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Rio De Janeiro to Recife Flight Distance

Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG) to Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC)

Medium HaulNorth-Northeast (30°)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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1,151
Miles
1,853
Kilometers
1,000
Nautical miles
2h 51m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale1,853 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

GIG
Origin
Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
-22.8100°, -43.2506°
REC
Destination
Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport
Recife, Brazil
-8.1265°, -34.9236°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 1,151 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 2h 51m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

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

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 289 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

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

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)1,151 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)1,853 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)1,000 nmAviation standard
Flight Time2h 51mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction30° NNENorth-Northeast
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference+0hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)289 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)838 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1156 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset27Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger56 L~10,080 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 north-northeast 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 289 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 27 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
GIG
DEPARTURE

Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

IATA / ICAO
GIG / SBGL
Elevation
28 ft (9 m)
Local Time
06:03 PM
GMT-3
Coordinates
-22.8100°, -43.2506°
View full airport details
REC
ARRIVAL+0h from departure

Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport

Recife, Brazil

IATA / ICAO
REC / SBRF
Elevation
33 ft (10 m)
Local Time
06:03 PM
GMT-3
Coordinates
-8.1265°, -34.9236°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

3 airlines operate flights between Rio De Janeiro and Recife.

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
North-Northeast
Initial bearing: 30°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
56 L per passenger
~10,080 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° 30' 25.8" S
-15.5072°
Longitude
38° 56' 18.1" W
-38.9384°
Halfway Point
576 mi
86 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
289 kg
CO2e: 549 kg
Premium Economy
463 kg
CO2e: 879 kg
Business
838 kg
CO2e: 1593 kg
First Class
1156 kg
CO2e: 2197 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 27 trees.Equivalent to 0.5 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
right Side
Sun will be on the right (east/south) side
Recommendation
Either side offers good views on northbound flights

Distance in Perspective

1
4.6% of Earth's circumference
2
207 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Comparable to New York to Miami (1,756 km)
4
1.5 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles1,151 mi
Kilometers1,853 km
Nautical Miles1,000 nm
Meters1,853,000 m
Feet6,077,280 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)2h 51m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)23 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 1,853 km between Rio De Janeiro and Recife at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h2h 51m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h3h 42m
Bullet Train320 km/h5h 47m
Car (highway)100 km/h18h 32m
Walking5 km/h371h (15 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h1h 30m

Round Trip Summary

2,302
total miles
3,706
total km
5h 42m
total flight time
578
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: REC to GIG

Quick Facts

Distance1,151 mi
Flight Time2h 51m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionNNE
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff+0h
CO2 (Economy)289 kg
Airlines3

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Rio De Janeiro from Recife?

The flight distance from Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport (GIG) to Guararapes - Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC) is 1,151 miles (1,853 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 2h 51m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

Recife is 0 hours ahead of Rio De Janeiro.

What airlines fly this route?

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

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 289 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 838 kg. First class: 1156 kg. Offset with ~27 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this North-Northeast flight, the right side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Rio De Janeiro to Recife instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 1,853 km, it would take approximately 23 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 2h 51m.

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 289 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 27 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