Azul Reopens Rio Galeão Service; also Launches New Domestic Leisure Destinations

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Azul Brazilian Airlines will restart commercial operations from Galeão International Airport (GIG) in Rio de Janeiro on January 1st, 2021.

Additionally, Azul is resuming operations on one extra route and launching three new leisure destinations near Brazil’s largest cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

According to a press release, the Brazilian carrier will start flying on January 1st from Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão (GIG) to Campinas (VCP), after six months of pausing its flights from Rio’s largest airport.

The airline will operate 13 frequencies per week, before increasing it to 27 on February 1st. To run this route, Azul will deploy its Embraer E195 fleet.

Campinas is one of the largest Brazilian cities. Its airport Viracopos is currently the fourth most important in Brazil. It received 4.94 million passengers in 2020.

But even before it reopens its Rio de Janeiro base, Azul is reopening one base and launching three new destinations.

On December 14th, Azul will be reopening its route between Belo Horizonte Confins (CNF) and Cabo Frio (CFB). It will operate 27 weekly flights between both cities. Additionally, Azul will be flying, for the first time, from Congonhas Airport (CGH) in São Paulo to Cabo Frio, starting January 1st. Azul will operate these flights with ATR 72-600 aircraft, with a capacity for 70 passengers.

New destinations

Moreover, the carrier is launching service to three new tourist destinations in the state of Rio de Janeiro: Angra dos Reis (SDAG), Paraty (SDTK), and Búzios (BZC). These are the flights Azul will be launching:

• Congonhas-Angra dos Reis. Starting on December 17th with one frequency per day.
• Rio de Janeiro’s Santos Dumont (SDU)- Angra dos Reis. It will start on December 19th with four weekly frequencies.
• Congonhas-Paraty. Starting on December 17th with one frequency per day.
• Santos Dumont-Paraty. Starting on December 19th with four frequencies per week.
• Belo Horizonte-Buzios. Starting on December 17th with one daily frequency
• Santos Dumont-Buzios. Starting on December 19th with four frequencies per week.

Azul Conecta’s development

The cities of Angra dos Reis, Paraty, and Búzios are leisure destinations. Angra dos Reis is even being called the ‘Brazilian Cancun.’ Despite the marketing appeal, these cities are aeronautically underdeveloped. Angra dos Reis airport, for instance, can’t handle large aircraft.

As a result, Azul is deploying its recent acquisition, Azul Conecta, to these markets. Azul Conecta is a regional carrier with a fleet of 17 Cessna Caravans. These planes have a capacity for nine passengers.

Why launch these flights?

Brazilian air carriers are deploying more and more capacity into the domestic market. Currently, the government expects to end the year with an 80% domestic capacity recovery compared to 2019. Moreover, the summer season is just around the corner.

This means Azul is planning to boost domestic tourism – the main reason for launching these new routes and restarting its operations from Galeão.

Marcelo Bento Ribeiro, Azul’s Network Planning, Alliances, and Travel director noted the importance of Azul Conecta.

“We have so many new offers for our high season, and Rio will be one of the most benefitted states by our special operations. With the dual operation of Azul and Azul Conecta, we will reach new destinations, we will have a big offer from Cabo Frio, and we will reopen Galeão, offering more destinations for Brazilians.”