The management of Salgado Filho Airport, in Porto Alegre, suspended landings and takeoffs at the location for an indefinite period of time on Friday night (3).
According to Fraport Brasil, the concessionaire that manages the airport, the decision was taken due to the high volume of rain that has hit Rio Grande do Sul in recent days and to guarantee the safety of employees and passengers.
“Passengers are asked to contact their airline for more information about their flights,” the company said.
During the day, the airport operated on a contingency basis. According to the company, 15 flights, including arrivals and departures, had been canceled by airlines by 6:30 pm this Friday.
According to the Aeroin website, pilots reported that part of the taxiway was closed due to flooding. When questioned, the dealership did not confirm the information.
Porto Alegre is experiencing a chaotic day due to flooding caused by the historic flood of Lake Guaíba.
The lake surpassed the 4.5 meter mark at Cais Mauá in the morning. It is the highest level since 1941, the biggest flood in the city’s history, when Guaíba reached 4.76 meters. The alert level for the historic center region is 2.5 meters, with 3 meters for flooding.
In total, 39 people died as a result of the tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul, according to a report released late this Friday afternoon.
Other airports in the southern region of the country are also facing problems. According to Aena Brasil, the concessionaire that manages Congonhas airport, in the south of São Paulo, two flights to Caxias do Sul (RS), one to Porto Alegre, one to Florianópolis and one to Curitiba were cancelled.
The airline Latam said that all its flights leaving Porto Alegre or having the capital of Rio Grande do Sul as their destination, until 12pm this Saturday (4), are cancelled.
“The company’s operations in Caxias do Sul and Passo Fundo continue as normal, with the possibility of impacts due to the rain in the region”, says the company.
The company states that it is offering commercial flexibility for those who have flights until Sunday (5), which involve these locations. Date or flight changes, without fines or fare differences, can be made directly on the company’s website in the “My Trips” section.
Azul states that it has canceled all landings and takeoffs at Porto Alegre airport until 12pm on Sunday.
“Customers with flights scheduled during this period should pay attention to the communications that will be sent via email, SMS and WhatsApp, and which will also be available via the website and app”, says Azul.
“Other customers who choose to change their ticket will be able to make the request up to three days after the date of travel, according to availability. Or, even, request cancellation of the ticket via official service channels, leaving the amount in credit in company.”
Gol says it has canceled all its flights departing or arriving in the capital of Rio Grande do Sul until 11:59 pm on Sunday. “The decision was made due to the airport being impractical at the moment,” he says.
The company states that due to the situation, from last Wednesday (1st) until the 31st, customers who wish to reschedule their flights arriving or departing from Rio Grande do Sul airports (Porto Alegre, Caxias do Sul, Passo Fundo , Pelotas and Santo Ângelo) and in Santa Catarina, at Chapecó airport, will be able to leave the value of the ticket in credit, without paying the cancellation fee and exemption from the rescheduling fee.
