Imperatriz Airport - Mayor Renato Moreira (Ordinary Law nº 870/1998) (IATA: IMP, ICAO: SBIZ) is located in the municipality of Imperatriz, in the state of Maranhão. The airport operates regional and national flights and has the capacity to receive medium-sized aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Fokker 100, Embraer 195 and Airbus A320.
History At the end of the 1930s, the city of Imperatriz was served by regular air transport using seaplanes (Junker) operated by the Syndicato Condor, whi... Imperatriz Airport - Mayor Renato Moreira (Ordinary Law nº 870/1998) (IATA: IMP, ICAO: SBIZ) is located in the municipality of Imperatriz, in the state of Maranhão. The airport operates regional and national flights and has the capacity to receive medium-sized aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Fokker 100, Embraer 195 and Airbus A320.
History At the end of the 1930s, the city of Imperatriz was served by regular air transport using seaplanes (Junker) operated by the Syndicato Condor, which used the Tocantins River from 1939 to 1945. At the end of the Second World War, a airport in the area where today several public bodies are located: Regional Hospital, Federal University of Maranhão, FUNAI, National Health Foundation, Forum, SENAC, Colégio Dorgival Pinheiro de Sousa, Colégio Graça Aranha and SENAI. The airstrip measured 1,200m x 30m, covered with dirt and gravel. The airport was permanently at risk of being closed during the rainy season, when regular flights were suspended.
In March 1955, Cruzeiro do Sul began operating in Imperatriz, using DC-3 aircraft. Until December 1967, the airport was regularly served by Real-Aerovias Brasil. In January 1968, Varig began operating at the location, also with the DC-3 aircraft, on a frequency of two weekly flights. According to studies carried out in the late 1960s, it was necessary to build a new airport, capable of serving modern aircraft and with better infrastructure conditions. An area located 5 km from the city center was chosen. The works of the new airport were carried out by the direct administration of COMARA (Airports Commission of the Amazon Region), upon order and indemnification of the II COMAR (Regional Air Command), and concluded on May 25, 1973. It has been managed by Infraero since November 1980. In 2000, the airport was named in honor of former mayor Renato Cortez Moreira, murdered during his tenure in 1993.
