Bolsonaro: Free luggage detrimental to small carriers

In a statement made today (Jun 18), President Jair Bolsonaro said he vetoed the excerpt of a preliminary injunction waiving the fees for luggage weighing up to 23 kg on domestic flights of 31+ seats as the change would harm small air companies. The veto was announced yesterday (17).

“Small companies said it would come as an obstacle. I did the calculations for a plane with 200 people—another 20 kilos for each. It’s more spending. I’ve always traveled with no luggage on the plane. I was paying for the others,” he declared at the Planalto presidential palace. After the veto, only hand luggage of up to ten kilos are free of charge.

The waiver had been included in an injunction brought forward under ex-President’s Michel Temer’s administration and authorizes up to 100 percent of foreign capital in air carriers. The injunction was approved by Congress and May.

When asked if the luggage fee would attract low-cost carriers to come to Brazil, the president said yes. “For low-cost carriers it’s going to be positive. It’s what they wanted so they could come help with competitiveness. They wanted this item vetoed.”