São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox airport

São Paulo/Guarulhos–Governor André Franco Montoro International Airport Template:Airport codes, commonly known as São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, is the primary international airport serving São Paulo, located in the municipality of Guarulhos, in the state of São Paulo. It is the largest airport in Brazil, South America and one of the largest in the world.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is popularly known locally as either Cumbica Airport, after the district where it is located and the Brazilian Air Force base that exists at the Guarulhos Airport, after the municipality where it is located. Since November 28, 2001, the airport has been named after André Franco Montoro (1916–1999), former Governor of São Paulo state.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The airport was rebranded as GRU Airport in 2012.<ref name="propmark">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The airport is the busiest in Brazil in terms of transported passengers, aircraft operations, and cargo handled, placing it as the second busiest airport in Latin America by passenger traffic (41,307,915 in 2023)<ref name="Operational Information">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> after Mexico City International Airport, making it one of the fifty busiest on the planet.<ref name="gru.com.br">http://www.gru.com.br/Content/Media/f8d266ad-5225-4698-bbef-1b4dae5abf6d.pdf Template:Dead link</ref><ref name="PANYNJ 2023 report">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Guarulhos has slot restrictions, operating with a maximum of 45 operations/hour<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and being one of the five airports with such restrictions in Brazil (the others are São Paulo-Congonhas, Brasília, Belo Horizonte-Pampulha and Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont).<ref name='Senado2010'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Since 2012, the airport has been operated by a consortium composed of Invepar S/A, Airports Company South Africa, and Infraero.<ref name='InveparSA'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some of its facilities are shared with the São Paulo Air Force Base of the Brazilian Air Force.

In 2017, it was considered by the company OAG the second best in punctuality in the world and first in Latin America, a position above that achieved in the previous year.<ref name=":0" /> In 2019 the airport achieved the same position in a survey carried out by FlightStats.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2021, it was chosen by the Club Med study as one of the 35 best in the world for long layovers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a survey carried out by Cirium Aviation, it reached first position among the most punctual large airports in the world and second place in the "Global" category in 2024;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> that same year, São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport was named one of the best airports in the world by AirHelp.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

File:Fotografia histórica de Guarulhos 41.jpg
Part of terminal 2 in construction (1987)

On June 6, 1967, in response to the growth of air traffic in Brazil, the Brazilian military government initiated studies concerning the renovation of the airport infrastructure in Brazil.Template:Citation needed As part of the conclusions of these studies, because of their location, strategic importance, and security issues, new passenger facilities would be constructed in the areas of the Galeão Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro and the São Paulo Air Force Base in São Paulo.Template:Citation needed

In relation to São Paulo, the initial planning of the airport involved three runways and four passenger terminals. However, the first phase of the construction comprising two runways and two terminals started only on August 11, 1980.Template:Citation needed The airport was officially inaugurated on January 20, 1985. Quickly Guarulhos became the city's primary airport, supplanting São Paulo–Congonhas Airport.Template:Citation needed

In 1989, the runways were extended and the terminals renovated, enlarged, and had their capacity increased from 7.5 million to 8.25 million passengers/year. The whole complex covered Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is urbanised area.Template:Citation needed

Construction of the Terminal 3, capable of handling 12 million passengers per year, had been planned since 2001 but due to a myriad of political and economic problems, the actual construction did not begin until 2011.Template:Citation needed

In 2010, the airport served more than 26.8 million passengers, an increase of 24% over 2009 and passenger volumes were 31% in excess of its capacity rated at 20.5 million per year at its present configuration.<ref name="infraero">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} Template:Dead link</ref>

