Baggage theft at Guarulhos international airport in São Paulo is on the rise. A recent feature by Época SP magazine (read the full text in Portuguese at Cumbica: 20 malas por dia têm objetos furtados no aeroporto) revealed how it is estimated an average of 20 pieces of luggage have all or part of their contents stolen every day at the airport. The article contains interviews with airport staff how describe the situation of baggage theft as a disease. Flights coming from Buenos Aires and Miami (where Brazilians love to go shopping) are particularly affected.

If that was not enough, police forces are after a gang stealing luggage items directly from passengers at the airport. Folha de São Paulo reports on the text at Polícia procura ladrões de bagagens em Cumbica; veja roubos.

Only yesterday Brazilian airline Webjet cancelled 54 flights. Brazilian authorities are not allowing the company to sell any more tickets until the beginning of October.

Several reasons can force an airline to make mass cancellation of flights. It happened to Tam, Gol and BRA in the past (due to overdue maintenance, lack of crews or lack of cash). Any of those reasons could be behind Webjet’s move – or it could be a different one. The company was running constant promotions, cutting costs (Webjet’s free Congonhas-Guarulhos shuttle ceases to operate) and reducing its onboard service.

Webjet has interesting slots and we hope the consumer is told in a clear and transparent manner what the real situation of the airline is. Until that happens, we advice you to act cautiously.

Webjet belongs to Guilherme Paulus, former owner of CVC.

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We saw three months ago how Azul, Gol and Tam had been reprimanded by the authorities for including on their sales websites pre-selected optional services (travel insurance). At the time we were quite happy that the authorities seemed to be doing something about this cunning trick.

It was with dismay that over the last weekend we discovered that at least two airlines, Azul and Tam, continue pre-selecting optional services. We don’t know whether that is still the case with Gol too as we didn’t purchase any tickets from them this time.

Since the authorities seem incapable of disciplining the airlines, all we can do is warn you so you don’t end up paying for a service you didn’t select. Check carefully the details for the fare you are paying and de-select those options you don’t want to purchase.

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An announcement on the page of the airline Taf informs that it is cancelling all its regular flights until at least July 2009.

Taf flew between Fortaleza, Belém, Macapá, Manaus and Cayenne (French Guyana).

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Anyone planning to fly from Spain to Brazil with Air Europa be aware. The company has just announced it will no longer fly to Brazil from 1 April. Till then, and according to the same company sources, their Salvador - Madrid will continue unchanged.

The company will give more details soon.

A double warning:

• if you already have tickets to fly with Air Europa after 1 April, get in touch with the agent that sold them to you.
• if you are planning a trip to Brazil, do not buy any Air Europa tickets for flying after 1 April even if they appear on online travel agencies.

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Original text in Portuguese: Air Europa: Deixará de Voar para o Brasil
En español: Air Europa deja de volar a Brasil

Alitalia has announced a substantial reduction on the number of flights it operates. The airline is up to its neck in debt and while it awaits for the new controllers, it had no other alternative but to cut flights. A temporary reduction is being mentioned, but it is almost certain its flight network will be substantially reduced once CAI, its new controller, is in control. If you are flying Alitalia, we encourage you to confirm all your flights.

Life for the new Alitalia will be no bed of roses. As CAI has among its members the owners of Air One, which in turn had a partnership with Lufthansa, the German airline is making a move and creating an Italian subsidiary: Lufthansa Italia. Other companies are after the slots left behind by Alitalia.

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Original text in Portuguese: Alitalia: Se For Voar no Próximos Dias, Confirme Seu Vôo
En español: Alitalia: si vas a volar en los próximos días, confirma el vuelo