The three main airlines operating in Brazil (Latam, Gol and Azul) have been flying in August nearly at 40% of pre-pandemic levels. Data comes from a survey carried out by Ricardo Fenelon, former director of the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) and president of the Brazilian Institute Aeronautical Law (Ibaer), reports Valor Econômico.

It shows a recovery from a sector that has been severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the coronavirus, these airlines had been flying around 2,000 daily flights. In April, that number dropped to 145 flights. Then, it gradually increased: 235 operations on a daily basis in May, 348 in June, 598 in July, and now, 797, in August.

At the end of the year, he forecasts that rates will reach 70% to 80% of domestic flights in operation before social isolation measures. He also recalls that, in recent weeks, several companies have announced the resumption of domestic and international flights.

American Airlines reactivated the São Paulo-Miami flights and Emirates resumed the São Paulo-Dubai route. United returned to operate on the São Paulo-New York route. In the coming weeks, companies like Copa Airlines have already announced they will resume operations as well.