The International Air Transport Association (IATA) voiced its grave concern regarding the CONAC-MPOR Resolution issued on 10 August 2023. If implemented as announced, this resolution will restrict scheduled commercial flights at Rio de Janeiro’s Santos Dumont Airport (SDU) to domestic destinations within a 400-kilometer radius from 2 January 2024.
By limiting the offer to and from SDU, the resolution will above all curtail customer choice and will have a detrimental effect on the entire aviation value chain and connectivity of the Rio de Janeiro catchment area. Approximately 60% of the scheduled flights at SDU are to destinations other than São PauloCongonhas and Brasília (which will continue to be served under the new resolution) and are unlikely to be transferred in full to Rio de Janeiro’s Galeao airport.
Implementing flight restrictions at SDU also contravenes international rules, thereby undermining the country’s judicial credibility, an essential pillar in attracting foreign investment, as well as setting a bad precedent of restrictions for the country and the region.
Moreover, the measure reduces the attractiveness of the Brazilian market, damaging the business environment in the country due to the uncertainties and lack of predictability, essential for the proper functioning of the global and complex aviation system.
«A passenger’s right to choose where to fly to should not be limited by authorities defining which destinations may be served from an airport. A prosperous aviation sector is based on market dynamics, so the decision on which destinations to serve from Santos Dumont should be left to the airlines, taking into consideration the operational context of the airport and market demand,» said Peter Cerda, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas.
IATA respectfully requests the Government of Brazil to reconsider the Resolution, thereby avoiding negative effects on the international and domestic air connectivity of Rio de Janeiro.
