Santos Dumont Airport — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Santos Dumont Airport occupies a small peninsula jutting into Guanabara Bay almost within walking distance of downtown Rio de Janeiro, named for Alberto Santos Dumont, the Brazilian aviation pioneer whose early twentieth-century flying machines made him a national hero and, to many Brazilians, the true father of powered flight ahead of the Wright brothers. Pilots and passengers landing at SDU enjoy one of the most scenic urban approaches in commercial aviation, with Sugarloaf Mountain, the bay's waters, and the city skyline all visible during descent. The airport primarily handles domestic traffic, most notably the frequent air shuttle connecting Rio de Janeiro to Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, a route long favored by business travelers for its short flight time and central locations at both ends. Dating back to the 1930s, SDU ranks among the oldest continuously operating commercial airports still serving a major world city from so close to its center.