The Brazilian startup Itapemirim Transportes Aereos (ITA) has stopped all operations until further notice. On Friday, December 17, Brazil’s Civil Aviation National Authorities suspended Itapemirim’s Air Operator Certificate (AOC), casting doubts regarding the airline’s future.
Money issues?
On Friday night, Itapemirim issued a statement announcing its immediate cessation of operations. The airline said,
“ITA temporarily suspends all its operations. The Itapemirim Group informs that, on its own initiative, it temporarily suspended the operations of its airline, ITA, in the early evening of this Friday (17) for an internal restructuring. The decision was taken due to the need for operational adjustments. ANAC (National Civil Aviation Agency) has already been informed of the decision.”
According to the Brazilian newspaper Panrotas, the airline has no cash and can’t pay its employees.
Meanwhile, ANAC also issued a statement on the subject. Brazil’s Civil Aviation authorities said,
“Safety in the airline operations is the priority of the Agency; therefore, and due to the suspension of the airline’s operations, ANAC has suspended its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).” ITA received its AOC during the first weekend of May.
Further actions
ANAC urged Itapemirim Transportes Aereos to individually call each passenger and inform them of the current situation of the company.
Moreover, ANAC asked passengers of the airline not to attend the airports where Itapemirim used to operate. Instead, they can reach the airline through this email account: falecomaita@voeita.com.br.
“ITA regrets the inconvenience caused and states that it will continue to provide all assistance to impacted passengers, as provided for in ANAC resolution 400.”
“The company will make every effort to resume its flights soon. The Itapemirim Group also informs that this decision does not affect the provision of road transport services through Viação Itapemirim, whose operations follow normally,” added the airline.
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Itapemirim’s history
The Brazilian airline Itapemirim Transportes Aereos is less than six months old.
Earlier this year, on June 29, 2021, Itapemirim launched flights. Since then, and up to October, it had carried 157,062 passengers, according to data provided by ANAC. The airline was Brazil’s fifth-largest domestic carrier, after Azul (18.0 million passengers so far), LATAM (14.8 million), GOL (14.3 million), and Passaredo (333,239).
Itapemirim operated flights in São Paulo Guarulhos, Brasília, Belo Horizonte-Confins, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Maceió, Natal, Recife, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão, Porto Alegre, Porto Seguro, Salvador, and Curitiba.
The Brazilian airline has a fleet of seven aircraft, according to the ch-aviation database. Itapemirim has six Airbus A320-200 and one A319-100 leased with ALAFCO, Carlyle Aviation Partners, and Deucalion Aviation.
There were signs that Itapemirim was not in the best of circumstances in the last few weeks. On Thursday, the company announced its new commercial management after a few former employees left the airline.
The airline was born as a new project from the bigger Itapemirim Group, which includes the largest bus company in Brazil. Itapemirim had big plans, like reaching 35 destinations and a fleet of 50 aircraft by 2022. Itapemirim also expected to have a 40% market share, going toe to toe with LATAM, GOL, and Azul. Now, its future is in peril.
Did you travel onboard Itapemirim Transportes Aéreos flights? How was the experience? Let us know in the comments below.
