Statement by the International Committee (IK) of the SAC:
Solidarity statement with the families of Vila Gomes (Fortaleza, Brazil), affected by a flooding caused by the construction of a logistics complex by German company Fraport
We stand in solidarity with Vila Gomes community and their resistance against Fraport. Once again, we cannot watch a big company making profits on people’s lives without speaking up and acting to stop this cycle of exploitation and devastation. Any attempt to extract resources from communities and their environment needs to be condemned and pushed back. Especially when it is European and north American capital trying to continue a colonial and racist dynamic in Global South countries, where they feel legitimated to do whatever they want, thinking they are dealing with “powerless people” and “no institutions”.
As Vila Gomes community resistance and many others around the world are actively showing, this is not the case. Our intention is to amplify their fight and message.
Vila Gomes is a working-class community near the Pinto-Martins International Airport in Fortaleza. The community is now affected by a large-scale project of Fraport multinational. Fraport has deforested the area next to the airport and is now building a logistic complex.
In the last month, heavy rains have caused the walls of the airport to fall. This provoked floodwaters which invaded Vila Gomes’ homes and destroyed people’s belongings. This is not happening by accident: it is part of an active strategy of Fraport to profit from environmental devastation and threats to the Vila Gomes community. In 2017 Fraport signed a 20 years concession for Pinto Martins International Airport in Fortaleza and its surrounding area, previously publicly managed, also obtaining the exemption from taxes by the City Council of Fortaleza. Since 2025, Fraport is illegally cutting the 20 hectares of Atlantic Forest surrounding the airport, a natural reserve, to carry out the construction of a complex composed of two warehouses, a shopping mall and a hotel.
Since 2025, Fraport is illegally cutting the 20 hectares of Atlantic Forest surrounding the airport, a natural reserve, to carry out the construction of a complex composed of two warehouses, a shopping mall and a hotel.
Despite this, through untruthful reports and economic pressure, in April 2026 Fraport has obtained the validation of the license by the Federal Court, and works are now proceeding, with a high impact on Vila Gomes families. Dozens of families are now dealing with displacement, material losses, and serious health risks. Residents have begun to resist. They organized a protest in front of the construction site and blocked the BR-116 highway, demanding immediate action and accountability.
Fraport is one of the biggest companies in the airports sector. They operate in 29 airports worldwide and have a profit of more than 50 million euros per year. Their headquarter is at the Frankfurt Airport, in Germany, which on their website they define as the logistic core of Europe. Fraport’s chief executive officer is Stefan Schulte, which in 2025 has also been elected President of Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, the association of European airports. In his nomination speech, he declared: “airports are vital for Europe’s prosperity. A strong ACI EUROPE is essential to guarantee that airports (…) reach climate goals”.
However, he doesn’t seem to care much about the environment in his company operations – maybe because Fortaleza is outside Europe, so he feels he can just profit by the flooding of an entire neighborhood without being held accountable. That’s why international attention and solidarity with the Vila Gomes community is now essential: the few giants of logistics which are responsible for a huge part of current problems in climate change, disasters and social insecurity need to be stopped now. Fraport operates in multiple countries such as India, the US, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia and Germany.
Let’s make them accountable wherever they are!
The International Committee (IK) of the SAC