In order to relieve the acute overcrowding at the Terminals 1 and 2, Infraero announced on May 17, 2011 that the former cargo terminals of the defunct airlines VASP and Transbrasil, later used by Federal Agencies, would undergo renovations and adaptations for use as domestic passenger terminals with remote boarding. This new terminal was initially called Terminal 4 (T4).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first phase of the renovations, comprising the former VASP terminal, opened on February 8, 2012,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and the second phase, comprising the former Transbrasil terminal, was opened in June 2013. Contrary to what had been announced before, the new terminal will be permanent. Webjet was the first airline to use the new facility.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The new terminal, in its first phase, increased the capacity of the airport in 5.5 million passengers/year and, in the second phase to 8 million passengers/year. In total, Guarulhos would then be able to handle 28.5 million passengers/year.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Responding to critiques to the situation of its airports, on May 18, 2011, Infraero released a list evaluating some of its most important airports according to its saturation levels. According to the list, Guarulhos was considered to be critically saturated, operating above 85% of its capacity.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Following a decision made on April 26, 2011 by the Federal Government for private companies being granted concessions to explore some Infraero airports,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> on February 6, 2012, the administration of the airport was conceded, for 20 years, to the Consortium Invepar–ACSA, also known as GRU Airport, composed by the Brazilian Invepar, an Investments and Funds Society (90%) and the South African ACSA–Airports Company South Africa (10%).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Infraero, the state-run organisation, remains with 49% of the shares of the company incorporated for the administration.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On December 2, 2015, the airport's terminals were renumbered. The former Terminal 4 was renumbered Terminal 1; the former terminals 1 and 2, which were wings of a single building, became the new Terminal 2. The Terminal 3 kept its numbering. The new numbering reflects the order by which terminals are reached when one arrives at the airport by the access road, and is expected to be less confusing in the long term. Check-in counters and gates were also renumbered, with the first digit being now the new terminal number.<ref name="folha-2015-11-12">Template:Cite news</ref>

On October 28, 2015, the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (Anac) authorised Airbus A380 operations at Guarulhos Airport, effective four days later. The authorisation was granted after extensive works were conducted on the runways and taxiways (including widening runway 09L/27R to Template:Convert)<ref name="todosabordo">Template:Cite news</ref> and special taxiing procedures were established.<ref name="gruairport-a380">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On November 14, 2015, Emirates operated a one-time special flight with the A380 on its Dubai-São Paulo route to commemorate its eight years of operations in Brazil.<ref name="emirates-a380gru">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On March 26, 2017, Emirates started daily A380 service from Dubai to São Paulo, replacing the Boeing 777-300ER previously used on that route – coincidentally, on the same day that the other UAE airline, Etihad, ended its services to São Paulo.<ref name="essemundoenosso">Template:Cite news</ref>

Facilities

Runways and taxiways

GRU has two parallel runways. Runway 10R/28L is Template:Convert long and Template:Convert wide, while runway 10L/28R is Template:Convert long and Template:Convert wide, after being widened in 2015 to better receive the Airbus A380.<ref name="worldaerodata.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="todosabordo" /> The field elevation at the airport is Template:Convert above mean sea level.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Runway 10R/28L is mostly used for landings and runway 10L/28R for takeoffs. There are high-speed exit taxiways on both runways that allow for traffic to depart the runway at higher speed to allow better efficiency for landing and takeoff traffic. As of 2014, there was an average of 650 takeoff and landing operations per day at the airport.<ref name="infraero-english">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Terminals

The airport has four passenger terminals, numbered 1, 2, and 3, according to their order along the airport access road when arriving from the city, plus a VIP terminal.

  • The Terminal 1 is the smallest and simplest. It has only domestic flights, and as of January 2020, only Azul operates there, as former Passaredo (now VoePass) has been moved to the Terminal 2. The Terminal 1 has no jet bridges and no direct access to the other terminals, which can only be reached by a free shuttle bus.
  • The Terminal 2 is the oldest and largest, and for many years was the sole airport terminal, although its two wings were considered different terminals at the time. It has the majority of domestic flights and to Latin American destinations, as well as a few intercontinental flights. The terminal is undergoing a retrofit process in the internal and external areas to modernize the facilities and improve the user experience. This terminal is divided into two boarding piers:
  • West Pier
The West Pier has sixteen boarding bridges and only operates domestic flights.
  • East Pier
The East Pier has thirteen boarding bridges and operates both domestic and international flights.
  • The Terminal 3 is the newest and most modern. It has only international flights and concentrates most long-haul intercontinental traffic, in addition to the LATAM Group's Latin American flights. It has a pier with twenty-two gates with jetways and five of them can accommodate the Airbus A380.<ref name="gruairport-a380" />
  • T3B Pier is a new pier being built to expand Terminal 3, with 12 boarding bridges and three remote positions. Its completion is scheduled for the end of 2026.
  • A new VIP Terminal will be managed by BTG Pactual Bank and will be opened in December 2024, but access will be restricted to users who book and pay their entry and stay at the site.Template:Citation needed

