The CEO of Brazilian airline Gol Constantino de Oliveira has blamed a dramatic 50% fall in passengers wishing to travel to Argentina on the H1N1 flu virus which is said to have claimed 60 victims

in the country so far.

Oliveira says that the airline has been forced to cancel some of its charter flights because of the downturn and it could be forced to reduce the number of flights if passenger numbers remain depressed at the present levels.

The Sao Paulo-based airline is already involved in a severe cost cutting programme following its takeover of Varig in 2007 and only recently it ceased flying to European and North American destinations and reduced its frequencies to some other South American countries.

The Brazilian Government has recently issued a travel advisory telling its citizens to avoid travel to Argentina unless absolutely necessary.