Recife-Guararapes/Gilberto Freyre International Airport ( IATA : REC , ICAO : SBRF ) is an international airport located in the municipality of Recife , in Pernambuco. It is the main airport in the state of Pernambuco , and one of five that have regular passenger transport operations, along with Petrolina International Airport , Fernando de Noronha Airport , Serra Talhada Airport , and Caruaru Airport . It is the busiest airport terminal in the North - Northeast of Brazil, and the eighth busiest Brazilian airport.