The Terminals 2 and 3 are directly linked by a walkway.<ref name="folha-2015-11-12" />

The airport also has a large air cargo terminal with a built area of Template:Convert and is capable of handling any type of cargo, including refrigerated and hazardous shipments.<ref name="grucargo">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

There are two navigational aids that GRU traffic uses. The Bonsucesso very high frequency omnidirectional range with distance measuring equipment (VOR-DME) is located Template:Convert to the east of GRU.<ref name="worldaerodata.com"/>

Developments

In 2009 Infraero unveiled a R$ 1,489.5 million (US$784.7 USD million; €549.8 EUR million) investment plan to upgrade Guarulhos International Airport, focusing on preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympics in 2016. The investment was supposed to be used as follows:<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

  • Construction of additional taxiways. Cost: R$ 19M. Completion: April 2016.
  • Enlargement of apron and taxiways. Cost: R$370,5M. Completion: May 2016.
  • Construction of passenger Terminal 3. Cost: R$1,100M. Completed: March 2014. Opened for Star Alliance airlines in May.

Central to this investment plan was Terminal 3, which is projected to add 12 million passenger capacity to the 17 million of the existing two terminals. Plans for a third runway were decided to be "technically impracticable" and were cancelled in January 2008.

However, the former concessionary, Infraero, experienced many legal and bureaucratic difficulties, which prevented most (if any) of these improvements from being completed on schedule. As of April 2013, the new concessionary unveiled a new expansion project, which included the new Terminal 3 (with a different design than the one proposed by Infraero), the widening of the main runway in order to enable operations by the large Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8, operated by Emirates and Lufthansa respectively, and several other improvements in the existing terminals and parking area.

The Terminal 3 is open and all Star Alliance airlines are in, as well as many other overseas carriers. International flights by LATAM also use the facility.

A train service development and construction has also been planned, however never concluded and cancelled. This included an Airport Express Line linking the airport to downtown São Paulo and a Rio–São Paulo high-speed rail connecting Guarulhos to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão and Campinas-Viracopos airports.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Since March 2017 American Airlines invested US$ 100 million on a Template:Convert maintenance hangar at Guarulhos Airport, building together with the LATAM Hangar of R$ 130 million.<ref name="aeroin-aa">Template:Cite news</ref> The American Airlines one is capable of performing line maintenance on two wide-body aircraft at the same time, of the types commonly used by the U.S. company on routes between São Paulo and the United States and the LATAM one is capable of performing line maintenance of one wide-body aircraft. It could also be used by other companies as storage for parts. The same conditions applies to the LATAM maintenance center.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Template:Airport destination list

Cargo

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Statistics

File:Vista aérea do Aeroporto Internacional de São Paulo-Guarulhos.jpg
Air view in 2022
File:Guarulhos5.jpg
Terminal 3 in 2014
File:Aeroporto de Cumbica - Terminal 3.jpg
Terminal 3 landside in 2014

Following is the number of passenger, aircraft and cargo movements at the airport, according to Infraero (2007-2012) and GRU Airport (2013-2023) reports:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="estatistica"/>

