The text initially dealt with the exemption both within Brazil, which, according to Neto Carletto, accounts for practically 80% of the number of Brazilian aviation passengers, and for other countries
The federal deputy (Avante-BA) proposed, this Tuesday (28), that the ban on charging, by airlines, for the transport of hand luggage should only apply to domestic flights. According to the parliamentarian, the extension of free transport of hand luggage to the international market “could raise questions regarding compliance with bilateral agreements and the reduction in the offer of flights from low-cost companies that currently operate on relevant routes in South America, from Brazil”.
The proposal represents a retreat in relation to the text that was presented by deputy Da Vitória (PP-ES), in the wake of the announcement, by airlines about charging for the transport of hand luggage on international routes. The text initially dealt with free flights both on national flights – which, according to Carletto, account for practically 80% of the number of Brazilian aviation passengers – and to other countries.
On the other hand, Carletto resumed the discussion about free checked baggage, up to 23 kilos, on domestic flights. According to the parliamentarian, reestablishing this free service is “a measure of justice and balance in consumer relations, without compromising the economic sustainability of the companies, as the costs can be absorbed in the overall value of the tickets”.
There is an expectation that the project could be voted on this week by the plenary of the Chamber of Deputies. The president of the House, (Republicanos-PB), even took over the agenda, arguing that the Chamber would not “accept this abuse”, in reference to the charge for hand luggage.
According to the deputy, the charge for such dispatch, authorized in 2017, did not generate competitive gains or improvements in operational efficiency, but rather, “it reduced the quality of service, causing overcrowding of hand luggage compartments, boarding delays and general discomfort”. Along these lines, the deputy maintains that the refund of the free fee contributes “to tariff simplification, respect for the consumer and improvement of national air transport”.
Legal protection
In the opinion released on the afternoon of this Tuesday, 28th, Carletto recalled the resolution of the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) that guarantees passengers the free transport of hand luggage weighing up to 10 kg, but argued that, in the face of demonstrations by airlines about possible charges for this type of baggage, it would be necessary to “increase protection to a legal level, in order to provide legal certainty and prevent abusive practices”.
“The proposal is limited to ensuring, at a legal level, that the current rules – already consolidated and known by passengers – are maintained, preventing hand luggage from being transformed into an object of additional charges”, he stressed.
The parliamentarian argues that the charge for hand luggage, “without corresponding real benefit to the consumer” violates the principles of the Consumer Protection Code and “compromises the objective good faith that should govern air transport contracts”.
*With information from Estadão Conteúdo
Published by Fernando Dias
