On the eve of another anniversary of its inauguration to be celebrated this January 24th, Afonso Pena International Airport (CWB) reaches its 78th anniversary of civil aviation operations with countless reasons to celebrate. The main airport terminal in the State, which has undergone numerous changes and transformations throughout its almost eight decades of existence, has been taken over by CCR Aeroportos since the beginning of 2022 and is preparing to turn the old dream of the terminal's third runway into reality , which should be built and opened by 2026. In addition to this major work, the airport site is undergoing a series of improvements that consolidate it as one of the most modern and praised in the country.
Created to be one of several military air bases for Allied troops during World War II, the airport began construction in 1944, close to the end of the conflict, and was operated for flights for military purposes. The official inauguration for civil flights occurred just two years later, on January 24, 1946, when the other aerodrome in the region, in the Bacacheri neighborhood, had to be temporarily closed due to the poor condition of the runway, which suffered from heavy rains that devastated the city at the time. Since then, the airport built on the areas of Colônia Afonso Pena, in São José dos Pinhais, has never stopped serving commercial flights and has continued to grow.
A specialist in the history of Afonso Pena, Sérgio Dombroski is a former yard inspector, traffic coordinator and airport supervisor, having visited the largest and most important airport terminal in Paraná daily for 27 years. Now retired, he is dedicated to preserving the memory of the place virtually with the groups “Resgatando a História do Aeroporto Afonso Pena”, on Facebook, and the page “Museu Virtual do Aeroporto Afonso Pena”, on Instagram, in addition to producing a book telling its trajectory and the terminal’s historical curiosities. Having a deep knowledge of the subject, Dombroski explains that the terminal has “changed its face” several times throughout its almost eight decades of existence: “Since its inauguration, we have had several periods with important improvement works. We can highlight the expansion of the terminal in 1977; the inauguration of the new enger terminal with 45 thousand m², in 1996, in addition to the recent works carried out in recent decades that more than doubled the capacity to serve travelers”, he says.
With istration taken over by CCR Aeroportos at the beginning of 2022, the airport terminal is preparing for a new revolution with works that will improve the structure and service capacity for both engers and airlines that operate from the terminal.
The CEO of CCR Aeroportos, Fabio Russo, highlights the good results obtained by the current istration on different fronts and is optimistic for the future: “We have gradually delivered positive growth numbers in the number of travelers, enger and cargo routes , new commercial operations, in addition to maintaining satisfactory evaluation rates from travelers who through here. There is a lot of work ahead, but we are aware that, with the works and improvements that are planned for the coming years, Afonso Pena should stand out even more as one of the most relevant enger and logistics hubs in the country”, he says .
Among recent notable numbers, CWB has recorded continuous growth in enger flow since 2021, expected to equal or exceed the pre-pandemic period. With an approximate daily average of 15 thousand travelers, the Airport should close the balance of 2023 with more than 5 million customers. “We are working very closely with the airlines, closing partnerships that allow us to increase the number of routes and, consequently, sustain the continuous flow of enger growth”, adds Daiane Persicotti, Airport Operations coordinator.
Another sector that has proven successful since the concession is commercial: the number of operations at the enger terminal jumped from 39 to 67, an increase of approximately 71%. The cargo area also grew, with an increase from six to nine weekly international routes, which helped to consolidate the terminal as the fifth in the country in of import volume. Finally, we also highlight the number of international commercial routes: today, CWB offers direct flights to Buenos Aires, Santiago and Montevideo, with good occupancy rates and the prospect of increasing the number of flights in these operations.
Modern and in continuous transformation, Afonso Pena International Airport reaches its 78th anniversary in excellent shape, and prepared for a new phase of transformation. With a rich history, the terminal continues to be a source of pride for the city of São José dos Pinhais and Paraná: “It is a space that is important for the mobility, speed, safety and comfort of the population and local companies . It is a strong driver of commerce, health, industry, services and high-value businesses throughout Paraná, in addition to being a fundamental hub for the economic and social integration of our people with the most diverse geographic regions of Brazil and of South America”, adds Dombroski.
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Street: CCR Airports
