TAM heir wants public plan for regional aviation – 25/11/2023 – Panel SA

Marcos Amaro has always liked airplanes. Son of Commander Rolim, founder of TAM (today Latam), he saw his father’s company stop being a regional company and become a national giant. Visual artist, collector, gallerist and entrepreneur, he, to a certain extent, is now following in his father’s footsteps: he wants to turn his Amaro Aviation, focused on executive aviation, into a regional airline. For this, the government targets.

Did being an heir help you become successful?
I am the youngest son and I have a history of entrepreneurship since my father passed away. It would have been easier if I worked in his company, like other heirs do, but I had to make it on my own.

You operate in executive aviation and Congonhas wants to impose restrictions. That annoys me?
This is a concern. The airport was privatized and what we see with the new concessionaire is a decreasing participation of executive aviation. Congonhas is also the executive aviation airport. There is no alternative. Today, Campo de Marte [em São Paulo] does not yet deliver instrument flights. Catarina, despite being an exceptional airport, is not in São Paulo.

Are you thinking about migrating to regional aviation?
Yes. Unfortunately, today, airlines are balanced, but regional aviation is not an issue for them. Except for the economic benefit they have from ICMS [que barateia o combustível].

Azul advertises itself as regional.
But, at some point, it has to define itself, whether it is a national or regional company. What cannot happen is for a company to become hybrid and enjoy all the benefits.

Why not?
To exist, regional aviation needs a public policy, subsidy. The government needs to buy seats for flights to the North region, for example, or adopt a fare supplement model, using the National Aviation Fund. Another way would be a hybrid model, as in India, combining incentives from the municipality, state and federation. This could be another way to cross incentives. I’m going to Brasília to try to convince the government to have a national plan.

It’s not possible to run a regional business today, then?
Regional aviation is not profitable. The country has 5,500 municipalities, more than 1,000 airports, but only 200 municipalities served by commercial aviation.

X-RAY

Training: incomplete degree in Administration from FAAP
Career: Partner and advisor at TAM Aviação Executiva (2002-2004); TAG Heuer representative (2004-2008); Owner of Óticas Carol (2008-2013); Shareholder of Logbras (since 2014); CEO of Amaro Aviation (since 2022)

With Paulo Ricardo Martins

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