'Gol and Azul have already agreed', says Márcio França about the airfare program for R$ 200.
Gol and Azul say they view the initiative favorably and are available to contribute to the government; the program's announcement caused friction within the Lula administration.
InfoMoney - The Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França (PSB), stated this Wednesday (15) that the airlines Gol and Azul “have already agreed” to participate in the program “Voa, Brasil”, which will offer airline tickets for R$ 200 For FIES students, INSS retirees and pensioners, and municipal, state, and federal employees who earn up to R$ 6,8.
“They [Gol and Azul] are shaping up ideas on how they will propose this. At least two have already agreed, and I'm sure Latam will agree as well,” said França, according to the news website. UOLThe statement was given a day after the minister was publicly reprimanded by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), his boss (see more below).
When contacted, Gol and Azul said they view the initiative favorably and are available to contribute to the government. Azul stated in a note that it is already in contact with the Ministry of Ports and Airports and willing to collaborate on the project.
Gol Airlines has stated that it will participate in a working group to delve deeper into the topic in the coming months and "is always available to contribute to the government in making viable a project that further expands the population's access to air transport."
Friction in the government
The program was detailed by França on Monday, but the announcement caused friction within the government, and the minister was overruled the following day by Lula. The president stated in a ministerial meeting on Tuesday that No minister should announce any public policy before reaching a prior agreement with the Chief of Staff., led by Rui Costa (PT).
Lula stated, at the opening of the meeting with ministers at the Planalto Palace, that proposals for ministries need to be converted into government proposals before being made public. He also said that his administration cannot risk announcing something that will not happen.
"It is important that no minister publicly announces any public policy without it having been agreed upon with the Chief of Staff, who is the body that ensures the proposal is a government proposal," Lula stated. "We don't want proposals from ministers. All ministerial proposals must be transformed into government proposals, and they will only become government proposals when everyone knows what will be decided."
According to França, those benefiting from the program will be able to purchase two tickets per year for R$ 200 each, with the right to bring a companion, and pay the amount in 12 installments, with financing from Caixa Econômica Federal (which will be responsible for paying the airlines).
It is projected that nearly 12 million tickets will be issued annually within Voa, Brasil.
The R$200 fares will be restricted to off-peak periods, which have lower demand: from the second half of February to June and between August and November. The minister said the program could start as early as the second half of the year, with 5% of aircraft capacity remaining unused, and that the percentage will increase by 5 percentage points per semester, until it reaches 20% in the second half of 2024.
The minister also stated that, in addition to the program's target audience, other people with incomes up to R$ 6,8 will also be able to participate in "Voa, Brasil," but will not have the option of paying for the ticket in installments. "The tickets are very expensive today. Ticket prices have to come down."
See below the companies' positions regarding the minister's statement:
Blue: Azul welcomes the initiative presented to encourage retirees, students, and public employees to use air travel. The company is already in contact with the Ministry of Ports and Airports and is willing to collaborate on the project.
Goal: GOL, a company founded with the purpose of democratizing aviation in Brazil, is always available to contribute to the Government in making viable a project that further expands the population's access to air transport. Therefore, it will participate with ABEAR and the Civil Aviation Secretariat in a working group to delve deeper into the topic in the coming months.
The aviation sector is recovering from the biggest crisis in history, and public policies aimed at the growth and development of tourism are very welcome.