Brazil Flight Information!!

[debzor]

Originally Posted by Dotty

No,interested in booking for 2009.I did read the article,but was unable to see availability online .The response I got was (flight does not exist........)QUOTE=debzor;80553]Are you questioning the actual existence of the flights, the date they start or the initial discounted prices?

I was quoting a press release direct from their offices on Boa Viagem in Recife. Are you actually interested in booking a flight - I can put you in touch if you want - or just checking out what I said?

[/QUOTE]


I just found the flights straight away on the AA website - not sure how you had a problem...?

Try http://www.aa.com/aa/travelInformati...eduleSubmit.do and enter Miami International and Recife as the cities...???

(Don't forget - travelling after 2/11/08!)

[FCZ]

Originally Posted by robh

Hi FCZ,

Which Torres do you mean?

Also does Abu Dhabi still have that really bad airport? I got stuck there for 8 hours the last time I flew Etihad and it was pretty basic (I which I had spent the money and flew Emirates as Etihad was the worst airline I had been on for a long time).

Regards,
Rob.

Hi Rob,

I mean Torres-RS (.:| ClicTorres - Site Turístico Oficial de Torres/RS |:. A Mais Bela Praia). Since I was a child I used to go there for Summer. I sure miss to walk up the hills and have a magnificent view of the ocean, surfers close to the reefs, dunes on the back, meet friends...I don't have anything there anymore, but when in Brazil, even during the winter, I use to go there for a weekend, but not this year, that I had only 5 days in the South and then headed to the NE. But unlike Pipa, Torres has a well defined 4 seasons, and Summer is only Jan-Feb. BTW, I'm not adv. Torres since it is too far South, not a good option for expats looking for a Summer break. My point is that Torres is, similar to Pipa, a gorgeous place that 25 years ago was possible to find beach front empty plots; now just forget about anything within a walking distance. Torres now have a good infrastructure for those who wants to live there for good (hospitals, a tiny "airport", schools, Univ. campus,...) and, except for the high season, a quite calm place to live.

The airport in Abu Dhabi is still small, but a new one is in the pipeline. Abu Dhabi will invest in a more upscale type of turism when compared to Dubai. I never flew Etihad Airway, but they have a new CEO, your fellow Australian citizen, and the company just bought 100 airplanes this year at Farnborough airshow + another 100 options (43 billion dollares!!, domain-b.com : Farnborough Air Show: Etihad Airways places massive $43 billion order for 100 Airbus and Boeing planes).
Best!
P.S.: Qatar Airways is supposed to have direct flights to Brazil as well, but only targeting transit passagers; however, they are at least a couple of years behind schedule.

[Golfingworld]

Originally Posted by FCZ

I know that at least two Sheiks know very well Brazil and that there are investments in Rio (likely next destination) and Florianopolis (unlikely destination). Even if combined they decided for 4 daily flights to SP & RJ, still there is room for another two daily flights to somewhere else in Brazil. Where? I don’t know yet, but wherever they decided to invest they will put direct flights or, if you wish, wherever they put direct flights, they will invest. As we know, Sheiks here invest in the whole chain. BTW, it was on the news this week that they are on the market shopping for airports as well.
PPS: I really hope to see an increase of flights from UAE to Brazil, today because flights are completely full, tickets are around US$2100!

I think you will find that Emirates will invest in more flights to Brasil as simply Dubai's whole strategy is based on being a world hub. This doesn't help NE Brasil much and South America could learn a lot from The UAE if they invested and progressed a similar hub in Recife or Natal. If Brasil was clever they would get in to bed with the Arabs for the new airport in Natal and give them a free rein to show them how it is done.....unlikely, but you never know.

[JMBroad]

Originally Posted by Golfingworld

I think you will find that Emirates will invest in more flights to Brasil as simply Dubai's whole strategy is based on being a world hub. This doesn't help NE Brasil much and South America could learn a lot from The UAE if they invested and progressed a similar hub in Recife or Natal. If Brasil was clever they would get in to bed with the Arabs for the new airport in Natal and give them a free rein to show them how it is done.....unlikely, but you never know.

Unfortunately very unlikely but we can always hope

[Dotty]

Debzor,

Checked out the site very reasonably priced at 788$ with taxes approx 945,00$.

[robh]

FCZ,

Is Abu Dhabi still going to do that even with the oil price down so much. I have heard that the oil income of the Middle East has gone down from $2 billion a day to $1 billion a day in the last 2 weeks which I don't think even they were predicting and can't be great for their economies.

I know this wont really worry Dubai too much but it must slow things down in the other emirates who rely on oil income.

Regards,
Rob.

Originally Posted by FCZ

Hi Rob,

I mean Torres-RS (.:| ClicTorres - Site Turístico Oficial de Torres/RS |:. A Mais Bela Praia). Since I was a child I used to go there for Summer. I sure miss to walk up the hills and have a magnificent view of the ocean, surfers close to the reefs, dunes on the back, meet friends...I don't have anything there anymore, but when in Brazil, even during the winter, I use to go there for a weekend, but not this year, that I had only 5 days in the South and then headed to the NE. But unlike Pipa, Torres has a well defined 4 seasons, and Summer is only Jan-Feb. BTW, I'm not adv. Torres since it is too far South, not a good option for expats looking for a Summer break. My point is that Torres is, similar to Pipa, a gorgeous place that 25 years ago was possible to find beach front empty plots; now just forget about anything within a walking distance. Torres now have a good infrastructure for those who wants to live there for good (hospitals, a tiny "airport", schools, Univ. campus,...) and, except for the high season, a quite calm place to live.

