Hercílio Luz International Airport Guide

Hercílio Luz International Airport opened in 1927 in the Carianos neighbourhood on the southern end of Santa Catarina Island, named after Hercílio Pedro da Luz, a three-time governor of Santa Catarina. Infraero, the federal airport operator, ran the site from 1974 until 2017, when Floripa Airport, a subsidiary of Switzerland's Zurich Airport, took over the concession.

A passenger terminal opened in October 2019 replaced the original 1970s building, which now handles cargo. The new terminal covers roughly 49,000 square metres over two levels, with 45 check-in counters, 10 boarding bridges and a 600-square-metre panoramic terrace overlooking the runway and the bay. An automated baggage handling system and extensive glazing for natural light were built into the design.

Azul and Gol both run scheduled operations from Florianópolis, and TAP Air Portugal flies the airport's only year-round route to Europe, connecting to Lisbon. Seasonal South American demand, including flights to Buenos Aires and Montevideo, pushes the airport's international share of traffic higher over the December-to-March summer season. The airport has been named Brazil's best for several consecutive years in passenger surveys.