The tourism potential of BH Airport is highlighted at the 1st Hotel Industry Meeting.

BH Airport COO, Rodrigo Côrtes, represented the Minas Gerais international terminal at the 1st BH and Surrounding Area Hotel Industry Meeting, which brought together the tourism trade and sector leaders in a collaborative environment for development, knowledge, opportunities, and business generation for the tourism market.

“BH Airport's participation in the event, which marks the first in a series of meetings focused on strengthening business tourism and the hotel sector, is a source of pride for the Minas Gerais international terminal, demonstrating our leading role in the tourism production chain and promoting connectivity between Minas Gerais and Brazil and the world,” says BH Airport COO, Rodrigo Côrtes.

The Secretary of State for Culture and Tourism of Minas Gerais, Bárbara Botega, the president of Belotur, Bárbara Menucci, the president of ABIH/MG, Flávia Badaró, the president of Casa do Turismo de Belo Horizonte and CEO of Ouro Minas Dolce By Wyndham, Érica Drumond, and representatives from Codemg were present at the meeting, standing out among the main players in the Minas Gerais tourism scene.

“We are the third airport with the largest number of destinations in Brazil and the second in domestic flights, and we believe in the potential of our state as a destination of opportunities. We boost tourism, foster the economy, and express our Minas Gerais identity by valuing culture and acting as drivers of growth and development in Minas Gerais,” concludes Côrtes.

Inhotim, Instituto Motiva, and BH Airport are hosting an exhibition about the Cerrado biome.

The Inhotim Institute, in partnership with BH Airport and the Motiva Institute, inaugurates today, October 31st, the exhibition "Cerrado: This World Exists." The free exhibition occupies the arrivals area of ​​BH Airport in Confins until November 30th, and aims to present to travelers and visitors the natural richness, ecological relevance, and conservation challenges of the Cerrado.

The Cerrado is the second largest biome in Brazil, covering about a quarter of the national territory and harboring more than 12,000 plant species, as well as hundreds of birds, mammals, fish, and insects. Recognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, it is also one of the most threatened environments on the planet. It is estimated that almost half of its original area has already been transformed by human activities.

The exhibition invites the public to discover the diversity of the Cerrado and understand its essential role in the country's environmental balance. The Cerrado biome is responsible for feeding eight of Brazil's twelve main hydrographic basins, including the São Francisco River, and concentrates a variety of pollinating species fundamental to the maintenance of native flora and agriculture.

Located in a transition zone between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest, Inhotim maintains permanent research and actions focused on the conservation of the territory. The Inhotim Botanical Garden brings together more than 1,300 species of vascular plants and maintains a seed bank with more than 500,000 samples, composed mainly of native species from these biomes. In addition to conservation, the institute works on ecological restoration projects, cultivation of endangered species, and environmental education for different audiences.

The partnership also includes an educational program in partnership with schools in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region, which will receive visits from Inhotim representatives. During these activities, workshops on the biome will be held and seed bombs produced at the institute will be distributed, stimulating practical learning and student engagement in the preservation of the Cerrado.

“Opening the doors of BH Airport to present the Cerrado biome to all visitors in this exhibition, held in partnership with the Inhotim Institute and the Motiva Institute, reinforces our commitment to sustainable development and the preservation of biodiversity. We are a green airport,

environmentally responsible, and we act in defense of the ESG agenda, creating an ecosystem for the protection and conservation of the environment, with a special focus on the surrounding region, which is home to more than 300 hectares of native vegetation, distributed between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, in addition to the Lagoa Santa Karst Environmental Protection Area, which is part of our airport site,” emphasizes the CEO of BH Airport, Daniel Miranda.

SERVICE

Exhibition: Cerrado: This World Exists

Location: BH Airport arrival area

Period: October 31 to November 30, 2025

Admission: Free

Organized by: Inhotim Institute, BH Airport and Motiva Institute

BH Airport simulates an emergency landing with approximately 140 passengers aboard an Airbus A320.

BH Airport conducted an Aerodrome Emergency Simulation Exercise (ESEA) this week, involving an accident with an Airbus A320 aircraft, with 142 passengers and 6 crew members on board, on a flight diverted to the Minas Gerais international terminal. The simulation is a preventive action, required by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), according to RBAC 153 – item 153.331, and aims to test BH Airport's Emergency Plan and improve the response capacity of security, health, communication, and operations teams in critical situations, ensuring coordination, agility, and efficiency in assisting victims and their families.

