Sao Paulo’s Viracopos International Airport in Brazil is running an incentive program for cargo carriers as it looks to strengthen international hub’s cargo activities.

The program aims to develop Viracopos as an international cargo hub, and the gateway’s operator – Aeroportos Brasil Viracopos – wants to increase the number of international flight routes and cargo frequencies.

Some of these proposals include 100 per cent exemption of landing fees for operations at the airport’s Cargo Terminal.

Companies already operating flights in Viracopos, or that intend to do so, may also benefit, provided they meet the eligibility requirements in a cumulative manner. In the case of codeshare flights, only the airline operating the flight will receive the incentive.

The new incentive program will be in effect until 31 December, 2017. According to the Viracopos Commercial Board, other commercial incentives that do not refer to fees can be negotiated separately.

Viracopos commercial director, Jorge Lobarinhas says: “The new program offers attractive, transparent and nondiscriminatory incentives and with them, the airport will further strengthen its positions as the largest cargo airport in Brazil.

“At Viracopos the airlines are always treated fairly and with equality, generating business opportunities.”

The incentive proposal is valid for all cargo airlines that have regular commercial flights when they start an international route or frequency from and to Viracopos and the they must meet the following requirements: 1) the airline must operate purely cargo aircraft; 2) the airline must operate a new international frequency and/or route having Viracopos as origin or destination with the flight published in HOTRAN in 2016 and 2017; and 3) the airline must maintain a minimum operational regularity of 80 per cent during the month.

The incentive provides cargo airlines operating in Viracopos, in case of an additional frequency, 100 per cent exemption of landing fees for the first 12 months of operation. In the case of new routes, the program provides a landing fee exemption for the first 24 months of operation.

For new companies with operations of at least two regular weekly frequencies, a landing fee exemption of 100 per cent is provided for the first 24 months of operation.