São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport opened on January 20, 1985, replacing the overcrowded Congonhas Airport as São Paulo's primary international gateway. Construction of the first phase (two runways and two terminals) began on August 11, 1980, after planning studies initiated by Brazil's military government in 1967. From the start, the airport grew fast. After several expansions of passenger capacity, GRU became the leading hub of South American aviation.

Located in Guarulhos, 25 kilometers northeast of downtown São Paulo, the airport is in Brazil's most economically productive state. It serves the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere and is the primary connection point between South America and the rest of the world. In 2024, GRU handled over 43 million passengers, placing it among the 50 busiest airports on earth. Direct flights reach more than 100 destinations across more than 30 countries. The airport is a hub for LATAM Brasil and GOL Linhas Aéreas and a focus city for Azul Brazilian Airlines, with major international carriers including Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, Emirates, American Airlines, United, and Delta operating scheduled services.

The airport has 3 terminals and 2 parallel runways: one 3,000 meters long, the other 3,700 meters. The longer runway was widened in 2015 to accommodate Code F aircraft, including the Airbus A380. Terminal 3, dedicated largely to international operations, opened in May 2014 ahead of the FIFA World Cup. In 2018, GRU became the first major South American hub to gain a direct rail link, via CPTM Line 13. The airport was named in honor of Governor André Franco Montoro in 2001 and rebranded as GRU Airport following privatization in 2012.