“Safety is our main rule of the game, and the simulation is an opportunity to practice integration between all teams and institutions involved in responding to an aeronautical emergency, seeking to guarantee a quick and safe response,” emphasizes BH Airport's COO, Rodrigo Côrtes. “In this sense, we evaluated the coordination between the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Firefighting Section (SESCINC), Emergency Medical Service (SME), Operations Center (APOC), Mobile Coordination Post (PCM), air operators and external agencies, as well as communication in situations of technical failure and removal of victims,” adds Côrtes.

Victim Assistance

The exercise also included the activation of the Emergency Management Center (NGE) of BH Airport and centers for assisting the uninjured, family members and the press. The victims were portrayed by students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Minas Gerais (FCM-MG), recognized for its high degree of realism in simulations. Hospital care was conducted by partners Mater Dei (Belo Horizonte), Policlínica Mãe Quita (Confins) and Hospital Lindouro Avelar (Santa Casa de Lagoa Santa), with ground and air transport of victims.

“Participating in a trauma simulation of this magnitude at BH Airport is an important recognition of the work we do in training healthcare professionals. This initiative strengthens learning and practice, integrating teaching and health,” says Professor José Celso Cunha Guerra Pinto Coelho, rector of Feluma/FCM-MG.

“This is a unique learning opportunity. The activity has high pedagogical value, as it develops technical skills, effective communication, and decision-making under pressure, fundamental competencies for healthcare professionals committed to society,” adds Professor Cláudia Laranjeira, general director of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Minas Gerais. “Continuous training through simulations is vital for our teams to be ready to act with precision and agility in high-impact scenarios, such as air accidents. Our goal is to save lives and minimize damage in critical situations and highly complex scenarios, demonstrating that the ability to respond quickly and efficiently can mean the difference between life and death,” notes the technical manager of the SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service) for the Macro Central region, Daniel dos Santos Fernandes, reinforcing that joint action with BH Airport and other agencies is fundamental to improving pre-hospital care and mass rescue.

According to the corporate Quality manager of the Mater Dei Network, Marília Corrêa, participation in simulations of this scale is fundamental to testing the Systemic Emergency Program and ensuring a safe and structured response to incidents, both external and internal. “We are prepared to act in crisis situations, relying on a trained and constantly updated team, aligned with our institutional training schedule,” she clarifies.

“We mobilized around 400 professionals in this simulation, highlighting the synergy of a broad technical and operational structure,” explains the COO of BH Airport. In addition to the Faculty of Medical Sciences and SAMU (Mobile Emergency Care Service), the simulation involved the Military Fire Department of Minas Gerais (CBMMG), the State Secretariat of Justice and Public Security (SEJUSP), Civil Defense, Federal Police, Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Military Police (PMMG), Civil Police (PCMG), Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency), LATAM Airlines, Med Mais, IML BH (Forensic Medical Institute of Belo Horizonte), COMAVE/PMMG (Air Traffic Control Command/Military Police of Minas Gerais) and COPOM/PMMG (Integrated Operations Center of the Military Police of Minas Gerais). “This integration is essential so that, in the event of a real emergency, everyone knows exactly how to act, quickly and efficiently,” concludes Rodrigo Côrtes.

BH Airport reopens Arrivals 1 with a new layout and technology to enhance the passenger experience

Tomorrow, the 25th, BH Airport reopens Arrivals 1, fully renovated, to offer customers a more modern, comfortable, and efficient airport experience.

The new infrastructure increases convenience, security, and agility in circulation, solidifying the airport as a benchmark in technological and architectural innovation.

Modernized and More Functional Space

At 2,000 square meters, the new Arrivals 1 features a revamped layout and several improvements. Major improvements include:

- Five additional baggage carousels

- Two new restrooms (male, female, priority, and changing table)

- State-of-the-art surveillance cameras and electronic systems

- Improvements to air conditioning, wayfinding, elevators, escalators, and baggage cart areas

New airline operational configuration

The reopening also redefines airline operations. From now on, Arrivals 1 will be dedicated exclusively to Azul, while Arrivals 2 will now serve Gol and Latam.

BH Airport recommends paying attention to the changes and signage. If passengers exit through a different lounge than the one designated for their flight, they may experience disruptions when retrieving their baggage, such as having to go to the correct lounge.

It's worth noting that passengers without checked baggage can disembark through any of the lounges.

Minas Gerais Management and Hospitality

"We are ready to welcome passengers to the new arrivals area, with all the hospitality that reflects our Minas Gerais style of transforming arrivals and departures into welcoming, efficient, and pleasant experiences," said Rodrigo Côrtes, COO of BH Airport.

The week leading up to the reopening of Arrivals 1 was marked by operational simulations, as part of the Operational Management and Transition Program (ORAT), an international methodology used in large airport projects.

