Doha: Questions have again been raised over Brazil’s readiness to handle more than 600,000 international passengers travelling to the Fifa World cup this summer.
South American airlines TAM and LAN are cautious on the month ahead as the world’s biggest sport event descends on Brazil.
“For air traffic control, it’s going to be a tough time,” said Marco Antonio Bologna, chief executive of Brazil’s TAM.
Bologna was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Doha on Monday. TAM estimates 50 million Brazilian Real (Dh81.9 million) in costs in order to be ready for the World Cup.
“It’s a huge impact in terms of cost because we need to reshape our network in terms of where the teams will play there is a cost in terms of what we need to prepare, extra crew, more aircraft in reserves, more contingences in general,” he said.
Enrique Cueto Plaza, chief executive of Chile-based LAN Airlines, also in Doha, said that improvements had been made at some but not all airports with the biggest challenge being that some games are being played in destinations that are only served by air transportation.
“Our main concern is how you deal with demand,” he said.
