Temer Cuts Investment Program Planned to Expand Regional Airports

08/24/2016 - 11h22

The government of interim President Michel Temer, decided to drastically cut the federal investment program in regional aviation launched by suspended President Dilma Rousseff, reducing from 270 to 53 the number of airports that will undergo expansion works from next year

"We concluded that it would not be necessary 270 airports to start a realistic program that meet the needs of the States, the demand and the businesses," told Maurício Quintella Lessa, minister of Transport, Civil Aviation and Ports, to Folha.

The regional aviation development plan was launched in late 2012 by the Workers' Party (PT) government. President Dilma Rousseff assessed the possibility of making investments in about 800 small and medium-sized airports, but eventually cut the initial list to 270 units.

The estimated investment in the period was R$ 7.3 billion (US$ 2.30 billion), but almost nothing was made in these four years. According to Quintella, the new list is "much more realistic" and suitable to the financial situation of the federal government.

It will be necessary R$ 2.4 billion (US$ 750 million) for the planned investments in 53 airports by 2020. Quintella says he so far secured half of that money, which will represent an annual disbursement of R$ 300 million (US$ 94 million).

In addition to the 53 airports, the government will have a list of another 123 units that will receive investments as the economic situation improves or if the States take in the projects.

Translated by MARINA DELLA VALLE

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