Crash airline diverts flights from Brazilian airport

A week after one of its jets exploded after landing on a short and rain-slicked runway, TAM airlines today cancelled or diverted 90 flights at Brazil’s busiest airport.

TAM Linhas Aereas SA cancelled 68 domestic flights from Congonhas airport, the country’s most important domestic hub, stranding thousands of passengers.

Twenty-two additional flights were diverted to the city’s international airport. Analysts have said that Congonhas’ short main runway, which is awaiting work to improve rainy-weather traction, was a possible factor in the July 17 crash that killed at least 199 people.

Brazil’s biggest airline said it made the decision for passenger safety because heavy rains that started yesterday were predicted to last until tomorrow.

Other airlines continued to use Congonhas, but authorities periodically closed the airport to traffic during the rain.

TAM’s decision cancelled nearly half of the airport’s flights today. The main runway at Congonhas is closed while investigators probe the crash, leaving the airport with only an auxiliary runway.