Government has plan to sell airline tickets at R$200, says Márcio França

The federal government is preparing a program to sell cheaper airline tickets to retirees, civil servants and students.

The program will be aimed at people with a salary of up to R$ 6,800.00, according to the Minister of Ports and Airports Márcio França, in an interview with the newspaper Correio Braziliense.

The goal of the project is to occupy vacant seats on the planes, which could allow the purchase of tickets for R$ 200.00, França told the newspaper. People who meet the requirements of the program would be entitled to buy two trips per year – two round trips, each leg for R$ 200.00.

The plan does not involve subsidizing fares. The idea is to make an agreement with airlines for the sale of idle space on aircraft, with government intermediation. França says he finds it difficult for an airline not to accept. The program can generate the sale of up to 15 million tickets per year for R$ 200.00 each, according to calculations by the folder.

The minister stated that the plan is in place, but still needs to be evaluated by the government. According to him, President Lula asked for more passengers and airports in the country, with more flights by airliners.