Argentina’s low-cost carrier Flybondi is setting sights on Brazil‘s untapped domestic air travel market. The airline’s CEO, Mauricio Sana, views the country’s extensive territory and low annual travel rate (0.4 trips per resident) as an opportunity to revolutionize air travel with affordable flight options.
Sana mentioned the airline’s fleet expansion as a crucial phase towards their Brazilian invasion. “We hope to bring good news to Brazilians soon,” Sana told Agência INFRA.
Since Brazil eased foreign investment restrictions in domestic airlines in 2019, Flybondi has consistently shown interest in entering the market. As per Agência INFRA, the airline has persistently held dialogues with the Brazilian government to facilitate its expansion.
Sana supports the Brazilian aviation policy, which encourages more passengers to fly. This aligns with Flybondi’s achievements in the Argentine market, transporting 7 million passengers since 2018, with 4 million new fliers added into their system. He also appreciated the efforts by Brazil’s Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) towards regulatory simplification.
Sana voiced concerns over the “excessive regulation of commercial issues” like baggage fees in Brazil. Despite this, he emphasized the benefits of the à la carte sales model that allows passengers to pay only for required services, making fares transparent and competitive. Sana maintained that these debates won’t deter Flybondi’s Brazilian expansion.
He further expressed worry about consumer protection laws that could jeopardize airlines’ financial stability, high tax loads, airport fees, and fuel costs. However, he appreciates the Brazilian government’s efforts to reduce aviation fuel prices.
The carrier sustains regular flights from Argentina to both Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, while also providing seasonal flights to other destinations, including Florianopolis. However, the company’s expansion plans for additional routes to Brazil have been stifled due to complexities associated with foreign currency exchange procedures.
This complication resulted in lessors requiring a portion of its fleet to be grounded due to temporary lease fee defaults. Although this issue has been resolved, the company continues to face challenges due to the persistent bureaucracy involved in the procedure.
Sana believes that low-cost carriers can reshape Brazil’s tourism, mirroring the situation in Argentina. Flybondi states that it has managed to disrupt tourism seasonality and boost the passenger base throughout the year, having a positive impact on economies by generating jobs and fostering infrastructure development. “We believe we can create a similar impact in Brazil,” he concluded.
