After it was confirmed that there is no date for the reopening of the Salgado Filho International Airport in Porto Alegre, still partially under water due to the unprecedented heavy rains that have hit the State of Rio Grande do Sul since April 29, local airlines have announced the start of services to the nearby Canoas Air Force Base, Agencia Brasil reported. Latam Airlines intends to start temporary operations on May 27 while Azul and Gol plan to begin their operations on June 1. The use of the Canoas Air Force Base in the Porto Alegre metropolitan area has been authorized by the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
Fraport Brasil, the company managing Porto Alegre's airport, said it was still finalizing details regarding the infrastructure and safety of flights. Check-ins and other normal airport terminal operations are to be performed at a facility 3 kilometers away from the base, from and to where passengers will be carried in a bus shuttle. The ParkShopping Canoas structure will be part of this operation, where Fraport will receive passengers for security and boarding procedures before they travel by land to the Canoas Air Base, Fraport Brasil said on its website.
For landing and take-off times, routes, and other information, travelers should check with their respective airlines, Fraport also said. As of next Monday Latam will offer 12 weekly flights between Canoas and São Paulo, one daily to the Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and another to Congonhas Air.
