Azul Airlines’ Route of Emotions: a single-engine scenic flight in the Brazilian Northeast

The Route of Emotions is a stretch of about 700 kilometers along the coast of northeastern Brazil that connects tourist destinations in three states: Ceará, Maranhão and Piauí. There are 14 cities, which bring together places like Jericoacoara, Delta do Parnaíba, Barreirinhas, among others.

Some of these destinations have direct flights from some capitals, such as Jericoacoara, which has a connection to São Paulo via Congonhas and Guarulhos, Fortaleza (CE) and Confins (Belo Horizonte – MG).

Those who want to travel between the destinations on the route can do so by land or with flights provided by Azul Conecta, the Azul Airlines branch that operates regional flights. In this case, they are panoramic, and allow you to see the postcards of the region up close.

Nossa/UOL did the entire route by air in November and now brings you the experience of flying between the tourist spots, connecting Fortaleza to São Luís (MA).

MORE FOOTROOM AND RIDER VISION

The aircraft that makes the route is a Cessna Grand Caravan with nine seats. Although it is not possible to stand completely upright inside the plane, since its ceiling is lower, there is no lack of legroom. A person with a height of 1.86 cm and a weight of more than 100 kg can comfortably fit in one of the seats without being squeezed.

As the internal space is open, it is possible to have the same view that the pilots have of the runway when approaching for landing. In addition, the windows are large and the plane’s wing is at the top of the fuselage, allowing a wide view of the outside.

The flight is much lower than with other planes, so the cabin is not pressurized. While a commercial jet is about 12 km above sea level, the Caravan on this route is about 1,800 meters above sea level flying at approximately 260 km/h, which allows you to see the landscape better.

WE TOOK OFF: FORTALEZA AND CANOA QUEBRADA

The first flight on the Route of Emotions made by Azul takes off from Fortaleza airport at 6:30 am to the city of Aracati, where Canoa Quebrada is located. Standing on the left side of the plane, it is possible to observe the sun still rising amidst the scenery of the ocean and the first beaches.

After a few minutes of flight, it is already possible to see several wind turbines, which are very common throughout the journey. In less than 45 minutes we were already in Aracati, where a quick stop was made for passengers to enter.

The return flight also lasted a few minutes. However, arriving back in Fortaleza, it was necessary to go through the X-ray again due to the airport security requirements to continue the trip.

FIRST STOP: JERICOACOARA

The next stop is at the Jericoacoara airport, which is about 10 km from the coast and about 22 km from the village of Jeri. It is located in the city of Cruz, but was named after the tourist attraction of the neighboring city.

Even being a little further from the coast at that time, it is possible to observe the houses of residents of the region and, after a few moments of flight, the village of Jericoacoara itself.

At the airport, transfer and car rental services are available for those going to the beach, or waiting for another flight to some capital, for example.

PARNAÍBA: DUNES AND POOLS

Another place with incredible beauty when seen from above, Parnaíba draws attention for its long stretch of beach accompanied by wind generators aligned with the coast.

Taking off from the region, halfway to Barreirinhas, some dunes and pools of sea water can be deceiving, but we are not yet in Lençóis Maranhenses.

BARREIRINHAS: THE FAMOUS LENÇÓIS

The stretch between Barreirinhas and São Luís is one of the most beautiful of the trip. Right after the plane climbs, it is already possible to see the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park , with its view extending to the limit with the sea.

This is the last great landscape seen on the flights. From there, the scenario returns to being urban, with the arrival in the capital of Maranhão, which happened around 3 pm.

See the summary of flights taken and the estimated duration of each one:

Fortaleza – Aracati: 45 min

Aracati – Fortress: 45 min

Fortaleza – Jericoacoara: 1h10min

Jericoacoara – Parnaíba: 45 min

Parnaíba – Barreirinhas: 45 min

Barreirinhas – São Luís: 50 min

Each stretch can be done individually or purchased in sequence. It is also possible to do the route in the opposite direction, flying from São Luís to Fortaleza.

COMMEMORATIVE PAINTING 

This week, Azul received the first plane with a commemorative painting of the route. It was made in the Tam Aviação Executivo hangar in Jundiaí, and has details that refer to the sun and summer.

AND IS IT WORTH IT?

More than going to just one of the destinations on the Route of Emotions, taking the entire route is like a scenic flight in landscapes considered “instagrammable”.

Anyone who wants to fly to just one of the destinations using Azul’s operation is not obliged to buy the ticket for the entire route. Those who want to try the route to enjoy the view can do that too, but keep in mind that there is little stopover time at airports and there are no bathrooms on planes.

That’s why it’s recommended to go to the bathroom whenever the operation allows and to take an extra snack if you’re going to stay longer on the plane.

The on-board service is simpler, with the airline’s snacks (such as gelatine airplanes and snacks) as well as water and soda, which passengers can help themselves to during the flight.

Baggage is carried either in the back of the aircraft or in the lower compartment, but allowance rules must be observed, which are different for jets.

With information from UOL

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