Porto Alegre Airport in Brazil to Resume Operations After Major Floods

SAO PAULO – Operations at Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre, one of Brazil’s busiest airports, are set to resume in October following significant disruptions caused by unprecedented floods in May.

The airport, managed by Fraport, experienced severe flooding as heavy rain fell over Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil and home to Porto Alegre, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 180 lives.

Due to the damage to runways and terminals, flights to and from Salgado Filho were temporarily halted. Although the government permitted airlines to operate from the nearby Canoas Air Force Base, it was under less favorable conditions due to insufficient infrastructure.

Late on Thursday, the government announced that operations at Salgado Filho would restart on October 21, with an initial schedule of 128 daily flights. Airlines were authorized to begin ticket sales for flights to and from Porto Alegre starting the following day.

Full operational capacity for the airport is anticipated to be achieved by December 16, according to government statements.

Ports and Airports Minister Silvio Costa Filho indicated that the airport would facilitate over 3,000 flights per month, which is expected to significantly boost the state’s economic recovery.

Azul, one of Brazil’s largest airlines, announced it would offer the most flight slots upon the resumption of operations, planning to run up to 60 flights per day. The airline has started selling tickets for routes connecting Porto Alegre to cities like Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte.

Azul’s planning head, Andre Mercadante, noted that the airline would provide over 57,000 seats weekly, equating to 78% of its pre-flood operations, with plans to discontinue flights to the Canoas Air Base.

Local airlines have yet to release detailed assessments of the financial repercussions stemming from the floods. Azul, set to reveal its second-quarter results next week, previously indicated that the affected state accounted for approximately 10% of its network. Meanwhile, LATAM Airlines reported earlier this week that the floods had impacted its operating income by $25 million in the same quarter.