The Minister of Ports and Airports, Silvio Costa Filho, said that a new Voa Brasil will be launched soon after the first version of the program gave the impression that there would be air tickets for R$200 for the entire population.
In an interview with TV Cultura, Costa Filho said that tickets of this value for all Brazilians would be “insane”. The program had been presented last year by his predecessor in office, Márcio França, current minister of Entrepreneurship.
“You know there’s a Bahian of ours, Nizan Guanaes, who says: ‘The important thing isn’t just what you say, it’s what people understand’. And, at that moment, the way it was conveyed in sectors of the press and sectors of Brazilian society, due to social networks, the Brazilian people thought that the ticket would be R$ 200. It would be insane for us to design a program of this nature”, he stated the minister.
Costa Filho intends to make clearer the public that will be served by Voa Brasil. Initially, they will be 21 million retirees with income of up to two minimum wages e 700,000 students on the Single Portal for Access to Higher Education, Prouni.
According to the minister, it is planned to issue five million tickets, without using public money. The cost will also be R$200.
According to Costa Filho, the development of the program that offers air tickets at affordable prices has undergone changes and it could be launched by the end of this month, depending on the agenda of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
Beneficiaries will be able to buy tickets throughout the year, says minister
As the minister explained when questioned during the interview, Voa Brasil beneficiaries will be able to purchase tickets throughout the year. Costa Filho highlighted, however, that there may be fewer tickets available during high season months.
“Naturally, during high season, there will always be fewer flights available. This is a program to stimulate the low season in Brazil, especially regional tourism. We are looking, alongside minister Celso Sabino [do Turismo] and other ministers, stimulate tourism in Brazil”, added Costa Filho.
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