Year Passenger Aircraft Cargo (t)
2024 43,580,962 Template:Increase 6% 288,063 Template:Increase 5%
2023 41,307,915 Template:Increase 20% 274,917 Template:Increase 13%
2022 34,480,706 Template:Increase 43% 242,881 Template:Increase 29%
2021 24,170,612 Template:Increase 19% 188,573 Template:Increase 21%
2020 20,322,520 Template:Decrease 53% 155,912 Template:Decrease 47%
2019 43,002,119 Template:Increase 2% 291,987 Template:Steady
2018 42,230,309 Template:Increase 12% 293,084 Template:Increase 10%
2017 37,765,898 Template:Increase 3% 266,016 Template:Decrease 1%
2016 36,606,363 Template:Decrease 6% 268,139 Template:Decrease 43%
2015 38,983,779 Template:Decrease 1% 296,618 Template:Decrease 3%
2014 39,539,992 Template:Increase 10% 306,050 Template:Increase 8%
2013 35,962,128 Template:Increase 10% 284,184 Template:Increase 4%
2012 32,777,330 Template:Increase 9% 273,884 Template:Increase 1% 474,190 Template:Decrease 7%
2011 30,003,428 Template:Increase 12% 270,600 Template:Increase 8% 511,484 Template:Increase 19%
2010 26,849,185 Template:Increase 24% 250,493 Template:Increase 19% 430,850 Template:Increase 13%
2009 21,727,649 Template:Increase 7% 209,636 Template:Increase 8% 382,723 Template:Decrease 19%
2008 20,400,304 Template:Increase 9% 194,184 Template:Increase 3% 475,209 Template:Decrease 3%
2007 18,795,596 187,960 488,485


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Rank Airport Passengers Change 2023 / 24
1. Template:Flagdeco Santiago de Chile 1,499,136 Template:Increase32,59%
2. Template:Flagdeco Buenos Aires–Aeroparque 1,109,987 Template:Increase13,58%
3. Template:Flagdeco Miami 869,266 Template:Increase10,84%
4. Template:Flagdeco Lisbon 850,619 Template:Increase18,37%
5. Template:Flagdeco Madrid 833,720 Template:Increase26,31%
6. Template:Flagdeco Paris–Charles de Gaulle 602,214 Template:Increase4,37%
7. Template:Flagdeco Panama 562,077 Template:Increase1,3%
8. Template:Flagdeco Bogotá 546,416 Template:Increase17,22%
9. Template:Flagdeco New York 527,486 Template:Increase0,67%
10. Template:Flagdeco Lima 526,131 Template:Increase38,19%
11. Template:Flagdeco Rome 521,018 Template:Increase48,69%
12. Template:Flagdeco Frankfurt 504,597 Template:Decrease0,03%
13. Template:Flagdeco London 501,357 Template:Increase4,62%
14. Template:Flagdeco Buenos Aires–Ezeiza 410,546 Template:Decrease12,88%
15. Template:Flagdeco Montevideo 397,025 Template:Decrease2,98%
16. Template:Flagdeco Doha 391,330 Template:Decrease4,54%
17. Template:Flagdeco Atlanta 353,162 Template:Increase15,34%
18. Template:Flagdeco Dubai 297,923 Template:Decrease10,27%
19. Template:Flagdeco Mexico City 297,847 Template:Increase9,33%
20. Template:Flagdeco Asunción 263,927 Template:Increase15,56%

Accidents and incidents

  • On January 28, 1986, a VASP Boeing 737-2A1 registered PP-SME flying from Guarulhos to Belo Horizonte unknowingly tried to take-off from Guarulhos, during foggy conditions, from a taxiway. The take-off was aborted, but the aircraft overran, collided with a dyke and broke in two. One passenger died.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • On March 21, 1989, a Transbrasil Cargo Boeing 707-349C registered PT-TCS operating Flight 801, flying from Manaus to São Paulo-Guarulhos, crashed at the district of Vila Barros in Guarulhos, shortly before touch-down at runway 09R. That day, at 12:00, the runway was going to be closed for maintenance and the crew decided to speed up procedures to touch-down before closure (it was already 11:54). In a hurry, one of the crew members, by mistake, activated the air-dynamic brakes, and the aircraft lost too much speed to have enough aerodynamic support (resulting in a stall). As a consequence the aircraft crashed approximately Template:Convert from the airport. There were 25 fatalities, of which three were crew members and 22 were civilians on the ground. As well as the 22 fatalities, there were over 200 injured on the ground.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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  • On March 2, 1996, a Madrid Táxi Aéreo Gates Learjet 25D registered PT-LSD transporting the Brazilian band Mamonas Assassinas crashed into Cantareira mountain range, located north of the airport, at 23:16 local time killing all 9 passengers on board. The aircraft was on final approach to land on the runway 09R, but went around. As it flew toward the runway for a second attempt to land, the ATC instructed the pilots to make a right turn heading south, but they turned north (left) and crashed into the mountain range at Template:Convert, Template:Convert from the airport. Ironically, all band members were from a Guarulhos neighborhood located close to the airport.
  • On September 14, 2002, a Total Linhas Aéreas ATR42-312 registered PT-MTS on a cargo flight between São Paulo-Guarulhos and Londrina crashed while en route near Paranapanema. The crew of 2 died.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Ground transport

