The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) has authorized Congonhas Airport, located in the South Zone of São Paulo in a predominantly residential area, to operate after 11pm in exceptional situations. The new interpretation of the aerodrome's rules allows already scheduled flights to be completed after the time limit when there are extraordinary circumstances, such as failures, network problems, or adverse weather conditions that cause major impacts on operations.
The normal operating hours for Congonhas continue to be from 6am to 11pm, and the measure does not authorize airline companies to create new flights or sell tickets for operations after this time. The intention is only to allow the completion of already scheduled flights when unpredictable circumstances hinder normal operations.
The main objective of the decision is to avoid a cascade effect, which occurs when Congonhas stops or experiences major delays, spreading the problems to other airports in the country. According to Aena, the company that manages the airport, there is no intention to extend the regular operating hours of the aerodrome.
