R$20–30 on Uber/99 usually gets you from AJU to Atalaia in 10–15 minutes
Post-security in T1 at Aracaju–Santa Maria Airport, the App Rideshare Zone handles ride-hailing pickups for apps like Uber and 99, with trip times to Atalaia or Centro typically around 10–15 minutes. Uber’s own AJU page explicitly confirms that you can request airport rides here, and that you meet your driver at a designated pickup point shown in the app, not anywhere along the curb.
On the same Uber AJU info page, the company spells out that only categories like UberX work here; traditional taxi service is not available inside the Uber app at this airport. If you’re used to tapping “Uber Taxi” in São Paulo or Rio, skip that option at AJU and choose a standard car category instead, then follow the on-screen arrows to the marked rideshare area outside T1 arrivals.
Locals in Portuguese Q&A threads say they “sempre chamam Uber no desembarque” because it usually comes out cheaper than a metered taxi to the orla (Atalaia seafront), and most report getting picked up directly at the arrivals curb in under 10 minutes. For Centro hotels, expect the fare to sit a bit below many flat-rate taxi quotes, with dynamic pricing kicking in during weekend evenings and holiday peaks.
Regulars recommend opening both Uber and 99 as soon as you reach the baggage carousel and comparing the ETA and price; they typically cancel and switch apps if the wait stretches past 10–15 minutes. Many also send a quick in-app message in Portuguese describing their clothing and confirming the exact door or curb reference so the driver can spot them fast in the App Rideshare Zone.
Complaints on Brazilian social channels mention that during late-night or midday lulls, ETAs can jump to 15–20 minutes, and some drivers ring you to ask that you walk a short distance away from the busiest part of the curb. A few riders also report occasional cancellations on short hops from the airport to Atalaia when demand spikes and drivers chase longer rides instead.
Practical tip: After landing in T1, switch your phone off airplane mode before you leave the jet bridge, request your Uber or 99 by the time you reach the luggage belt, and screenshot the driver plate and model; that way you’re ready to walk straight to the App Rideshare Zone and match the car without delays.