Program that offers air tickets for R$ 200 may come to fruition in February

The “Voa Brasil” program, which intends to offer tickets for R$200 each way, could start to come to fruition in February. According to “O Globo”, in the coming days, the Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, will meet with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to present the program. Initially it should be valid for retirees and pensioners who have not flown in the last 12 months and students enrolled in ProUni.

The minister negotiated with the three main airlines – Azul, Gol and Latam -, which together have a 99.5% market share, around 6 million airline tickets for this year. The price will be fixed for any city, but in the initial period not all destinations in Brazil will be included.

The government’s initial expectation was to have launched the program in August. One of the reasons for the postponement was a request from President Lula, who wanted to include other advantages for the tourism sector. There was also a change of minister during this period of time.

Experts consulted by People’s Gazette point out that the program involves risks: increased prices for other passengers, to pay for the reduction of part of the tickets; the discouragement of competition and efficiency and the creation of a “dangerously close” relationship between the government and large companies.

An alternative to face increases in air ticket prices, which accumulated an increase of 36.45% in the 12 months ending in November, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), was launched in December. Aviation companies announced a plan to offer 25 million airline tickets for prices between R$699 and R$799.