Brazil’s civil aviation regulator Anac has approved a rule interpretation for São Paulo-Congonhas that allows flights already scheduled for the day to be completed after 23:00 in exceptional disruption cases. The measure covers severe weather and major operational problems, but it does not extend the airport’s normal operating window or permit airlines to schedule new regular services beyond the curfew.
Congonhas remains bound by its 06:00 to 23:00 operating hours under Resolution 55/2008, which already contained limited exceptions for medical, organ-transport and search-and-rescue flights. The new interpretation is intended to cover contingency situations that were not clearly addressed in the earlier rule, so airlines can finish services that were planned before the disruption hit.
Abear, the airline association that sought the change, has argued that the rule will help prevent cascading delays across Brazil’s network when weather or other serious incidents knock the day’s schedule off course. Aena, which operates Congonhas, has pointed to adverse meteorological events and other exceptional disruptions as the type of case the rule is meant to handle.
The precise trigger process still appears to be under discussion among the airport, air traffic control and airlines.