Brazil’s Azul airline strikes back and expands network in Amazonas

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Two days after Gol (GOLL4) announced the purchase of MAP airlines, Azul (AZUL4) on Thursday, June 10, said that it will expand its routes in the state of Amazonas to 8 new destinations in the state in the second half of this year.

According to the company, this is the largest regional expansion plan in the history of Brazilian aviation in Amazonas.

The new operations to São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Barcelos, Apuí, Eirunepé, Itacoatiara, Humaitá, Borba and Novo Aripuanã, will start after investments in airport infrastructure are completed.

The announcement was made yesterday morning in Manaus and Brasília, in a meeting between  company representatives, Minister of Infrastructure Tarcísio de Freitas, Minister of Tourism Gilson Machado, and legislators from the Amazonas congressional delegation.

The city of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, where Azul had announced interest in operating, now has a date to host the company’s flights.

“Our agreement with the Amazonas government and the federal administration will allow Amazonas to have a large number of cities served by a national and international airline, for the first time in its most recent history, providing the connectivity of clients and businesses with the highest safety and operational quality standards. This move is one further initiative taken by Azul to reach the goal of 200 cities served in Brazil in the coming years,” said Azul’s CEO John Rodgerson.

Flights to Manaus will be operated 3 times a week with Brazilian EMBRAER (EMBR3) aircraft, which holds up to 118 passengers, starting August 3.

Coari, Lábrea and Maués, other destinations served by Azul Conecta, Azul’s sub-regional company, will have their operations implemented connecting Manaus by October, and the company expects to offer better schedule and connectivity options for these flights.

“With the new destinations and the reactivation of cities, Azul will have a robust and complex operation in Amazonas, using all types of aircraft in its fleet, from 9 to up to 300 seats, operating some 27 daily flights from Manaus and serving 23 direct destinations from the Amazon capital,” the company said.

Gol is also keeping an eye on the region, since its recent acquisition MAP airlines, the 5th largest in the country, operates routes in the Amazon.