Fernando de Noronha Residents Sleep at Airport

Residents of Fernando de Noronha are currently sleeping at the island's airport in an attempt to secure airline tickets to the Brazilian mainland. The local population is facing severe difficulties in purchasing flights, with many finding no availability when ticket offices open.

Despite an existing agreement between the local government and airlines such as Azul, Gol, and Latam to reserve discounted seats for locals, the supply appears insufficient. The situation has escalated to the point where locals are camping out overnight to try their luck at securing a spot on a flight.

Local officials have intervened, contacting the airlines and the Public Ministry to demand compliance with the agreement. Residents report being unable to visit sick relatives or attend to personal matters due to the travel restrictions imposed by the lack of flight availability.

Residents and workers on the island have resorted to sleeping at the airport in hopes of securing a seat on a flight to the continent. The situation has become desperate enough that some individuals are spending the night on the airport floor to be first in line when ticket offices open.

Taís Souza, a waitress, arrived at the airport at 8:35 PM on a Monday accompanied by her daughter. She chose to sleep at the location because she anticipated the difficulty of finding a spot. 'I decided to sleep with my daughter because I knew it would be very hard to get a spot. If I don't get it, I'll try again. For a place to be considered good, people need to be well,' she said.

Others have been trying for much longer. Valdenice Silva, a nanny, has been attempting to secure a ticket to travel to the continent for a week. She urgently needs to visit her sick father but has been unable to leave the island.

The ticket offices open at 10:00 AM, but the result is often the same: no tickets available for purchase. Francinete Flor, a tour guide, expressed her frustration with the process. 'The Azul attendant already warned that there are no seats and that there is only availability after January 14th. This is an absurdity, it is a disrespect to the residents,' she stated.

The inability to travel is causing significant distress for the island's population, many of whom have family and obligations on the mainland. The isolation of the archipelago makes air travel the only viable option, turning ticket scarcity into a major crisis.

Alan Luiz Florencio, a maintenance assistant, arrived at the airport at 6:00 AM but still could not purchase a ticket. He described the feeling of being trapped on the island. 'I didn't get a flight. I need to travel to resolve several problems. My family needs me. We are isolated, it seems like we are trapped on the island,' Alan said.

The emotional toll is high as residents are cut off from their families. The inability to visit sick relatives or handle urgent personal matters has created a tense atmosphere on the island. The reliance on air travel makes the lack of tickets a critical issue for daily life and family connections.

The Conselho Distrital (District Council) has taken action to address the crisis. President Milton Luna confirmed that the council has contacted the airlines to demand that the quota reserved for residents be respected.

'We have contacted the airlines so that the quota destined for residents is respected. We have already requested support from the Public Ministry of Pernambuco. We need a solution, since the plane is the only means of transport for the population,' Luna stated. Councilor Ailton Araújo Júnior believes the responsibility lies with the Island Administration. 'I understand that the state government must intervene. It is up to the Island Administration to define the conditions for companies to operate in Noronha. This is a responsibility of the state,' he evaluated.

Regarding the agreement, Azul stated that it maintains and complies with the agreement signed with the Government of Pernambuco. According to the company, five seats are blocked on each daily flight for residents. Additionally, the company offers a waitlist system for seats that may become free due to no-shows.

Meanwhile, Gol and Latam were contacted regarding the difficulties faced by residents but did not respond. The Administração de Fernando de Noronha (Fernando de Noronha Administration) was also asked if the agreements are being complied with and what measures can be taken, but had not responded at the time of publication.