The government of Lula da Silva has been studying in recent weeks the possibility of reintroducing the daylight saving time in Brazila measure that had been abolished in 2019 in the management of Jair Bolsonaro arguing that the energy savings generated were not sufficient to justify it.
But now, with a record drought having reduced the level of hydroelectric plants, Brazil’s main source of electricity, Lula must decide this week whether Brazilians will move the clocks forward in the summer.
A key impact that the government has not taken into account (at least publicly), is that on the air transport industry. And that is why the CEO of LATAM Brasil, Jerome Cadierposted on his LinkedIn account in which he commented that this unplanned change to daylight saving time “is hell.”
“We are once again discussing whether or not we should have daylight saving time in Brazil. There are gains in energy consumption, but there are costs. We should do the math and decide once and for all. This indecision and the frequent comings and goings are another hidden ‘Brazilian cost’! And it is no small thing,” says Cadier.
“What they don’t know is that for international airlines like LATAM“This unplanned change to the summer schedule is hell,” he continued, explaining that when they put a flight on sale, they define all the consecutive flights that connect with each other in order to carry and transport passengers in the best possible way.
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“International flight schedules depend primarily on the slots at international airports (precise authorized landing or takeoff times). These time slots are assigned to airlines well in advance and do not change. If we know in advance of the implementation of daylight saving time in the different countries in which we operate, the company’s planning already takes them into account: we sell the hours that will actually be operated,” added the executive.
Jerome Cadier – CEO of LATAM Brazil (Photo: Aeroin.net)
But he stressed that “if Brazil decides to implement daylight saving time just a few months in advance, all flights connecting the country with other countries that do not change the time will be affected and their departure and arrival times will be changed.”
“As a result, we will also have to change the schedules of all connecting domestic flights. That’s the hell with all the schedules changing and the millions of customers who have already bought tickets will see their flights changed,” Cadier adds.
The CEO of LATAM Brazil He concludes by saying that he is in favour of daylight saving time, but what he is “absolutely” opposed to is “our inability as a country to make a decision and implement it in a timely manner. This is not serious!”
