Government announces plane tickets for R$200 for at least 3 million retirees and students – 01/09/2024 – Market

The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, stated this Tuesday (9) that the Voa Brasil program will make tickets available for R$ 200 and will be aimed at INSS (National Social Security Institute) retirees who earn up to two minimum wages and Prouni students.

The minister stated that this audience is equivalent to 20.6 million people, but that the forecast is that around 3 million will benefit initially. Anyone who flew in the last 12 months, for example, will not be able to access the program.

After meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), Filho said that the Chief Executive will launch Voa Brasil by mid-February, the date on which all details will be given to access the program.

The idea is that tickets will be available on the day the project launches.

“We hope, from all retirees and Prouni students, to initially reach 3 million new CPFs who will travel. This means including almost one country from Uruguay in Brazilian aviation throughout 2024. This program will, above all, have an important social role”, he said.

The minister has been Lula’s spokesperson in the fight with airlines over cheaper tickets.

This Tuesday, he stated that the government is making “every effort” to try to raise awareness among airlines about ticket prices and that it is working to combat abusive ticket prices.

In December, a high season month, when tickets soar, the presidents of the three companies in the sector participated in an event with Filho to announce a series of efforts. Azul said it will provide 10 million seats for less than R$799 this year, while Gol estimated 15 million tickets for up to R$699.

Latam, in turn, committed to increasing the offer of tickets by 10 thousand seats per day, which will be done by increasing its fleet. The measure should provide a breather at a time when the sector recovers the demand lost during the pandemic, surpassing 100 million passengers transported from January to November, for the first time since 2019.

Anac data shows that the ticket has become more expensive in recent years, going from an average level of around R$500 less than a decade ago (with checked baggage already included until 2017), to more than R$600 currently (apart from separate charge for those who bring suitcases). Despite the increase over time, the most recent average rates indicate a drop from R$657.86 in 2022 to R$618 in 2023, accumulated from January to October.