Daylight saving time: measure could be extended to 2025

Under pressure from many sectors — bars, restaurants, aviation — and civil society, Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira left the decision on whether or not to return to summer time until next week. In a meeting this week with directors of the National Electric System Operator (ONS), Silveira said that the measure will only be adopted if it is essential for energy savings.

According to the minister, the return of summer time is a transversal issue, which cannot be evaluated only from the point of view of the economy, but also taking into account the needs of society and the productive sector.

Summer Time: will the measure be resumed in 2024? Understand how it works

Airlines celebrate

Faced with Minister Silveira’s statement that the measure will only be taken if it is really necessary and that it could still be until next year, the airlines reacted. According to representatives of the aviation sector, it takes six months for adjustments to be made to schedules and connections between flights.

The Brazilian Association of Airlines (ABEAR), in a note, informs that “the sudden entry of summer time will cause, on the part of Brazilian airlines, changes to schedules in Brazilian and international cities that do not adhere to the new legal time in Brasília. This will change the departure/arrival time of flights, which could result in customers missing boarding due to late presentation and possible loss of connectivity.”

Also according to ABEAR, the possibility of postponing the measure to 2025 is in line with the principle of predictability, essential for adjusting logistical and operational issues.

Summer time

Since 2019, during the then Bolsonaro government, daylight saving time was no longer established. Daylight saving time consists of moving the clocks forward by one hour. In practice, we wake up to a weaker sun and “gain” an extra hour of sun at the end of the day.