The airport in Abu Dhabi is still small, but a new one is in the pipeline. Abu Dhabi will invest in a more upscale type of turism when compared to Dubai. I never flew Etihad Airway, but they have a new CEO, your fellow Australian citizen, and the company just bought 100 airplanes this year at Farnborough airshow + another 100 options (43 billion dollares!!, domain-b.com : Farnborough Air Show: Etihad Airways places massive $43 billion order for 100 Airbus and Boeing planes).
Best!
P.S.: Qatar Airways is supposed to have direct flights to Brazil as well, but only targeting transit passagers; however, they are at least a couple of years behind schedule.

[FCZ]

Originally Posted by robh

FCZ,

Is Abu Dhabi still going to do that even with the oil price down so much. I have heard that the oil income of the Middle East has gone down from $2 billion a day to $1 billion a day in the last 2 weeks which I don't think even they were predicting and can't be great for their economies.

I know this wont really worry Dubai too much but it must slow things down in the other emirates who rely on oil income.

Regards,
Rob.

Rob,

Oil at $147 was beyond their wildest dreams (they were cashing in, but not spending it). Anything above $40 is ok for countries like UAE & Qatar. Iran and Iraq are in badly need (for obvious reasons) for oil above $100, which I believe (speculation) we should be returning soon. Dubai is facing a significant slowdown on their projects because of credit shortage and the international investors/speculators leaving, but there is plenty of denials on the press lately. But anyway, let's face it, both Emirates still have plenty of cash, Sheiks with entrepreneurial skills, and they are tiny emirates. What wasn't predicted was the losses in the developed countries markets. Here they are used with oil volatility, but not stocks and properties volatility (some stocks had huge losses just after they bought, i.e., citibank). It seems they are shifting some of their investments now to emerging economies, mainly Asia.

GW & JM,

I agree. I was actually surprised to see that in Brazil they're seriously considering privatization or concession of airports, and that was moving on the right direction until a month ago. Now, I don't know. The guys in the government are historical interventionists that succumbed by the facts. Some of them may have now rise from the dead and pushed for state ownership and more bureaucracy. It's a world phenomenon that they now have the upper-hand in a ideological debate.
I checked the case of Natal airport several months ago. At that time the government (BNDES) was taking bids from consulting firms that were supposed to be hired to suggest the concession process in Natal, but one desqualified firm during the process was threatening to take the issue to the Courts (public money, they can do it). I don't know if they settled that, otherwise delays.... After a consulting firm propose a concession or privatization, then a new round of bids should be taken from those who will actually manage/own the airport. I've to look at that to check what is happening. If I find the process number right away, I'll do it and post here, otherwise...

I'm an ussumed optimist, but to see the Arabs taking Natal (or other) airport--thus boosting the Free Zone, besides tourism--I must be really, really optimistic, but we never know...
Best!

[debzor]

Originally Posted by debzor

They have not released September 08's figures yet, but let us we compare Jan - Aug 08 with the same period last year.

For the main NE airports, all passenger arrivals (as I have said, you cannot separate international from domestic, for reasons stated before):

Fortaleza -2.9%
Joao Pessoa -0.7%
Maceio +5.0%
Natal +8.2%
Recife +15.9%
Salvador +2.8%
TOTAL NE BRAZIL PASSENGERS +5.3%

Compared to these figure I did a couple of months ago, Natal has turned a corner with growth now, and Recife is not showing such massive growth but still growing largely. But the NE still grows overall - not sure how this equates to Dotty's arguments though?

September figures are now out so these are the latest year to date compared to the same period last year:

Fortaleza -2.5%
Joao Pessoa -9.7%
Maceio +4.9%
Natal +6.9%
Recife +15.4%
Salvador +2.1%
TOTAL NE BRAZIL PASSENGERS +4.6%

So the NE of Brazil still grows overall - with only JP seeing a significant difference from the previous period.

How many other areas in the world can say this at the moment?

[debzor]

Originally Posted by Dotty

Debzor,

Checked out the site very reasonably priced at 788$ with taxes approx 945,00$.

Check out the attached, Dotty - $779 plus taxes per person, but also includes 4 nights accomodation... I took the pic this afternoon of a billboard.

[FCZ]

Consortium "Potiguar" led by Ernst & Young won the contract to provide recomendations for Natal airport. The consortium should address several issues, enviromental, and so on; the main thing is that they will provide the terms for the concession for the private sector. Let's hope they do the right thing and just recommend to give away everything! The terms of the contract is here (portuguese):
http://www.bndes.gov.br/empresa/down...oncPND0108.pdf
Apparently the losing firms gave up to take the issue to Courts, I didn't find anything. Official announcenments may come within a week. After that, the consortium has up to 180 days to present the final report.
You guys own me big for that! just kidding, it was kind of fun to find out what was going on...
P.S.: If the zumbis stay in their tombs, more airports should be privatized, at least partially.