The FAA, the body that regulates civil aviation in the USA, ordered this Friday (13) the suspension of takeoffs at all airports in the country — only landings are permitted.
Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency) updated the rules on flight delays and cancellations in September. The main change is that the passenger must be informed, at the time of purchase, of the possibility of changes to the flight due to weather conditions, safety requirements and other factors.
However, even in the event of force majeure (such as airport closure, storms or authority determination), the regulatory body provides that the airline must provide assistance to the passenger.
The type of support depends on how long the flight is postponed. After two hours of delay, the company must offer food, through credit, meal or equivalent solution. After four hours, when it is necessary to stay overnight, the company will have to provide accommodation and transportation to and from the accommodation location.
Anac clarified, in updating the rules, that, in cases of events with widespread impacts, the regulatory body may establish, by reasoned decision and for a determined period, temporary forms of compliance with material assistance. These measures, however, do not exclude the duty to serve passengers, according to the agency.
In exceptional situations, the airline may fulfill these obligations by reimbursing expenses related to food, transportation and accommodation.
This situation is only permitted by the agency when there are limitations in the airport infrastructure, lack of local suppliers or other unpredictable emergency situation. Reimbursement is made within seven days, upon proof of expenses by the passenger.
In a note released this Friday, Anac said it is monitoring flights between Brazil and the United States. In the case of flights departing from Brazilian airports, the agency recommends passengers to contact the airlines to check the flight status or any changes.
The agency also states that passenger reaccommodation is free and must occur, on your own flight or on another airline, at the first opportunity, that is, on a new flight whose date and time are closer to the delayed, canceled or interrupted flight.
If this alternative is not convenient for the passenger, they can choose another flight, at a date and time of their convenience, but only with the airline itself and within the remaining validity period of the ticket.
The interruption of air traffic could affect flights connecting the country to Brazil. Airlines such as Gol, Azul, Latam, United Airlines and American Airlines offer routes between the two destinations.
When contacted by Folha, Azul said that there is currently one company flight (AD9301 Campinas-Orlando) en route to the United States, which continues normally, with a scheduled landing at 7pm local time (9pm Brasília time), two other flights departing from American cities (AD8707 Orlando-Campinas and AD9302 Orlando-Confins) and one departing from Campinas to Fort Lauderdale (AD8704).
The company says it will provide the necessary assistance to customers, as per Anac's resolution. "Azul is closely monitoring the suspension of airspace in the United States, a fact beyond its control, and awaits new guidance from the American authorities on the matter," he wrote in a note.
Gol states that it has two flights scheduled for this evening from the United States. Flight G3 7635, between Orlando and Brasília, is scheduled to take off at 9 pm local time (11 pm Brasília time) and flight G3 7749, between Miami and Brasília, is scheduled for 9:35 pm local time (11:35 pm Brasília time).
"All future actions in relation to these two flights will follow Gol's commitment to Safety, its number 1 value," the company wrote in a note.
Latam did not respond to Folha until the publication of this report.
American Airlines told the reporter that flights that are already in the air can continue to their destinations.
"We anticipate impacts on our airline network for the remainder of the day, depending on the duration of this national shutdown determined by the FAA. The entire American team will be fully mobilized so that our customers can continue their journey as quickly as possible as soon as the FAA allows takeoffs."
United Airlines wrote, in a note, that the airline's flights that are already in the air will continue their route. "New domestic flights will not take off while the FAA-mandated suspension is in effect."
As of 7 pm (Brasília time), almost 8,000 flights in the US had already been delayed or canceled, according to data from flight monitoring platform FlightAware. There is no forecast of normalization of air flow.
