The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) approved the expansion of landing and takeoff operations at Congonhas Airport after 11pm in exceptional situations, such as weather events and significant operational problems. The decision allows takeoff and landing of previously scheduled flights during "systemic contingency" situations.
The request analyzed by the Agency's board was made by the Brazilian Association of Airline Companies (Abear), which represents companies such as Gol, Latam, and Azul. Abear had been requesting this expansion for years at the airport terminal, based on the interpretation of a 2008 resolution. The regulations determine that the terminal operates between 6am and 11pm.
In the request, Abear cites episodes in which the terminal's operating hours were expanded to reduce impacts on passengers. One of them was last December, when strong winds caused the cancellation of 571 flights, with more than 97 thousand passengers affected.
