CHC Brazil supports Petrobras operations with new hangar

Macaé Airport has gained a significant addition to its portfolio of offshore operators. CHC do Brasil, part of CHC Helicopter, one of the world’s leading helicopter service companies, has begun operations at a new hangar. The global company will support contracts with Petrobras.

The 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 leader in oil and gas production in Brazil.

“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,” said 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%. As CHC’s Executive Director and a proud Brazilian, I am thrilled to support Petrobras increasingly in its offshore operations,” commented Gilson Caputo, Executive Director of CHC Brazil.

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 new 1,410-meter runway, which will elevate the airport’s category by allowing the landing and take-off of larger aircraft. The new runway, a R$220 million investment by Zurich Airport Brasil, is expected to be completed by February 2025.