main hub for international flights. The airport is served by major carriers such American Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, Swiss Airlines, Korean Air, Emirates and British Airways.
Located only five miles from the city centre in the Campo Belo district, Congonhas-São Paulo Airport is widely used for domestic flights and ranks as one of Brazil’s busiest airports. The airport is served by carriers such as TAM, Azul, Webjet and GOL – although low cost flights during the World Cup will be hard to come by, particularly on key routes such as São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro.
Given the large number of fans visiting the city for the World Cup, group air charters will also be in high demand during the tournament with fans looking to fly between host cities in large numbers.
Chapman Freeborn offers a selection of Brazilian-registered aircraft for group charter flights for 45 – 118 passengers.
São Paulo currently ranks 6th in the Forbes top 10 list of billionaire cities, so it’s no surprise to see a growing amount of private jet charter traffic – particularly at Congonhas-São Paulo Airport.
In addition to private jet charters, São Paulo is second only to New York in terms of the size of its helicopter fleet. The city is home to over 500 helicopters which help the city’s business elite escape the traffic and fly between locations with ease.
Where to stay
Due to the sudden influx of visitors, hotel accommodation is already in short supply for the tournament. With its growing status as a global city, São Paulo boasts a number of hotels which will appeal to the luxury traveller, including the stunning Fasano – a name that has been synonymous with fine dining and hospitality in the city for over 100 years.
Elsewhere, other top hotels include Unique, Hotel Emiliano and L’Hotel Porto Bay São Paulo. If you’re looking for luxury you can read reviews of 13 leading hotels on the Five Star Alliance website.
A good starting point for more economical options is Trip Advisor which features 293 hotels in São Paulo, including ratings and reviews from previous guests.
São Paulo’s new stadium
São Paulo’s will host six World Cup matches, including the opening game of the tournament featuring Brazil. Built as the future home stadium for SC Corinthians, the Arena Corinthians will have its capacity expanded with temporary seating to allow for a total of 65,000 spectators.
Not heading to the game?
Even if you’re not heading to the match, you can still enjoy the atmosphere while taking in some of the city’s other attractions – including racing at the 135 year old Jockey Club, or a stroll around one of the city’s numerous museums, galleries or parks.
São Paulo is also a major draw for shoppers. The key street to head to is the Rua Oscar Freire, which features a range of high-end outlets including the upmarket Daslu boutique-department store – considered a mecca for the Brazilian fashion industry.
São Paulo has a number of exclusive restaurants, including one of the top 50 restaurants in the world; D.O.M, by Chef Alex Atala and Figueira Rubaiyat. The restaurant is famous for its unusual décor and features an ancient tree located in the centre of the dining area, creating a very fascinating environment to enjoy fine wines and contemporary dining.
Many of São Paulo’s best restaurants and bars are concentrated in the Jardins area – offering everything from upmarket European cuisine to local specialities to eat on the go.
If you would like to find out more about chartering an aircraft in Brazil, please get in touch with Chapman Freeborn’s São Paulo team. Tel: +55 11 3047 1100 Email: sao@chapman-freeborn.com
Photos: A Dassault Falcon 900 three engined, long-range private jet at Congonhas-São Paulo Airport. Larger charter aircraft types like the ATR 72 (pictured top) will also be used to fly groups of fans between host cities during the tournament.
