Brazil to act against high plane fares for World Cup

The Brazilian government will do everything it can to prevent exorbitant prices of plane tickets for the FIFA World Cup, which will take place in June-July 2014 in 12 Brazilian cities.

Brazil's Chief of Staff Gleisi Hoffman announced Thursday that the government will meet representatives of local airlines next week to discuss the rising prices of plane tickets for the Cup weeks, reports Xinhua.

The government has been monitoring the plane fares for that period, and several of them were considered excessive, much above regular prices - often 10 times more expensive than on a regular day.

According to a recent story in the local daily Folha de Sao Paulo, a round trip ticket from Sao Paulo to Rio - a trip that takes about an hour - was being sold online for about 2,400 reais ($1,090) for the Cup's opening day, which amounts to a round-trip fare to New York City in the same period.

After the news of these very high prices, a commission to deal with the situation was created.

Minister Hoffman said the government will not allow exorbitant prices and will take necessary steps to prevent such a situation from arising.

"We want to reach an agreement with the airlines, so that they can offer a good, fair service. And if we see excessive prices, the Brazilian government will take action and use everything within its reach to get a balanced price," Hoffman said.

Hoffman added that the situation will be clearer after the World Cup final draw, which will determine how teams will be placed in groups and, consequently, which cities will have more demands for flights.