The airport is located Template:Convert from downtown São Paulo.

File:Vista Aeroporto Guarulhos.jpg
View of Hélio Smidt Highway around Guarulhos
File:Entrega da Linha 13 Jade da CPTM • Estação Aeroporto-Guarulhos • 2.jpg
Guarulhos Airport Train Station

Car

The airport has its own highway system: The Rodovia Hélio Smidt Highway which connects the airport to the Presidente Dutra Highway or the Ayrton Senna Highway. Residents of Guarulhos can access the road via Monteiro Lobato Avenue.

Bus

Bus transportation is available through the Airport Bus Service, an executive bus line, administered by EMTU and operated by Consórcio Internorte – Área 3. This service provides transportation connecting Guarulhos to Congonhas airport; to Tietê Bus Terminal; to Palmeiras-Barra Funda Intermodal Terminal, to Faria Lima Ave; To Republica Square (Praça da República); To Berrini Ave., Itaim Bibi district; and to the circuit of hotels along Paulista Avenue and Rua Augusta. The ride takes about one hour, depending on traffic.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the airport, tickets can be purchased at the counter located outside the lounge of the Terminal 1, Wing B's arrivals level.

Pássaro Marron/EMTU, a syndicate of the Internorte Consortium, offers two regular bus lines, 257 and 299, connecting Tatuapé subway station (Line 3-Red) with Guarulhos Airport every 30 minutes. At Tatuapé, both buses can be picked up on a platform of that multimodal station's North side bus terminal. At the airport, the stop for both buses is at the Arrivals level road connecting the wings of Terminal 2.

Gol Airlines and LATAM offer for their passengers free bus transfers between Guarulhos and Congonhas airports at regular times.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Viação Cometa offers daily departures to and from the airport and the cities of Santos, Sorocaba, São Vicente, and Praia Grande.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Lirabus operates daily buses between the airport and Campinas. Pássaro Marron offers bus services to São José dos Campos with departures every two hours. Viação Transdutra connects the airport with the city of Arujá.

Rail

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also Template:Routemap Line 13-Jade of the São Paulo São Paulo Metro Rail Transport Network, operated by CPTM, connects with the airport through Aeroporto-Guarulhos Station. This line started its operations on March 31, 2018.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> That makes São Paulo's São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) the first among major South American airport hubs (such as Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Santiago de Chile, Lima, Bogotá, and Rio de Janeiro-Galeão) to have a direct railway connection.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Estação Aeroporto-Guarulhos • plataformas com trem • 1.jpg
Airport Metro Station in GRU

Additionally, since December 2020 there's the Airport Express service, from Luz station to Aeroporto-Guarulhos, departing from each terminus every hour. It attends only one station towards Aeroporto-Guarulhos (Guarulhos-CECAP station), and 2 stations towards Luz (Guarulhos-CECAP and Brás).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Effective September 1, 2023, the Expresso Aeroporto was extended to Palmeiras - Barra Funda.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Aeroporto-Guarulhos station is located near Terminal 1, the smallest and least busy of Guarulhos Airport's terminals. Passengers can access Terminals 2 and 3 via a free shuttle service.<ref name="ishioka">Template:Cite news</ref>

The shuttle was initially operated by buses. In December 2020 it was announced that Brazilian firm Aerom, which owns the Aeromovel technology, had been selected to install a people mover to replace it.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Construction was due to begin in January 2021 with completing in 2022. The expected opening date for the new people mover is August 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

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References

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