• 

  Azul

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  AD/AZU

  Airline Type:

  Low-Cost Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Belo Horizonte International Airport, Sao Paulo Viracopos International Airport, Recife/Guararapes International Airport

  Year Founded:

  2008

  CEO:

  John Rodgerson

  Country:

  Brazil

  Region:

  South America

The Brazilian carrier Azul Linhas Aéreas has announced the launch of a new route between Recife International Airport (REC) and the Carrasco International Airport (MVD) in Montevideo, Uruguay. This commercial service will be launched next month onboard the airline’s Airbus A320 aircraft.

A new route for Azul

On Wednesday, Azul announced it would connect Recife, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, with Montevideo. The 2,275 miles flight (3,660 kilometers) will begin on November 20 with one weekly flight before moving up to two weekly services one month later, on December 21. Tickets are already available for sale, said Azul.

For this route, Azul will use its Airbus A320 fleet. Each plane has a capacity to carry up to 174 customers and has an individual entertainment system and Azul's onboard service, consisting of snacks and drinks at will, free of charge.

Vitor Silva, Azul’s Network Planning Manager, said this new route intends to meet the demands of customers who live in the Brazilian northeast but wish to enjoy the beauties of Montevideo, as well as the needs of Uruguayans who want to visit the natural marvels, such as the stunning coasts, of Brazil. Furthermore, Recife is Azul’s hub in the northeast, and the airline can offer direct connectivity to 35 other destinations.

A stronghold in Recife

The Brazilian carrier offers around 438 weekly flights from Recife. As of October 2022, all the routes provided from this hub are domestic, including 34 weekly flights to Sao Paulo Guarulhos International (GRU) and Fortaleza International (FOR).

Recife Airport is currently operated by AENA, the Spanish airport operator that recently won São Paulo Congonhas Airport in the seventh round of airport privatizations. Azul is the leading airline in the airport, followed by GOL (130 flights per week), LATAM (74 flights), and TAP Portugal with seven weekly flights.

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Between January and August 2022, Recife Airport received 5.7 million passengers. It is Brazil’s seventh most important airport after Guarulhos, Congonhas, Brasília, Campinas, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont, and Confins. Recife holds a 4.94% market share in Brazil, according to data released by the local government.

Flying to Orlando

Azul’s route to Uruguay is not the only international service the airline will open in the coming months. While participating in the 49th edition of the ABAV Expo International, the carrier announced it would also launch flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO) in the United States.

By February 2023, Azul will have two weekly flights between Recife and Orlando. These services will be opened just in time for the Recife Carnival, celebrated between February 17 and 22. The company will add three new frequencies in July, jumping from two to five flights per week. John Rodgerson, Azul’s CEO, said,

“We are looking forward to resuming our international flights in Recife, our main connectivity hub in the Northeast. The capital of Pernambuco has always received Azul with open arms, and northeasterners' affection for our company is reflected in our operations at the Recife airport.”

Have you traveled with Azul? How was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.