“Harassment corridor” in Galeão with incisive approaches and swearing scares passengers

After hours of flying in a seat that is not always the most comfortable, landing can awaken one of the best feelings in the traveler. At Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, Galeão, in Rio, however, relief can give way to stress in a short space of time.

Disembarking has become an arduous mission for those who just want to leave the terminal. When leaving the restricted area, especially in the international arrivals sector, passengers suffer a sequence of insistent and, not infrequently, intimidating approaches from people offering taxis, app cars, shoe cleaning, cell phone chips, tours and even currency exchange. In a recent column in GLOBO, historian Thiago Gomide defined the task as a “test of endurance”.

GLOBO was at the terminal on two days in March to monitor this dynamic that causes more disruption than makes life easier for users. In the arrivals area, passengers leave in a fenced area, where representatives of taxi cooperatives accredited by the airport are located. This is the first approach.

Outside of this space, it’s a free-for-all, with passengers receiving a barrage of dubious offers at the same time, from unidentified people, such as men dressed in a yellow blouse with only the inscription “taxi”, with no indication of a cooperative, and others who offer app cars outside of the platforms. And it’s not enough to say “no”. After the refusal, they go after the “clients” trying to convince them, promising, for example, the same amount that would be charged officially, which is not guaranteed. The airport has an area designated for licensed taxis and an Uber Lounge at arrivals, but anyone who falls prey to these men is taken to the departures area, where cars operate in parallel.

Gringos on target

Unsuspecting foreigners are easy prey. Two weeks ago, on a Wednesday morning, an Asian tourist approached a group of passengers asking if they spoke English. One of the “sellers” took advantage of the opportunity and said he could take her wherever she wanted and directed her to the escalator, towards the boarding area. Minutes later, she returned, having to dodge other approaches, until she turned to the information desk.

Hours later, two situations occurred that caught attention. In one of them, when refusing an app car, a tourist was told by the person who made the offer: “You idiot. Then it was a carioca’s turn to be harassed. Lawyer Mariana Bogado, 46, was accompanied by her mother, 73, when, upon being intimidated, she reacted: “This is harassment!”, she shouted.

— I’ve been approached by six men at the same time in a short distance. They have the audacity to ask where you are going. This time, I said I didn’t have to give any satisfaction in my life. My blood boiled when he said: “Go with God”, in a mocking tone and continued speaking behind the two of us. I said I would call the police. It’s a harassment corridor for those who just want to leave the airport alone. They trick tourists. I’ve seen them charge US$300 (more than R$1,500) from here to Copacabana. This has to stop — complained Mariana.

‘Fuck you’

Another approach that causes discomfort is that of sneaker cleaners, who arrive shaking hands and starting a conversation, with questions like: “Where are you from?” and “Are you here now?”, to try to seduce customers. So, they offer the service and are never satisfied with the first “no”. In many cases, they squat down and start brushing their shoes even when the passenger refuses.

One Thursday, one of them shouted at a tourist: “Fuck you”. The target of the insult was an American, who spoke to O GLOBO about the episode, but preferred not to identify himself. A 60-year-old economist, he has been visiting Brazil for a decade, for work, and said that he already knew one of the men who approached him:

— I was trying to make a call, and he abruptly interrupted me. I asked him to step aside because I was busy. And then he cursed me. I’m not against this type of service, but there needs to be a minimum of respect. I’m also not against keeping them inside the airport, as long as they are trained, identified and registered — he said. — I still thought about going back there, giving money only to the guy who approached me politely and leaving a message for the other. But I’m very busy.

Dispute for customers

The tense atmosphere goes further. Aside from the harassment, passengers are forced to witness heated discussions due to customer disputes. The report witnessed a sneaker cleaner shouting at another that he was going to “blow his face off” and for him to “make fun of other people”. In another case, a fight between a man offering a car and a baggage handler almost escalated to physical aggression. A colleague had to intervene.

The baggage handler, by the way, is a separate character. The least thing he does in the arrivals area is carry suitcases. Its primary function there, which has persisted for years, is the illegal exchange of currencies. Discreetly and in the corners of the lobby, they approach travelers and ask: “Have you done the exchange yet? I have a better price than the one inside”, referring to the airport’s exchange offices. The report saw several transactions, using Pix and banknotes. In one of them, a luggage carrier paid R$250 for 50 dollars. In another situation, a tourist who spoke Spanish needed to exchange 1,000 pesos, but the baggage handler refused because there were torn bills.

Only accredited financial institutions and travel agencies can exchange foreign currency, following Central Bank rules, such as requiring documents from the client and withholding the Tax on Financial Operations (IOF).

In the police’s beards

The festival of disorder and illegalities take place in front of public authorities, such as agents from the Military Police and the Municipal Guard who circulate through the lobby — the Civil and Federal Police also have permanent posts at the site, in addition to the airport’s private security. And the airport’s private security, which is relentless in less serious situations — the report saw agents waking up passengers who occupied more than one bench while sleeping to wait for their flight — but does nothing about aggressive approaches.

For entities in the tourism sector, the scenario goes against the image of Rio.

— The person arrives tired from the flight and still has to face this hassle. This generates distrust and demonstrates a certain lack of structure in the city in welcoming tourists — warns Alfredo Lopes, president of HotéisRIO, the union of accommodation facilities in the capital of Rio de Janeiro.

When questioned, RIOGaleão says that it works with public bodies responsible for security to ensure that situations like those reported do not occur and that it is committed to finding solutions. The new concessionaire, the Spanish company Aena, which won the auction last week and is expected to take over the airport in the second half of the year, reported that it is working on planning the transition and will comment in the future on the plans for Galeão.

The Federal Police is investigating the issue of illegal exchange, but says it does not disclose information about ongoing investigations. The Civil Police states that all criminal practices are rigorously investigated, and the Municipal Guard explains that it operates around the airport, providing fluidity and monitoring traffic irregularities. The Municipal Department of Transport (SMTR), in turn, emphasizes that it takes actions to ensure that passengers in taxis and app cars are served with respect, safety and transparency when charging fares.