Executive says that reducing working hours for pilots and flight attendants would make long-haul flights unfeasible
The CEO of Latin America, Jerome Paul Jacques Cardier, stated that the current project could make long-duration flights unfeasible if it included aeronauts in its final text. This group of professionals includes pilots, co-pilots, flight attendants and flight mechanics.
“If a project like this is implemented, Brazil will no longer have international operations”, these.
For the executive, the civil aviation sector will need to request adjustments to the text in the legislation so that the aeronaut is not covered by the Government’s proposal.
“I’m sure we’ll make it”, he stated.
Understand the project
The project reduces the weekly limit of hours worked from 44 to 40 hours, maintaining the 8-hour daily working day, including on special shifts. It also guarantees 2 consecutive days of paid weekly rest, preferably on Saturdays and Sundays, consolidating the 5 X 2 model.
The proposal was sent by the federal government to Congress in 2026 as part of an agenda to review labor rules. The initiative seeks to standardize working hours in the country, without salary reduction, and has been defended by the Executive as a measure to improve working conditions and increase productivity.
Switching to airlines would require adjustment
As a result, according to the CEO, airlines would not be able to carry out flights lasting more than 8 hours, which would mainly affect international routes and long-distance operations.
Although the text is still under discussion, there are different versions and amendments being processed in Congress. Some explicitly include aeronauts in the new rules, while others defend exceptions for categories with their own journey regimes. Currently, pilots and flight attendants already follow specific work and rest standards, defined by specific legislation and operational safety criteria.
In addition to aeronauts, airlines also employ so-called airline workers, responsible for ground services within the sector’s operations.
For Jacques Cardier, changes in the scale of these workers tend to generate a financial impact, which will need to be absorbed by civil aviation companies. The CEO considers, however, that LATAM Airlines has few airline employees under this regime, which would make the effect limited.
