Porto Alegre military base to serve commercial flights after floods force civil airport’s closure

Brazil’s civil aviation regulator has granted authorisation for a Porto Alegre military air base to handle commercial flights, after flooding put the city’s international airport out of action for an indefinite period. Porto Alegre’s Salgado Filho airport was flooded after storms struck the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul at the end of April. Brazilian regulator ANAC says the military Canoas air base – about 6km north of Salgado Filho airport – has been granted approval to receive commercial passenger and cargo flights. Fraport Brasil, the concessionaire for Salgado Filho airport, will manage the civil operation at Canoas. ANAC states that Fraport Brasil must provide safe and adequate conditions for passengers, during departure and arrival, with such services as check-in, baggage-handling, and security inspection – all with the consideration of restrictions associated with a military facility. Fraport Brasil will also need to ensure sufficient information, such as fare structures, is given to passengers and that signage is placed to assist. Restrictions will be put in place, including a prohibition on contracting to third parties. Use of Canoas as an alternative is part of a Brazilian government emergency plan to address the flooding crisis. “Civil air operations at the air base will continue while operations at Salgado Filho international airport, in Porto Alegre, are suspended,” says ANAC in a 20 May resolution.<br/>