Brazilian airlines resume in-flight service

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Starting next Sunday, May 22, Brazilian airlines will be able to resume traditional in-flight services during flights. Since December 2020, food on domestic trips has been suspended by the determination of Anvisa (Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency) due to the covid-19 pandemic. Until now, airlines could serve only water during flights – and at customers’ request.

Gol announced that, as of June 22, flights departing from Congonhas and Guarulhos airports would have this service available. On June 1, customers boarding flights from Brasília and Rio de Janeiro will have the service. And as of June 16, 100% of the company’s flights will have food onboard.

According to Latam, those who travel with the company will be entitled to sweet and savory snacks and beverages as of June 1. According to Azul, all customers traveling with the company will have access to the onboard service from May 22.

Other measures such as masks and disembarkation by rows still stand. However, the return of in-flight service is, in fact, a symbol of the recovery of the sector as a whole.

According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the demand for domestic flights in Brazil has already reached 90% of the pre-pandemic level. It has already been reflected in the results of airlines, which, after two years of free fall, are growing again.

For example, Azul’s revenue in the first quarter of this year grew 74.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Revenue was 25.6% higher than in the first quarter of 2019, before covid-19.

Gol, in turn, also had reasons to celebrate in the first quarter, reversing the loss and recording a net profit of R$2.6 billion (US$529 million) in the period.

With information from Exame