Brazilian aviation: scramble for Avianca Brazil’s slot allotments

Slot allocation at airports worldwide is often a complex process, but the divvying up of Avianca Brazil's slots in the wake of the airline's demise has been particularly labyrinthine. An auction of the carrier's assets was initially called off and then held, with LATAM Airlines Group and GOL emerging as the winners.

But now it seems Brazil's government has deemed that auction invalid. That could possibly benefit Brazil's third largest airline, Azul, which refused to participate in the auction process. Azul has also tapped social media to make its case for slots at São Paulo Congonhas, a strategic airport for all airlines in Brazil.

But the outcome of the drawn-out process remains anyone's guess as Brazil's domestic market becomes more concentrated after Avianca Brazil's exit.