Azul Brazilian Airlines

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Azul Brazilian Airlines
Azul Brazilian Airlines logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
AD AZU AZUL
BLUEBIRD
Founded 2008
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer program TudoAzul
Fleet size 149
Destinations 108
Company slogan Você lá em cima.
É o Brasil lá em cima.
Headquarters Barueri, Brazil
Key people David Neeleman, (CEO)
Antonoaldo Neves, (President)
Revenue Increase US$ 2.2 billion (2012)
Net income Decrease – US$ 187.3 million (2012)
Website www.voeazul.com.br

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S/A (Azul Brazilian Airlines; or simply Azul) is a low cost carrier based in Barueri.[1] The company's business model is to stimulate demand by providing frequent and affordable air service to underserved markets throughout Brazil. The company was named Azul ("Blue" in Portuguese) after a naming contest in 2008, where "Samba" was the other popular name.[2] It was established on May 5, 2008 by Brazilian-born David Neeleman (founder of American low cost airline JetBlue), with a fleet of 76 Embraer 195 jets.[3] The airline began service on December 15, 2008.[4][5]

According to the Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), between January and December 2014 Azul had 16.7% of the domestic and 5.39% of the international market shares in terms of passengers per kilometer flown,[6] making it the third largest airline in Brazil, after TAM and Gol.

History

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A. was the fourth airline launched by JetBlue founder David Neeleman (Morris Air, WestJet, jetBlue, Azul). Azul inaugurated services in the Brazilian domestic market on December 15, 2008 between three cities: Campinas, Salvador, and Porto Alegre.[5] It launched operations with three Embraer 195 and two Embraer 190 aircraft.[citation needed] Another three aircraft were added in January 2009 to introduce nonstop service from Campinas (State of São Paulo) to both Vitória (State of Espírito Santo), and Curitiba (State of Paraná).[5]

On May 28, 2012, Azul announced the acquisition of TRIP Linhas Aéreas, the largest regional carrier in Brazil. Azul and Trip started comprehensive code-sharing operations on December 2, 2012,[7] with all flights carrying only the IATA code of Azul. On March 6, 2013 Brazilian authorities gave the final approval for the merger with a few restrictions related to code-sharing with TAM Airlines and slot use at Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport.[8] On May 6, 2014 the merger process was completed with the final approval from Brazilian authorities. That day the brand TRIP ceased to exist and all TRIP assets were transferred to Azul.[9]

While the airline is not currently a full member in an airline alliance, it signed a codeshare agreement with Star Alliance airline United Airlines in January 2014, which made it possible for MileagePlus members to earn points when flying with Azul beginning April 1, 2014.[10][11] Since 2015, Azul is also an equal partner in a Brazilian-Portuguese joint venture that is the majority owner of TAP Portugal, another Star Alliance member.

In December 2014, Azul started its first scheduled international flights; to Fort Lauderdale on December 2 and Orlando on December 15, both in the United States.[12]

In early 2015 it was announced that Azul had signed a purchase agreement for 35 Airbus A320neo aircraft. It is also to lease a further 28 of the aircraft type.[13] In mid-2015, Azul finalised a deal for 30 Embraer E195-E2 aircraft (including 20 options) first announced at the 2014 Farnborough International Air Show. The first delivery is scheduled for 2020.[14]

On November 24, 2015 it was announced that the Chinese HNA Group, owner of Hainan Airlines, would invest US$450 million in Azul, becoming the largest single shareholder of Azul.[15] This follows the US$100 million investment of United Airlines closed in June 2015.[16]

Destinations

An ATR 72-600 of Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, at São José do Rio Preto Airport, Brazil
Azul's Embraer 195 with livery of Azul Viagens, the airline's travel operator
Azul flagship A330 PR-AIV in Ft. Lauderdale
A bus fleet provides free feeder services between selected cities and airports.

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Main article: Azul Brazilian Airlines destinations

Azul serves 108 destinations in Brazil, French Guiana, the United States, and Uruguay,[17] plus some other additional locations by means of dedicated executive bus services to the nearest airports.[18]

Azul has codeshare agreements with the following carriers.

Fleet

As of October 2015, the fleet of Azul Brazilian Airlines included the following aircraft:[21]

Azul Brazilian Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Airbus A320neo - 63 TBA
Deliveries start 2016
Airbus A330-200 7 1
24
249
273
1 inactive; PR-AIT in Tudo Azul livery
Airbus A350-900 - 5 TBA
Deliveries from 2017
ATR 42-500 3 -
-
50
50
ATR 72-500/600 55 -
-
70
70
Embraer 190 22 -
-
106
106
Embraer 195 63 3[22]
-
118
118
Embraer 195-E2 - 30[22] TBA
Plus 20 options; deliveries start 2019
Total 149 102

Airline Loyalty program

TudoAzul is Azul's Frequent Flyer Program. Member accumulate points based on the airfare paid rather than on miles flown.

References

  1. ↑ "CONTRATO DE TRANSPORTE AÉREO DE PASSAGEIROS." Azul Brazilian Airlines. Retrieved on February 19, 2010.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links

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