Avianca Caps Domestic ticket Prices for World Cup

Avianca Brasil on Tuesday became the second Brazilian airline to cap the cost of flying during this year's World Cup, putting more pressure on the country's two biggest carriers to do the same.
Avianca will charge no more than BRR999 reais (USD$420) for domestic flightshttp://startsavin-a.akamaihd.net/ite...rrow-10x10.png from February to July, chief executive José Efromovich told reporters.

Rival Azul pledged the same ceiling for airfares in June and July, when Brazil hosts the global soccer tournament.

The head of Brazilian tourism agency Embratur, Flavio Dino, applauded the move by Avianca and Azul in a Tuesday release, urging other airlines to follow suit.
Gol and TAM came under fire last year when the government noticed ticket prices rising during the World Cup.
Some of that tension could ease starting on Thursday, when ANAC is expected to approve about 1,500 additional domestic flightshttp://startsavin-a.akamaihd.net/ite...rrow-10x10.png for the World Cup, expanding travel options between cities hosting games.

Avianca requested 430 of those additional routes, Efromovich said on Tuesday, part of the airline's plans to expand its Brazilian network by 19 percent this year.