(Reuters) -Brazilpromised the world it would roll out the red carpet at 21st century airports for this years World Cup, but soccer fans landing in Fortaleza, which will host six matches including a quarter final, will instead be shepherded through a temporary canvas structure. <\/p>\n
The delays at Fortaleza are the latest embarrassing evidence that several crucialupgradeswill not be ready when the tournament starts in mid-June. The deadline for a new airport terminal in Fortaleza has been pushed back to 2017. <\/p>\n
The provisional structure is not what we wanted, but its what we have to resolve the problem in Fortaleza, Wellington Moreira Franco, Brazils civil aviation secretary, told local media late on Monday. <\/p>\n
Work on Brazils chronically overcrowded airports is much further behind schedule than theconstructionof new stadiums, many of which have missed deadlines and run over budgets but should be ready for kickoff according to World Cup organizers. <\/p>\n
The Sports Ministry reported in September that half of the airport renovations under way would be completed by May, but those time lines look unrealistic despite workers toiling around the clock in many cities. <\/p>\n
The world will clearly be watching what happens. An estimated 600,000 foreigners are expected at the month-long World Cup, and 3 million Brazilians are expected to travel during the tournament. <\/p>\n
In Fortaleza, where the sixgamesbeing hosted will include Brazils match againstMexicoas well as a quarter final, the new terminal is one quarter finished and authorities have decided to break work into two phases, wrapping up in 2017. <\/p>\n
Delays at airports in Salvador and Cuiaba have also forced officials to consider backup plans, although Moreira Franco has held back definitive judgment in those cases. <\/p>\n
The worries dont end there. <\/p>\n
The new terminal at the international airport in Sao Paulo, Brazils biggest city and a likely stopover for most foreign fans, is still looking skeletal.Airlinesare concerned about shifting operations to new gates without enough time ahead of the tournament. <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here:<\/p>\n
In delay-plagued Brazil, World Cup airport welcome to include a tent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" (Reuters) -Brazilpromised the world it would roll out the red carpet at 21st century airports for this years World Cup, but soccer fans landing in Fortaleza, which will host six matches including a quarter final, will instead be shepherded through a temporary canvas structure. Continue reading