Macaé airport in Brazil has gained a significant addition to its portfolio of offshore operators. CHC do Brasil , part of CHC Helicopter, has begun operations at a new hangar there in support of contracts with oil and gas company Petrobras.

An inauguration event was attended by executives from Zurich Airport Brasil, the concessionaire managing Macaé airport; CHC Brazil leadership as well as authorities and special guests. With the arrival of CHC, the airport in northern Rio de Janeiro now has six operators, all equipped to meet the stringent safety standards required by Petrobras.

“The offshore service package we offer at Macaé airport is a comprehensive solution to meet the oil and gas market’s needs. Our infrastructure and services ensure safety, functionality and comfort for passengers, which certainly contributes to attracting operators like CHC, a global reference in the sector,” says Ricardo Gesse, CEO of Zurich Airport Brasil.

“This restart of our operations in Macaé represents CHC’s strong expansion in Brazil. In just two years, we have opened two new bases, and our fleet has grown by 400 per cent. As CHC’s executive director and a proud Brazilian, I am thrilled to support Petrobras increasingly in its offshore operations,” comments Gilson Caputo, executive director of CHC do Brasil.

Initially, CHC will operate with three Leonardo AW139 helicopters, expanding to seven aircraft by the end of 2025. The company currently operates 16 helicopters in Brazil and is expected to reach 25 within the next 12 months.

Macaé airport currently features seven hangars, four lounges available for shared use by operators and a workspace with workstations in the check-in area. Additionally, it is at the centre of one of the largest infrastructure projects in the state of Rio de Janeiro; the construction of a 1,410m runway that will elevate the airport’s category by allowing the landing and take off of larger aircraft. The runway, a R$220 million investment by Zurich Airport Brasil, is expected to be completed by February 2025.