"The program ensures the safety and efficiency of all processes, systems, facilities, and services prior to opening. Furthermore, we will have a reinforced team to guide passengers during the first days of operation," added Rodrigo Côrtes.

Investments and Construction Responsibility

The construction of Arrivals 1, which is the responsibility of the government, involved an investment of approximately R$15 million from BH Airport, with reimbursement expected from Infraero.

The project is part of a set of remaining projects, estimated at R$250 million, originally planned to prepare the airport for the World Cup.

"The modernizations include improvements to the passenger terminal, new commercial options, modernization of the facade, electrical and electronic systems, air conditioning, baggage handling and inspection, as well as the completion of work on the aircraft apron," explains BH Airport CEO Daniel Miranda.

11 Years of Concession and Over R$1.3 Billion Invested

Since the concession began 11 years ago, BH Airport has invested approximately R$1.3 billion in infrastructure. Major deliveries include:

- Construction of Passenger Terminal 2, which increased annual capacity from 10 to 32 million people

- Road improvements, terminal renovations, runway improvements, and expansion of the runway to 3,600 meters, the third-longest in Brazil

The investments also drove technological innovations, such as the automated service and boarding system and the e-gate, a device that allows electronic passport checks in just a few seconds.

Growth and International Connectivity

- Comparing the pre-pandemic period (2019) with 2025, BH Airport recorded a 20% increase in passenger traffic, while the national average was 9%.

- From January to September 2025, more than 9 million passengers passed through the terminal, representing an increase of approximately 10% compared to the same period in 2024.

BH Airport's international air capacity is recognized with the Tourism Excellence Award

Committed to offering the best airport experience to its customers and promoting Minas Gerais' connectivity with Brazil and the world, BH Airport continues to evolve, seeking to develop new routes and promote the expansion of the international air network. The most recent recognition of the Minas Gerais terminal's strategic efforts to shorten distances and connect destinations is the Tourism Excellence Award, in the International Air Capacity Growth category, sponsored by The Data Appeal Company and Almawave, during the Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies' trade show, ABAV Expo.

Between 2023 and 2024, BH Airport recorded a nearly 50% increase in the number of international landings and departures, in line with the growth in passenger movement entering and leaving the country: a variation of over 40%. This increase demonstrates the growing demand for connections between the capital of Minas Gerais and the international terminal's role as a departure and arrival point. BH Airport is the third-most-served airport in Brazil and the second-most-served airport in domestic destinations.

Between 2021 and 2022, international destinations were limited to Lisbon and Panama City. The historic evolution began in 2023, with new routes to Bogotá, Curaçao, and Santiago, Chile, as well as the resumption of flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, in the US. In 2024, highlights included the resumption of flights to Buenos Aires and the new Sky service to the Chilean capital, totaling seven new flights during that period. Currently, the international network includes routes to Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

By September 2025, international passenger traffic at BH Airport had already surpassed 420,000, a 1.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a 55% increase compared to 2023. It's worth noting the historic record reached in July 2025, when 31,116 international passengers disembarked at the terminal and 31,237 departed abroad, totaling 62,353 passengers. This is the first time BH Airport has reached this level of international traffic in a single month since the concession began, surpassing the previous high, when 62,143 passengers disembarked or departed abroad in January 2018.

"We are a connecting hub prepared to meet growing passenger demands," notes BH Airport COO Rodrigo Côrtes. "The Tourism Excellence Award is the result of consistent efforts to capture new routes," he adds. "Minas Gerais is a destination of opportunities. We are drivers of growth and development in the state, boosting tourism, fostering the economy, promoting Minas Gerais culture, and reinforcing our commitment to expanding BH Airport's connectivity and increasingly projecting our state on the national and international stage," she emphasizes.

"This award demonstrates that Minas Gerais is increasingly connected to the world," declares Bárbara Botega, Secretary of Culture and Tourism of Minas Gerais. "The joint work between BH Airport and the Minas Gerais State Government expands our opportunities to welcome tourists, generate business, and promote Minas Gerais culture in new markets. It is a breakthrough that reinforces the role of tourism as a driver of development for the state," she celebrates.

According to Bárbara Menucci, the Tourism Excellence Award represents recognition that the partnership between the public sector and the private sector is essential to achieving significant results in tourism. "Promoting Belo Horizonte as a destination is essential to strengthening the capital's position in the tourism landscape, directly impacting increased demand for flights. BH Airport plays an active role in this process, working alongside airlines to attract new routes and companies, generating benefits for all," he concludes.