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Recife to Fortaleza Flight Distance

Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) to Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR)

Short HaulNorthwest (320°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

389
Miles
625
Kilometers
338
Nautical miles
1h 14m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale625 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

REC
Origin
Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport
Recife, Brazil
-8.1265°, -34.9236°
FOR
Destination
Pinto Martins International Airport
Fortaleza, Brazil
-3.7763°, -38.5326°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 389 miles, this short-haul flight will take approximately 1h 14m. This is a relatively quick flight where you may not even need entertainment.

Time Adjustment: Fortaleza is 0 hours ahead of Recife. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 159 kg of CO2. This is relatively low for air travel.

Flight Options: 3 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)389 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)625 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)338 nmAviation standard
Flight Time1h 14mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationSHORT HAULShort-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Flight Direction320° NWNorthwest
Cruising Altitude33,000 ftFL330 (10,058 m)
Time Difference+0hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)159 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)462 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)638 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset15Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger19 L~3,420 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines3Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the right side for views with less sun glare on this northwest flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Short flight—light carry-on with essentials is sufficient.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 159 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 15 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
REC
DEPARTURE

Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

Recife, Brazil

IATA / ICAO
REC / SBRF
Elevation
33 ft (10 m)
Local Time
03:33 PM
GMT-3
Coordinates
-8.1265°, -34.9236°
View full airport details
FOR
ARRIVAL+0h from departure

Pinto Martins International Airport

Fortaleza, Brazil

IATA / ICAO
FOR / SBFZ
Elevation
82 ft (25 m)
Local Time
03:33 PM
GMT-3
Coordinates
-3.7763°, -38.5326°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

3 airlines operate flights between Recife and Fortaleza.

AD
Azul
Brazil
G3
Sky Express
Greece
JJ
TAM Brazilian Airlines
Brazil

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
33,000 ft (10,058 m)
FL330
Flight Direction
Northwest
Initial bearing: 320°
Route Type
Short-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737Embraer E190
Fuel Consumption
19 L per passenger
~3,420 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Southern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Southern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
5° 57' 15.5" S
-5.9543°
Longitude
36° 44' 6.9" W
-36.7352°
Halfway Point
195 mi
37 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
159 kg
CO2e: 303 kg
Premium Economy
255 kg
CO2e: 485 kg
Business
462 kg
CO2e: 878 kg
First Class
638 kg
CO2e: 1211 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 15 trees.Equivalent to 6 weeks of average household electricity

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
0 hours
Flying noneward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
right Side
Sun will be on the right (east/south) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on northbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
1.6% of Earth's circumference
2
Similar to Berlin to Vienna (524 km)
3
0.5 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles389 mi
Kilometers625 km
Nautical Miles338 nm
Meters625,000 m
Feet2,053,920 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)1h 14m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)8 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 625 km between Recife and Fortaleza at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h1h 14m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h1h 15m
Bullet Train320 km/h1h 57m
Car (highway)100 km/h6h 15m
Walking5 km/h125h (5 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h0h 30m

Round Trip Summary

778
total miles
1,250
total km
2h 28m
total flight time
318
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: FOR to REC

Quick Facts

Distance389 mi
Flight Time1h 14m
Route Typeshort haul
DirectionNW
AltitudeFL330
Time Diff+0h
CO2 (Economy)159 kg
Airlines3

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Recife from Fortaleza?

The flight distance from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) to Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR) is 389 miles (625 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 1h 14m. This is a short-haul flight typically cruising at 33,000 feet (FL330).

What is the time difference?

Fortaleza is 0 hours ahead of Recife.

What airlines fly this route?

3 airlines operate this route: Azul, Sky Express, TAM Brazilian Airlines.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 159 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 462 kg. First class: 638 kg. Offset with ~15 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this Northwest flight, the right side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Recife to Fortaleza instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 625 km, it would take approximately 8 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 1h 14m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This short-haul route is typically served by Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Embraer E190 aircraft. These are narrow-body aircraft designed for efficient short-distance travel.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 159 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 15 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route