With the approach of the summer season, Azul Airlines has decided to strengthen the Brazilian south from its base in Porto Alegre (POA), Rio Grande do Sul and from Florianópolis (FLN), Santa Catarina, being the company with the largest offer of destinations in both cities.
The domestic market continues to be a determining factor for airlines when it comes to recovering passengers, the progress of immunization encourages the reopening of international markets. But travelers are still hesitant to leave their countries for tourism purposes, especially Latin American citizens, who prefer domestic and regional destinations.
Azul Conecta, a success for the gaucho community
As of this week of October, according to a company statement revealed by our partner Aeroin, Bagé (BGX), Alegrete (ALQ), Canela (CEL), São Borja (JBS), Santa Rosa (SRA), Santa Cruz do Sul (CSU), Erechim (ERM) and Vacaria (VCC) will have more connections to Porto Alegre.
In addition, Azul Conecta will also transform the triangular flights, which used to stop in a city before returning to the capital, into direct operations. With the aforementioned changes, Azul’s sub-regional will increase the number of weekly flights from 23 to 30. All flights will be operated in Cessna Caravans, with a monthly offer of approximately 1,700 seats to the eight cities of Rio Grande do Sul.
«This increase in supply was already planned since we started flying to these destinations in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, but we are sure that this increase, together with the change of schedule and days, in addition to the direct flights to the capital, will bring even more incentives for people to fly,» emphasizes Vitor Silva, Azul’s Network Planning Manager.
«We are approaching the end of the season and, from Porto Alegre, our Azul Conecta and Azul Customers will have more than convenient connections to several tourist destinations in the Northeast, such as Recife, Porto Seguro, and Salvador, for example. It’s fantastic to imagine that thanks to our connectivity we can bring someone from the extreme south of Rio Grande do Sul to a beach region in a few hours», concluded Vitor Silva.
To accompany the expansion, the company recently took delivery of two Cessna Caravans and agreed with the manufacturer on ten more.
Florianópolis as a seasonal base
The presentation of the network of destinations for the upcoming summer season took place at an event at the Hercílio Luz International Airport of Florianópolis (FLN), attended by executives from Azul and Zurich Airport, the terminal’s concessionaire.
«This increase in supply was already planned since we started flying to these destinations in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, but we are sure that this increase, together with the change of schedule and days, in addition to the direct flights to the capital, will bring even more incentives for people to fly,» emphasizes Vitor Silva, Azul’s network planning manager. At an event at the Hercílio Luz International Airport of Florianópolis (FLN), attended by executives from Azul and Zurich Airport, the terminal’s concessionaire, they presented the network of destinations for the upcoming summer season.
«We are approaching the end of the season and, from Porto Alegre, our Azul Conecta and Azul Customers will have more than convenient connections to several tourist destinations in the Northeast, such as Recife, Porto Seguro, and Salvador, for example. It’s fantastic to imagine that thanks to our connectivity we can bring someone from the extreme south of Rio Grande do Sul to a beach region in a few hours», concluded Vitor Silva.
To accompany the expansion, the company recently took delivery of two Cessna Caravans and agreed with the manufacturer on ten more.
Ilha da Magia will have direct connections to Recife (REC), Cuiabá (CGB), Goiânia (GYN), Londrina (LDB), Curitiba (CWB), Maringá (MGF) and four cities in Rio Grande do Sul: Uruguaiana, Santa Maria (RIA), Pelotas (PET) and Passo Fundo (PFB). The flights will be operated with ATR 72-600 aircraft, with 70 seats, Embraer 195 E1, for 118 customers, and A320neo, with 174 seats. Azul’s summer increase in the capital of Santa Catarina will be a record in the city’s commercial aviation history in terms of the number of destinations served.
With the exception of Curitiba, which will be a regular link, the rest of the destinations announced will operate between December 20 and January 31, 2022.
«Azul is the largest airline in the country in a number of daily flights and destinations served. Therefore, during the high season, we are converting part of our business network to tourism travel and are able to make new direct flights connecting customers to more tourism regions.» highlights Jason Ward, Azul’s Vice President of Customer and Clients.
«Florianópolis is part of our bet for the summer and will have a significant increase, with several new markets for Azul da Ilha da Magia to the South, Midwest, and Northeast. It will be a favorable period and we want this summer network to be a great opportunity for the resumption of domestic tourism,» commented Jason Ward.
Currently, Azul operates an average of ten daily flights from Florianópolis to Campinas (VCP), Belo Horizonte (CNF), Foz do Iguaçu (IGU), Porto Alegre (POA), Chapecó (XAP) and Rio de Janeiro/Santos Dumont (SDU). These operations will be maintained during the high summer season, making the company offer, from Santa Catarina’s capital, 16 destinations with direct connections and a peak of 18 daily flights.
