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Recife to Sao Paulo Flight Distance

Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) to Guarulhos - Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU)

Medium HaulSouthwest (215°)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

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1,302
Miles
2,095
Kilometers
1,131
Nautical miles
3h 8m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale2,095 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°
GRU
Destination
Guarulhos - Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport
Sao Paulo, Brazil
-23.4356°, -46.4731°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 1,302 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 3h 8m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

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

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 327 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 4 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)1,302 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)2,095 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)1,131 nmAviation standard
Flight Time3h 8mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction215° SWSouthwest
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference+0hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)327 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)948 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1307 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset30Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger63 L~11,340 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines4Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this southwest flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Bring entertainment, snacks, and a neck pillow for comfort.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 327 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 30 trees.
Compare Prices
With 4 airlines on this route, compare prices across carriers for the best deal.
REC
DEPARTURE

Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

Recife, Brazil

IATA / ICAO
REC / SBRF
Elevation
33 ft (10 m)
Local Time
03:35 PM
GMT-3
Coordinates
-8.1265°, -34.9236°
View full airport details
GRU
ARRIVAL+0h from departure

Guarulhos - Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport

Sao Paulo, Brazil

IATA / ICAO
GRU / SBGR
Elevation
2,459 ft (750 m)
Local Time
03:35 PM
GMT-3
Coordinates
-23.4356°, -46.4731°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

4 airlines operate flights between Recife and Sao Paulo.

AD
Azul
Brazil
G3
Sky Express
Greece
O6
Oceanair
Brazil
JJ
TAM Brazilian Airlines
Brazil

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
37,000 ft (11,278 m)
FL370
Flight Direction
Southwest
Initial bearing: 215°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
63 L per passenger
~11,340 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
15° 51' 26.5" S
-15.8574°
Longitude
40° 28' 41.7" W
-40.4782°
Halfway Point
651 mi
94 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
327 kg
CO2e: 621 kg
Premium Economy
523 kg
CO2e: 994 kg
Business
948 kg
CO2e: 1801 kg
First Class
1307 kg
CO2e: 2484 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 30 trees.Equivalent to 0.6 months of average person's carbon footprint

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
left Side
Sun will be on the left (east/north) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on southbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
5.2% of Earth's circumference
2
183 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Similar to Los Angeles to New York (3,944 km)
4
1.7 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles1,302 mi
Kilometers2,095 km
Nautical Miles1,131 nm
Meters2,095,000 m
Feet6,874,560 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)3h 8m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)3 days (26 hours)

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 2,095 km between Recife and Sao Paulo at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h3h 8m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h4h 11m
Bullet Train320 km/h6h 33m
Car (highway)100 km/h20h 57m
Walking5 km/h419h (17 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h1h 42m

Round Trip Summary

2,604
total miles
4,190
total km
6h 16m
total flight time
654
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: GRU to REC

Quick Facts

Distance1,302 mi
Flight Time3h 8m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionSW
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff+0h
CO2 (Economy)327 kg
Airlines4

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Recife from Sao Paulo?

The flight distance from Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) to Guarulhos - Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (GRU) is 1,302 miles (2,095 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 3h 8m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

Sao Paulo is 0 hours ahead of Recife.

What airlines fly this route?

4 airlines operate this route: Azul, Sky Express, Oceanair and 1 more.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 327 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 948 kg. First class: 1307 kg. Offset with ~30 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this Southwest flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Recife to Sao Paulo instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 2,095 km, it would take approximately 26 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 3h 8m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 327 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 30 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