Recife to São Paulo (REC–GRU) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
REC–GRU is served by 3 airlines with nonstop service. LATAM Chile, Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras and Sky Express lead the route. The flight covers 1,305 miles in approximately 3h 15m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA LATAM Chile Also: AM, AR, BA, IB, JL, LX, QR, TK | 44 | 320, 321 | 3h15-3h27 | – | – | AM, AR, BA, IB, JL, LX, QR, TK |
| AD Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras Also: AC, AV, AZ, CM, EK, ET, TK, TP, UX | 41 | 32N, 32Q | 3h15 | – | – | AC, AV, AZ, CM, EK, ET, TK, TP, UX |
| G3 Sky Express Also: AC, AF, AM, AR, AT, AV, CM, EK, ET, KL, SA, TK, TP, UX | 23 | 738, 7M8 | 3h13-3h20 | – | – | AC, AF, AM, AR, AT, AV, CM, EK, ET, KL, SA, TK, TP, UX |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach São Paulo from Recife
| Metric | REC→GRU | JPA→GRU | MCZ→GRU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from REC | – | 68 mi | 113 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 3 | 14 | 15 |
| Weekly flights | 544 | 257 | 309 |
| Flight time | 3h 15m | 3h 10m | 2h 54m |
Travel Essentials
REC: -03 · GRU: -03
When it's 6:00 PM in Recife, it's 6:00 PM in São Paulo.
CPTM Line 13-Jade to Luz station (central São Paulo) takes 33 minutes (R$4.40). Transfers at Luz connect to metro Lines 1, 3, and 4 for broader coverage. Airport trains run every 30 minutes; check the last departure time if arriving late. Executive buses to Tietê terminal and Paulista run frequently (R$52–62, 45–75 min).Taxis use a fixed airport tariff (zona aeroportuária); central São Paulo costs R$120–200. Uber and 99 are widely used and typically cheaper. São Paulo's traffic is notoriously heavy on the Dutra; road times can double during peak hours. GRU has two terminal buildings (T1/T2/T3 domestic and T3 international); confirm your terminal before heading to check-in.
Humid subtropical climate at 750m altitude. São Paulo is perched on a plateau, which moderates temperatures compared to coastal Brazil. Summers (December–March) are warm and extremely wet. Heavy thunderstorms develop almost daily in the afternoon, regularly causing ground holds at GRU. Flooding in the city can cut road access to the airport even when the runway is clear.
Winters (June–August) are mild and dry (10–20°C) with low humidity. This is the most flight-stable season. Fog occurs occasionally on winter mornings. Temperatures rarely exceed 32°C or drop below 8°C. The rainy season aligns with Southern Hemisphere summer, the opposite of Northern Hemisphere intuition.
REC–GRU Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Recife to São Paulo Guarulhos Corridor
REC–GRU is a major Brazilian domestic trunk route connecting the Northeast's largest city with São Paulo's primary international gateway. The 2,300 km route is served by all three major Brazilian carriers: LATAM, Gol, and Azul, as well as regional operators, totaling 286 weekly frequencies. Flight time is around 3 hours.
Connectivity and Travel Patterns
Guarulhos serves as Brazil's primary international hub, making the REC–GRU segment a common first leg for Northeastern Brazilian passengers connecting to Europe, the US, and Africa. Congonhas (CGH), São Paulo's city airport, is not served from Recife on this scale due to runway length constraints for fully loaded longer-haul aircraft. GRU's Terminal 3 handles most domestic arrivals and provides landside connections to both the rail link and the Terminal 2 international pier.