‘Voa, Brasil’ will issue nearly 12 million tickets per year at US$38

The Brazilian Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França, announced this weekend that the Federal Government would launch the program ‘Voa, Brasil’ (Fly, Brazil) for airfare reduction in the country.

The goal is to democratize access to airplane tickets, with an estimated cost of R$200 (US$38) per route flown.

The program will benefit public servants in the three levels of government (municipal, state, and federal) with salaries up to R$6,800, retirees and pensioners from Social Security, and students from the Student Financing Fund (FIES), a program of the Ministry of Education.

“It was not fair to make this ticket for the executives who have the condition to pay higher prices”, points out the minister.

France guarantees that the fare will not be more expensive for other passengers because the cost of each route is calculated considering the number of seats per kilometer flown.

“The more seats per kilometer are filled, the cheaper the price has to be.”

According to the ministry, the intention is to sell these cheaper tickets outside the high season in two periods: from February to June and from August to November, when traditionally there is an average idleness of 21% in domestic flights.

“With this, we will end up cheapening all the tickets because, to the extent that there is no longer any idleness, the other tickets can also be cheaper,” projects the minister.

Participants can purchase up to two tickets annually, with one companion on each leg.

The tickets must be paid in up to 12 installments with interest, up to R$72 for each installment.

França clarifies that the federal government will not provide a subsidy.

“It will come with the organization”.

Sales will be made on the airlines’ websites, which must display the option ‘Voa, Brasil.’

The interested parties who fit the criteria to participate in the program can make the purchase, which will be intermediated by Caixa Econômica and Banco do Brasil.

The Brazilian Association of Airlines (Abear) says it follows the government’s proposal and has made itself available to contribute to the debate.

“Since the beginning of the year, Abear and its members have maintained constant dialogue with the Ministry of Ports and Airports about the airline industry scenario and possible solutions for the growth in the number of passengers and destinations served.”

The minister forecasts that ‘Voa, Brasil’ will start operating in this year’s second half.

“Tickets are costly today. The fares have to be lowered,” concluded the minister.

With information from Agência Brasil

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error