RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The “Ponte Aérea” (Air Bridge) was launched sixty years ago. At the time, the Brazilian airlines agreed to offer frequent flights between the two city airports of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Since its inauguration on July 5th, 1959, the Air Bridge has become the fourth busiest domestic route in the world. There is a flight in each direction every 15 minutes.
Until recently, Latam, Gol, and Avianca Brasil shared the market between them. However, Brazil’s third-largest airline suspended its operations in May and has recently been declared bankrupt by the courts.
And now, the fiercely contested decision has also been made as to who will get its coveted 41 slots (times for take-off and landing) at the São Paulo Congonhas city airport.
Fleets with turboprops
The Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) has increased competition. It has allocated all slots to airlines that had not yet been allowed to operate in the Air Bridge.
The third-largest airline in the country, Azul, was awarded fifteen slots, Passaredo fourteen, and Map Linhas Areas twelve.
The two smaller operators now have until August 9th to demonstrate that they will be able to comply with all requirements for flights between São Paulo Congonhas and Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont.
Map Linhas Areas (formerly Manaus Aerotaxi Participações), founded in 2011, currently owns a fleet of five ATR 42 and 72 aircraft.
Passaredo, founded in 1995, owns five ATR 72 aircraft.