Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport

A Naval Aviation School is established near Galeão beach on May 10, 1923, the earliest aviation-related use of the site.

Following Brazil's entry into World War II in August 1942, the Galeão site becomes an active military aerodrome.

A new passenger terminal (later known as Terminal 1) opens on January 20, 1977, at a time when Galeão receives most of Brazil's major international flights; the terminal's public-address announcer, Iris Lettieri, becomes locally famous and later gains recognition internationally.

São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport surpasses Galeão as Brazil's primary international hub, and transiting passenger numbers at Galeão decline as both domestic traffic (to Santos Dumont) and international traffic (to São Paulo) are lost; recovery begins after 2004.

On January 5, 1999, the airport is officially renamed to add a tribute to Brazilian composer Antônio Carlos 'Tom' Jobim, whose song 'Samba do Avião' referenced Galeão.

Following a November 2013 award, a 25-year concession contract is signed on April 2, 2014, with RIOgaleão — a consortium of Grupo Odebrecht (60%) and Singapore's Changi Airport Group (40%) — for R$19 billion.

The airport sets an all-time single-day passenger record of roughly 85,000 passengers on August 22, 2016, the day after the Rio Olympics closing ceremony.

RIOgaleão requests devolution of its concession on February 10, 2022, citing financial difficulties; Brazil's aviation authority approves the return on May 25, 2022.

Following a new bidding process concluded March 30, 2026, Spanish airport operator Aena wins the re-concession and takes over full operating control of the airport.