The prospect of direct flights connecting Ireland and Brazil has gained significant traction recently, fueled by a substantial petition from the Brazilian community in Ireland.
What is the petition, and how did it start?
In March 2023, a petition was launched on Change.org advocating for the establishment of a direct flight route between Dublin, Ireland, and Brazil. The initiative was led by members of the Brazilian community in Ireland, aiming to address the travel challenges faced by the approximately 70,000 Brazilians residing in the country.
The petition highlighted several benefits of a direct flight, including:
- Family Connections: Facilitating easier and more frequent visits between South America and Ireland for the Brazilian community and their loved ones.
- Tourism Enhancement: Encouraging Irish travelers to explore South America’s beauty and culture, while enabling Brazilians and other South Americans to discover Ireland.
- Economic Growth: Improving trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
- Cultural Exchange: Allowing artists, musicians, and creatives to share their talents and traditions more easily, enriching the cultural scenes in both nations.
The petition quickly gained momentum, amassing approximately 30,000 signatures. This significant support underscores the community’s desire for improved connectivity between Ireland and Brazil.
Airport Authority’s Response:
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) acknowledged the demand for such a route in February this year, noting that in the previous year, 140,000 passengers departing from Dublin Airport had Brazil as their final destination. DAA has expressed commitment to establishing a direct air link with Brazil, contingent upon the successful negotiation of a bilateral air service agreement between the Irish and Brazilian governments.
Governmental Considerations:
The Department of Transport has indicated openness to negotiating a bilateral air service agreement with Brazil, a necessary step to facilitate direct flights. Brazil’s Ambassador to Ireland, Flávio Helmold Macieira, supports this initiative, emphasizing that such a route could enhance connections not only between Ireland and Brazil but also with other South American countries, thereby fostering economic and cultural exchanges.
Potential Benefits:
- Tourism: Direct flights would simplify travel for Irish tourists eager to explore Brazil’s diverse landscapes and vibrant culture, and vice versa.
- Business: Enhanced connectivity could stimulate trade and investment opportunities between the two nations.
- Community Ties: For the Brazilian diaspora in Ireland, direct flights would make family visits more accessible and less time-consuming.
As discussions progress, the collective efforts of the community, airport authorities, and government officials bring the vision of direct flights between Ireland and Brazil closer to reality. This development promises to strengthen the bonds between the two nations, benefiting tourism, commerce, and cultural exchange.
What airline could potentially offer this service?
Travelers typically rely on airlines such as TAP Air Portugal, KLM, Delta, and United Airlines, which offer flights with one or more stopovers between the two countries.
Given the increasing demand for direct connectivity, Aer Lingus, Ireland’s national carrier, could be a potential candidate to operate direct flights between Dublin and major Brazilian cities like São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. Establishing such routes would require careful evaluation of market demand, aircraft availability, and bilateral agreements between Ireland and Brazil.
Additionally, Brazilian airlines such as LATAM Airlines or GOL Linhas Aéreas might consider exploring direct routes to Dublin, especially in light of the growing Brazilian community in Ireland and the potential for increased tourism and business travel between the two nations.
Ultimately, the initiation of direct flights would depend on strategic decisions made by these airlines, informed by comprehensive market analyses and the successful negotiation of air service agreements between the respective governments.
How soon could we see direct flights from Dublin to Brazil?
The introduction of direct flights would require negotiations between airlines and the respective governments to establish bilateral air service agreements. Airlines would also need to assess the commercial viability of such routes. Given these factors, it is challenging to predict an exact timeline for the commencement of direct flights between Ireland and Brazil, however, it’s unlikely that there will be direct flights this year.
