After a 170-day closure, Porto Alegre’s Salgado Filho Airport is set to reopen for domestic flights on October 21st. The airport had been shut down in May due to severe flooding that damaged its facilities. Initially, operating hours will be limited from 8 AM to 10 PM to accommodate ongoing repairs, with a portion of the main runway available for use.
With Fraport Brasil, the airport operator, scheduling 71 takeoffs and landings for the first day, the airport is expected to gradually increase operations to handle up to 128 domestic flights daily. Limited services will be available initially, with passenger facilities operating from the international area temporarily.
Economic Impact and Recovery Efforts
Porto Alegre’s airport closure had a significant impact on the region’s economy, emphasizing the need for investment in regional airports. The flooding that caused the closure was part of a larger environmental disaster affecting millions of people and claiming lives.
In response to the financial impact, Fraport Brasil requested a contract review and received government assistance in August. As the airport reopens, it signals a step towards economic recovery and the restoration of key transportation links for the region.