Reuters AlertNet Lite - Shortage of airplanes adds to Brazil travel woes

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Shortage of airplanes adds to Brazil travel woes

22 Dec 2006 16:13:15 GMT
Source: Reuters

SAO PAULO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Brazil's government ordered the country's largest airline to stop selling tickets for flights leaving on Friday after it unexpectedly grounded six planes for maintenance, causing travel chaos days before Christmas.

The emergency repair work by TAM Linhas Aereas <TAMM4.SA><TAM.N> left it unable to honor all tickets it had sold. TAM tried to get passengers onto planes flown by other carriers, but there were too few seats to go around. Tropical storms added to delays and cancellations.

Over 100 frustrated fliers were stranded in airports for up to 24 hours.

The government's civil aviation agency, which has been criticized since the country's worst air crash in September, prohibited TAM from selling any additional tickets for Friday flights until all stranded passengers boarded planes for their destinations.

"This measure was taken because customer service was not improved after persistent delays," the agency said.

TAM said it would comply with the order.

Nearly 40 percent of all flights were delayed, drawing complaints from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"If the government is at fault ... if the company is at fault, say it. The people have the right to swear at the right person," he told reporters.

The folksy president said authorities had not always told the truth about the recent crisis. "I want the truth. It wasn't always there," he said.

Air travel in Latin America's largest country fell into disarray in September after a business jet and a Boeing 737 flown by Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes <GOLL4.SA><GOL.N> crossed paths at 37,000 feet. The business jet landed safely but the Gol lost part of a wing and crashed into the Amazon rainforest, killing all 154 people on board.

Air traffic controllers on duty at the time of the disaster were suspended as the government launched an investigation. That action and a lack of reserve controllers snarled the travel system.

Controllers then staged work slowdowns to protest poor pay and excessive workloads. They also said they were unfairly being blamed for the disaster.

The government's radar systems over the Amazon have also been scrutinized. Officials have dismissed statements by some pilots that gaps and communication flaws could have contributed to the crash.

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Last updated:Fri Dec 22 16:14:27 2006