Originally Posted by Golfingworld

FCZ...."Traffic Rights" is what foreign airlines need and freedom of pricing. Clearly you are good at the legalities, I recently read that The Brasilian Govt "had given permission" for Gol to reduce prices to Argentina, Chile etc. This is key as it means the Govt control prices and it is everything Airlines don't need on international routes. Likewise, Charters cannot sell outbound tickets from Brazil (they do but under the table). So even if the Govt free up ownership ( I beleive US has restrictions similar) this wouldn't seem to open up a free airline economy. Traffic rights means that an airline stopping in Natal from Europe can pick up and take people onto Rio or SP which I am sure they are not allowed to do. Likewise I am sure that Emirates or anyone else can get a route into Natal at present without problem, but until they can go on elsewhere inside or outside of Brasil it is the "route to nowhere" and this is my point about this Natal grand Airport debate. It is dillusional until airlines have the rights onwards, which I don't think they have or will have and until this is free the hub idea is a fantasy. Just look at US traffic, you have to fly 4 hours south to go three hours north (into P or Rio and back again) all because traffic rights are not there and so there is no viable traffic through the NE. Until this changes, a long runway, nice terminal or visits to London by Senators is worthless. Likewise, no boom!