Marechal Rondon International Airport
Várzea Grande–Marechal Rondon International Airport is the airport serving Cuiabá, located in the municipality of Várzea Grande, in the state of Mato Grosso. It is named after Marshall Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, a Brazilian explorer.
It is operated by Aeroeste.
History
Marechal Rondon International Airport was inaugurated in 1956 but operated precariously until the first passenger terminal building was completed in 1964.Infraero became the operator of the airport in 1974, and in 1996 it was upgraded to international status.
The first phase of the construction of the new passenger terminal was completed on 30 June 2006. The second phase would involve the demolition of the old terminal building and the construction of the enlargement of the new passenger terminal on its place.
On 31 August 2009, Infraero unveiled a BRL30.9 million investment plan to up-grade Marechal Rondon International Airport focusing on the preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup which was held in Brazil, Cuiabá being one of the venue cities. The investment was distributed in the renovation of the passenger terminal, parking and access to the airport.
Responding to critiques to the situation of its airports, on 18 May 2011, Infraero released a list evaluating some of its most important airports according to their saturation levels. According to the list, Cuiabá was considered to be critically saturated, operating above 85% of its capacity.
On 15 March 2019, Aeroeste won a 30-year concession to operate the airport.
Statistics
Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero and COA reports:| Year | Passenger | Aircraft | Cargo |
| 2024 | 2,721,055 5% | 46,430 | |
| 2023 | 2,849,904 4% | 46,400 3% | |
| 2022 | 2,953,270 38% | 44,334 21% | |
| 2021 | 2,139,211 46% | 36,636 32% | |
| 2020 | 1,460,843 51% | 27,859 38% | |
| 2019 | 2,983,392 2% | 44,591 8% | 8,109 5% |
| 2018 | 3,032,149 5% | 48,406 1% | 8,575 74% |
| 2017 | 2,882,450 1% | 48,730 5% | 4,927 10% |
| 2016 | 2,840,559 14% | 51,292 17% | 5,487 16% |
| 2015 | 3,308,289 | 62,031 4% | 6,494 12% |
| 2014 | 3,302,940 11% | 64,586 1% | 6,238 11% |
| 2013 | 2,981,025 8% | 65,565 9% | 6,980 3% |
| 2012 | 2,761,588 8% | 60,138 5% | 6,749 30% |
| 2011 | 2,551,120 20% | 57,101 6% | 9,637 25% |
| 2010 | 2,134,267 28% | 53,805 19% | 7,720 10% |
| 2009 | 1,671,704 20% | 45,045 5% | 7,001 18% |
| 2008 | 1,396,164 11% | 42,942 9% | 8,500 12% |
| 2007 | 1,254,825 | 39,443 | 7,561 |
Accidents and incidents
- 30 March 1980: a VOTEC Britten-Norman Islander registration PT-JSC stalled and crashed upon take-off from Cuiabá. All 9 occupants died.
- 23 June 1985: a TABA Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante registration PT-GJN flying from Juara to Cuiabá, while on approach to land at Cuiabá, had technical problems on engine number 1. An emergency landing was attempted but the aircraft stalled and crashed 1 km short of the runway. All 17 occupants died.