Azul Brazilian Airlines

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2804:7f1:2183:751b:a8d5:2275:fbdc:e413 (talk) at 05:08, 3 January 2018 (Fixed president). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

For the Russian airline, see Azur Air.

Azul Brazilian Airlines
File:Azul Brazilian Airlines logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
AD AZU AZUL
Founded2008
Hubs
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programTudoAzul
Fleet size140
Destinations107
HeadquartersBarueri, São Paulo, Brazil
Key peopleDavid Neeleman, (CEO)
John Rod Greson, (President)
RevenueIncrease US$ 2.2 billion (2012)
Net incomeDecrease – US$ 187.3 million (2012)
Websitevoeazul.com.br

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S/A (Azul Brazilian Airlines; or simply Azul) is a Brazilian carrier based in Barueri, a suburb of São Paulo.[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 Brazilian Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), between January and December 2015 Azul had 17.0% of the domestic and 7.8% of the international market shares in terms of passengers per kilometer flown,[6] making it the third largest airline in Brazil, after LATAM and Gol.

History

Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A. was the fourth airline launched by JetBlue founder David Neeleman (after Morris Air, WestJet and jetBlue). 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 to both Vitória and Curitiba.[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 Air 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.
Main article: Azul Brazilian Airlines destinations

Azul serves 107 destinations in Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, French Guiana, Portugal, the United States, and Uruguay,[17] plus some other additional locations by means of dedicated executive bus services to the nearest airports.[18]

Codeshare agreements

Azul has interline agreements and codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[19]

Interline

Codeshare

Fleet

The Azul Brazilian Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft as of October, 2017:[25][needs update]

Azul Brazilian Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A320neo 10 53 — 174 174
Airbus A321neo — 10 TBA
Airbus A330-200 7 — 20 252 271
Airbus A330-900neo — 5 34 264 298
ATR 72-600 40 10 – 70 70
Embraer E190 10 — – 106 106
Embraer E195 60 — – 118 118
Embraer E195-E2 — 30 TBA Order with 20 purchase rights.
Delivery starts from 2019.
Total 126 98

The airline also operates 2 Pilatus PC-12/45 for logistics and maintenance support.

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. ^ Jessie Scanlon (May 6, 2008). "Braving Brazil's 'Airline Graveyard'". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved 2008-06-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Azul itching to launch low cost services in Brazil". CAPA Centre for Aviation. August 18, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  4. ^ Matos, Marcela; Silvana Pereira (November 5, 2008). "Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras recebe o CHETA e já pode pleitear as rotas que pretende operar". Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c "A história da Azul" (in Portuguese). Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras. Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Demanda e oferta do transporte aéreo" (in Portuguese). Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC). January 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 23, 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Acordo de codeshare entre Azul e Trip leva cliente a 100 destinos" (in Portuguese). Brasilturis. September 20, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  8. ^ Teixeira Alves, Danilo (March 6, 2013). "Cade aprova fus da Azul e Trip com condições" (in Portuguese). Panrotas. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  9. ^ "Ata da reunião realizada em 6 de maio de 2014" (PDF) (in Portuguese). ANAC. May 6, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Azul Earning Miles". United Airlines. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  11. ^ "United Airlines & Azul Frequent Flier Partnership (Earn & Redeem Miles On Azul)". John Ollila, LoyaltyLobby. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  12. ^ "Azul confirma voos para Fort Lauderdale e Orlando" (in Portuguese). Panrotas. August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "Azul Orders A320neos". Airliner World: 12. February 2015.
  14. ^ "Azul Signs for E-Jets". Airliner World: 12. July 2015.
  15. ^ "HNA Group and Azul Brazilian Airlines Forge Longterm Strategic Partnership". HNA. November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  16. ^ "United Airlines to pay $100 million for Azul stake, for foothold in Brazil". Reuters. June 26, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  17. ^ "Mapa de rotas" (in Portuguese). Azul Brazilian Airlines. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  18. ^ "Ônibus grátis" (in Portuguese). Azul Brazilian Airlines. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  19. ^ "Profile on Azul". CAPA. Centre for Aviation. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ a b c d e denis. "Azul assina acordo de interline com Aerolíneas Argentinas". www.melhoresdestinos.com.br. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  21. ^ "Azul assina acordo de interline com panamenha Copa Airlines | EXAME.com - Negócios, economia, tecnologia e carreira". exame.abril.com.br. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  22. ^ "Azul - Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras. Você lá em cima". April 30, 2016. Archived from the original on April 30, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ "United anuncia compra de 5% da Azul por US$ 100 milhões - 26/06/2015 - Mercado - Folha de S.Paulo". September 6, 2015. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved January 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ "Anac autoriza Azul a ter 7 voos semanais para Portugal - 21/03/2016 - Mercado - Folha de S.Paulo". March 22, 2016. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved January 7, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2016 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2016): 7. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Azul_Brazilian_Airlines&oldid=818375510"