The Government of Rio Grande do Norte has been following closely the developments for the rebidding of the International Airport of São Gonçalo do Amarante. The situation at the air terminal was one of the topics discussed by Governor Fátima Bezerra in an audience with the Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Freitas, on Wednesday (27).
Fátima expressed concern about compliance with the timetable for terminating the current contract and entering into a new negotiation agreement.
“São Gonçalo do Amarante airport is fundamental for us because of what it represents for tourism and the general economic development of the state”, emphasized the governor.
In March 2020, the operator Inframérica communicated the return of the airport istration. Even claiming losses, the company recognizes the efforts of the State Government to increase the flow of flights and consequent increase in tourist activity.
In June of this year, the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) approved the draft notice and the concession contract for the re-bidding of the airport. Upon return by the concessionaire, the terminal will again be auctioned to the private sector.
For this, the Union needs to make a reckoning with the operator Inframérica. The process is awaiting a definition by the Federal Court of s (TCU) on the amount of compensation.
The state government has acted to offer competitiveness to air transport. In June 2019, it established new rules for reducing the collection of taxes on aviation kerosene (QAV).
Each reduction range requires a specific counterpart, such as increasing a national or regional flight to cities in Rio Grande do Norte; maintain a weekly regular and direct international flight; increase the total number of flights by 15%; increase flights by 30% and 50%.
To be entitled to the 0% rate, the airline must fly a regular international flight every week within a period of 12 months; perform 30 international flights; and expand domestic flights by 50%. In all cases, the number of seats must be equivalent to the number of flights and chartered flights do not count as an increment.
Also in 2019, Gol increased from 512 to 608 flights in RN with the entry of new regular and seasonal frequencies to Rio de Janeiro-RJ, São Paulo-SP, Brasília-DF and Goiânia-GO.
With the pandemic, companies have reduced flights, but are already promoting the resumption of operations. The newest Brazilian airline, Itapemirim Transportes Aéreos, debuted in August 2020 regular flights from Natal to São Paulo.
In July, Latam Airlines had announced a 60% increase in flights to Natal during the high season, with daily frequencies of four flights from Guarulhos, one from Congonhas, two arrivals from Brasília and two flights from Rio de Janeiro.
In September, it was Azul Linhas Aéreas' turn to announce a significant increase in the offer of flights to Rio Grande do Norte. In January 2022 there will be 58% more seats than in January 2019 (before the health crisis). Comparing October 2021 seats with those available in 2019, the difference is 86% more.
