“Tickets at R$200 will not suit everyone”, says Lula’s minister

The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, reported this Monday (26) that the Voa Brasil program, which provides air tickets for up to R$200, is unable to offer the promotional value to all Brazilians.

“In Brazil, we would not be able to offer tickets for R$200 to everyone overnight,” he told journalists after an event held at B3, in São Paulo.

The first stage of the program will benefit 21 million people and will be aimed at retirees and pensioners who have not flown in the last 12 months and students enrolled in ProUni.

According to the minister, “Voa Brasil will be launched in March and will offer five million tickets in a partnership between the federal government and airlines.” Buying tickets for up to R$200 will only be valid during low season periods: between March and June and between August and November.

Costa Filho also announced that he is awaiting a contribution of between R$4 billion and R$6 billion, from the National Treasury, so that airlines can take out loans from BNDES. The credit line, according to the minister, could be used to purchase around 30 aircraft, including Gol, Azul and Latam.

The idea arose right at the beginning of the government, when the Minister of Ports and Airports was Márcio França (PSB). With the replacement, Sílvio Costa Filho (Republicans), the ministry maintained the routine of promises, but the program remains on paper.

Launches of the program were scheduled for August, September and, more recently, February. According to the ministry’s press office, the announcement of the program will be made on a new date to be defined after Carnival.

Costa Filho 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.