Domestic flights in Brazil up 29.9% in September

Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) announced on Wednesday that the country’s domestic flights increased 29.9 percent in September, compared to the same period last year.

The international flights also saw a year-on-year jump of 8.15 percent in September. The figures reflected the recovery of the Brazilian economy from the international financial crisis, and that Brazilians were traveling more despite the economic turmoil.

According to Anac, the average occupation rate in domestic flights rose to 66.4 percent from 61.2 percent in September 2008. On international flights, on the other hand, the average occupation rate fell to 73.8 percent from 75.6 percent in the same period last year.

The number of seats available on domestic flights increased 19.88 percent compared to September 2008, while the seats available on international flights were up 11.02 percent, Anac said.

Airliner TAM led the ranking among domestic flights in September, with 44.1 percent of the market share, down from 52.8 percent in the same period in 2008, followed by Airliner, with 41.8 percent, up from 39.8 percent in September 2008.