The debate on the possible revision in the Santos Dumont airport concession notice is not restricted to Rio de Janeiro. Now, the discussion is also starting to generate reflexes in São Paulo.
A sign of this is that the concessionaire GRU Airport, which manages the international airport of São Paulo, in Guarulhos (SP), asked to participate in the working group that evaluates possible adjustments in the public notice for the carioca terminal.
The concessionaire, controlled by Invepar, reports concerns about possible changes in the Santos Dumont project and fears a possible protection for the Galeão international airport, also located in Rio.
The working group, which involves representatives of the federal government and the state government of Rio de Janeiro, began operating this Wednesday (19), according to the Ministry of Infrastructure. The activities must extend until February 18.
The creation of the group came after pressure from political and business leaders in Rio, who were unhappy with the design of the Santos Dumont concession.
They understand that the possibility of expanding flights at the airport, initially celebrated by the federal government, may jeopardize Galeão’s operations.
Therefore, there is a charge in Rio for the adoption of restrictions on the Santos Dumont concession, in an attempt to avoid losses to Galeão, which was planned to receive large aircraft and plays a relevant role in cargo logistics in the state.
GRU Airport, however, fears that the revision in the public notice could open the door to “forced growth” in Galeão flights. Rio de Janeiro’s airport is one of Guarulhos’ competitors for international routes.
” The discussion that will be carried out with a focus on the airports of Rio de Janeiro has a national impact, with direct effects on competition between airports and on the dispute between national and international flights. competition between the airports involved in the study and the international airport of São Paulo”, reports the concessionaire.
Guarulhos can still see increased competition in São Paulo. It’s just that, like Santos Dumont, the Congonhas terminal should also go up for auction in the seventh round of concessions for airports by the federal government, scheduled for this year. Analysts point to Congonhas and Santos Dumont as the crown jewels in the dispute.
“The concessionaire understands that competition between airports, whether in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, or in any other state or region, must follow market and free competition rules. creation of a restriction at Santos Dumont airport without corresponding adjustment in Congonhas”, says GRU Airport.
“In this case, in the coming years, we will have a forced growth in flights at Galeão airport, directly related to the artificially created restriction, and a reduction in flights at São Paulo international airport due to the increase in flights in Congonhas”, he adds.
consulted by leaf, the RIOgaleão concessionaire avoided commenting on the topic.
“RIOgaleão, as a public service concessionaire, prefers not to comment on the process of the seventh round of airport concessions”, said the company.
Differences between governments
Over the last few months, the Santos Dumont concession notice provoked disagreements and put the federal government and politicians in Rio on opposite sides.
Earlier this month, Governor Cláudio Castro (PL), an ally of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), threatened to go to court against the project. The mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes (PSD), spoke of the need for an investigation by the TCU (Union Court of Auditors) and the Public Ministry.
Politicians and businessmen from Rio de Janeiro believe that Santos Dumont has the potential to attract domestic flights, but suffers from geographical limitations to receive larger planes, used on international routes. The terminal is located in downtown Rio, about 20 kilometers from Galeão, located on Ilha do Governador.
Under pressure, the federal government agreed to open a working group to discuss the possible impacts of the Santos Dumont concession.
The creation of the group was announced last week. There are five names nominated by the federal government and another five suggested by the Rio de Janeiro government.
According to an ordinance published in the Official Gazette this Wednesday, the group may admit —provided there is agreement among the members— the technical support of representatives of academia, private institutions, bodies and entities of the federal or state public administration, as well as of specialists in civil aviation and airport infrastructure.
“The federal government values dialogue and understanding between all parties to reach the best possible result,” he told leaf the Ministry of Infrastructure.
In a statement released jointly last week, the ministry and the state government of Rio stated that the group’s intention is to “improve” the Santos Dumont concession model.
“The common objective is to establish an agreement for a joint technical solution that guarantees the balance of the state’s multi-airport system, so that Santos Dumont and Galeão airports operate in a coordinated way”, says an excerpt from the note.
Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency) approved in December the drafts of the public notice for the seventh round of airport concessions. The process went on for analysis by the TCU.
The 16 terminals in dispute must be awarded in three regional blocks. The Rio and Minas Gerais group involves, in addition to Santos Dumont, the airports of Jacarepaguá (RJ), Montes Claros (MG), Uberlândia (MG) and Uberaba (MG).
Congonhas is part of the block that also includes the terminals of Campo de Marte (SP), Campo Grande (MS), Corumbá (MS), Ponta Porã (MS), Santarém (PA), Marabá (PA), Parauapebas (PA) and Altamira (PA).
This Wednesday, the Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio de Freitas, reaffirmed the federal government’s objective of holding the auction in 2022, the year marked by the presidential elections.
“We are going to hold the seventh round of airport auctions this year, including Congonhas and Santos Dumont”, commented the minister at a conference on infrastructure promoted by the risk rating agency Fitch.
with Reuters
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