On Friday (26), the Foreign Ministry confirmed another repatriation flight between Portugal and Brazil – despite the suspension of air links.
Operated by the airline Azul, the flight is expected to leave Brazil next Tuesday (29), from Viracopos airport in Campinas, bound for Lisbon, and return there the next day (30). Tickets are already sold out, according to the company’s advice.
Since the borders were closed, hundreds of Brazilians have reported difficulty staying in the European country. Most of those affected were immigrants who were unemployed due to the pandemic and who had already purchased tickets to return to Brazil. Without jobs, many already resort to the help of NGOs and religious entities even for food.
Like the four trips already made during the restrictions imposed by the health crisis, next week’s flight is seen as extraordinary publicity that the airlines are responsible for selling seats.
On Thursday (25), the Portuguese Parliament approved the extension of the state of emergency for another 15 days, until mid-April. After experiencing its worst pandemic epidemic in January, the country has eased its measures since January 15, gradually reopening bookstores, nurseries, primary schools and hairdressers.
On Thursday evening (25), the Argentine government announced that flights to and from Brazil would be suspended from Saturday (27).
Target of suspensions, Brazil is experiencing the worst moment of the pandemic with a sharp increase in infections and is one of the countries with the most barriers to entry abroad.