No-frills Norwegian Air flies into Brazil’s red tape

Welcome to Brazil and fasten your seat belt, Norwegian Air. The European carrier has won approval from the Brazilian government to begin flying in the country, expanding its network of discount trans-Atlantic flights to South America. But the airline will face mounting regulation that could work against its no-frills model. Brazil’s Senate approved a bill Aug. 8 prohibiting airlines from charging passengers to choose seats. And a big win for carriers in 2016 -- the ability to charge for luggage -- is at risk of being reversed as opponents protest the fees as excessive. Norwegian Air is proceeding with caution. “In order to enter a new market -- and consequently creating new jobs and boosting economic value -- for Norwegian it is crucial to be able to operate as a modern airline, not as an airline from the past,” said a spokesman for Norwegian Air Shuttle. Bringing newfangled financial ways to Brazil is no easy task for carriers. While some global airlines rack up as much as 40% of sales with ancillary fees for items like baggage or priority seating, in Brazil they’ve struggled to get permission to levy those extra charges. <br/>