Big week for Azul Linhas Aereas, Brazil's newest airline

Last Friday Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A., Brazil's newest airline, took delivery of its first Embraer 195 jet aircraft. Three days later, on Dec. 15, 2008, the fledgling domestic carrier inaugurated service with flights between three cities: Campinas (Viracopos Airport), Salvador de Bahia, and Porto Alegre. Azul is the fourth airline founded by former JetBlue chairman David Neeleman.

Azul began its operations this week with a fleet of three Embraer 195 and two Embraer 190 aircraft (with 118 and 106 seats, respectively). Another three airplanes will be added next month.

According to information provided by Azul, the carrier has a total of 78 Embraer jets on order. Azul will grow in 2009 to serve 25 cities throughout Brazil with 16 aircraft. The airline will continue to receive an additional jet every month for three years to operate 36 aircraft by the end of 2011.

"Having been born in Brazil, it's so exciting to be able to start a new airline in my other home," Mr. Neeleman said. "Brazil is the second largest economy in the Americas -- and 10th in the world -- but only about 5 percent of Brazilians currently fly given the high cost of domestic travel."

"There is tremendous unsatisfied leisure demand for airline seats because fares are too high. As a result, 150 million people travel by long distance bus," he added. "And business travelers suffer circuitous routings and lack of frequency. With only 40 percent fewer seats per aircraft, we can provide more frequent and direct service in markets that our competition can't economically serve."

[Photo Source]

David Neeleman's new Brazilian airline to be named 'Azul'

David Neeleman announced today that his start-up airline in Brazil will be called Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras, SA -- Azul for short. Azul is the Portuguese word for blue. What a coincidence: Prior to beginning work to organize the new Brazilian carrier, Neeleman was the founder and former CEO of Jet Blue Airways in the U.S.

"Azul is a metaphor for security, serenity, loyalty, and quality -- as well as connoting flight, as the color of the sky. But we want our company to define the name, not have the name define our company," said Mr. Neeleman.

Plans for the new airline were announced in March of this year. Azul will begin operating as a domestic carrier in Brazil in January of 2009. The airline, which will be headquartered in São Paulo, will operate a fleet of Embraer 195 aircraft. Each aircraft will carry 118 passengers in a two-by-two configuration.

The new airline is seeking applicants: Click here.

[Photo Source]