The extended Carnival holiday should generate significant movement on roads and airports across the country from this Saturday (25). Although states and municipalities have banned parties and parades of carnival blocks because of the covid-19 pandemic, highway concessionaires predict an increase in passenger movement until Ash Wednesday (2).
The airports of the Infraero Network expect to receive around 788 thousand passengers during the carnival period, which started this Friday (25th) and goes to next Thursday (3rd). The expectation is that the volume of passengers is 45% higher than last year’s movement, when more than 540 thousand people boarded and disembarked at the company’s terminals.
According to Infraero, around 6,000 takeoffs and landings are planned for the period. The projection is 35% higher than the flow in 2021. The highest number of arrivals and departures is expected for this Friday and Wednesday.
According to Infraero, more than 260 thousand people should pass through Congonhas Airport, in São Paulo, which represents an increase of more than 70% compared to 2021. Santos Dumont, in Rio de Janeiro, will have an increase of 30% , with 160 thousand passengers.
GRU Airport, which manages Guarulhos International Airport, in São Paulo, expects more than half a million people on domestic and international flights during the Carnival period. At Galeão Airport, in Rio de Janeiro, a significant growth in the number of passengers is expected compared to last year’s volume. The expectation is of almost 160% increase.
roads
In São Paulo, the Tietê, Barra Funda and Jabaquara bus stations should receive more than 370 thousand passengers. At the Rodoviária do Rio de Janeiro, the forecast is that 60 thousand people arrive or leave the city – a number 70% higher than last year.
At Brasília’s Interstate Bus Station, the Novo Terminal concessionaire expects more than 36,000 people to board or disembark.
Inspection on the roads
This Friday, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) launched Operation Carnival 2022with more intense inspection and policing on federal highways until 11:59 pm on Ash Wednesday.
The corporation reported having increased the number of police officers on duty and intensified ostensible patrols, especially during busy hours and in places that, due to the higher incidence of accidents or committing traffic violations, are considered critical.
According to the PRF, in Carnival 2019, 126 accidents were recorded on federal highways caused by drivers who drank before driving. In 2020, the record rose to 141.
Also in 2019, the PRF removed from federal highways 2,068 offenders who were driving intoxicated or who refused to take a breathalyzer test. In 2020, the number rose to 3,398. The 2021 records were not used in this PRF balance sheet, considered atypical due to the pandemic.
*With information from Victor Ribeiro, from Rádio Nacional
