Chaos as Brazil crash airline cancels flights

Brazil descended into air chaos again today after the nation’s leading airline cancelled dozens of flights to and from the country’s busiest airport.

The move by TAM Linhas Aereas SA caused a ripple effect across the country that stranded thousands of passengers and sent tempers flaring.

The Brazilian government announced yesterday it was temporarily halting ticket purchases for flights at Sao Paulo’s Congonhas airport, where a TAM jet crashed last week, killing 199 people.

Local media reported that defence minister Waldir Pires is to be replaced by former Supreme Court president Nelson Jobim after coming under criticism for nearly a year of periodic air travel havoc that intensified after the TAM crash.

Yesterday 590 flights were delayed and 298 cancelled, according to Infraero, the country’s airport infrastructure authority.

TAM cancelled or diverted 90 flights at Congonhas, citing safety concerns over heavy rain and the airport’s runway.