David Neeleman, the
same who founded JetBlue, launched Azul Brazilian Airlines in 2008. The
company's name was chose by vote on the internet. The two most voted names were
“Samba” and “Azul”. Although the majority voted for Samba, David Neeleman
decided for Azul.
The airline would start operations in 2009, but started in December 2008 with an
Embraer E-190 from JetBlue and was the first Brazilian airline to operate the
E-Jet family from Embraer. Before Azul, Rio Sul (Varig’s subsidiary) was the
only airline to operate an Embraer jet, the
ERJ-145.
Azul was the first Brazilian airline to offer individual screens in domestic
flights. Moreover, the airline innovated in-flight service, offering snacks in
large baskets and passengers can take what they want. Azul planned to start
operations at
Santos Dumont airport,
in Rio de Janeiro. However, the airport was restricted for flights with aircraft
of up to 50 seats and Rio – São Paulo route. David Neeleman claimed that Azul
was not competitive in
Galeão airport,
as their rivals (Tam and Gol) operated with biggest aircrafts. However, Rio’s
governor was against, as this would undermine the intention of privatizing
Galeão airport. Thus, Azul decided start operations at
Viracorpos airport,
in Campinas. The inaugural flight was on December 15, 2008 connecting Campinas
to Salvador and Porto Alegre. Later the airline received it first new
E-190
and
E-195
and expanded its network.
In March 2009, Azul launched flights to Recife, Fortaleza, Navegantes and
Manaus. In July, to Campo Grande, Maringá, Maceió and Belo Horizonte. Azul also
started the first flights out-off Campinas airport between Navegantes and Porto
Alegre, Salvador and Vitória.
In May 2009, Azul beat
WebJet
and becomes the third largest airline in Brazil, only after
Gol
and
Tam.
Nevertheless, in September
WebJet beat Azul, which remained in fourth
position until July 2010, when it consolidated as the third largest airline in
Brazil.
In 2010, the company continued to expand its network to Goiânia, Joinville, Foz
do Iguacú, Teresina, São Luis and Belém. At this time Confins airport became the
second hub for Azul. On July 20, the airline announced orders for the new
ATR-72-600. With ATR aircraft, Azul could serve smaller cities that a jet
aircraft cannot land. In December, Azul began to receive some ATR-72-200 while
the new ATR-72-600 version did not come and launched flights to Uberaba, São
José do Rio Preto, Ribeirão Preto and Presidente Prudente.
On 7 October 2011 was the first Latin American airline to receive the new
ATR-72-600.
On May 2012, Azul and Trip announced a merger, creating the third largest
airline in Brazil with a fleet of 120 aircraft and 15% of domestic market. To
symbolize the merger, Azul brand changed: now the letter "u" is lighter blue.
After incorporating Trip, Azul now serve more 100 cities in Brazil! Also in
2012 Azul began offering live TV on board.
In 2014 the merge was completed and Trip brand disappeared. In April 2014 the
airline announced the acquisition of six Airbus A330-200 and five Airbus
A350-900 and to start international flights to the USA. The flight began in
December 2014, in Campinas - Forth Lauderdale route. Azul has also begun
code-share agreement with Tap and United. Using the same strategy when
choosing Viracopos, Azul chose a secondary airport (Fort Lauderdale instead
of Miami) for its flights to the USA. On December, 15 the airline began the
flights between Campinas and Orlando. Azul also had plans to fly from
Campinas to New York, but dropped.
In November, 2014 Azul announced the order of 63 Airbus A320neo aircraft.
The company plans to use the new A320neo to expand the network with routes
between major Brazilian airports, competing directly with Tam and Gol. For
the regional routes Azul announced the order of 30 Embraer E195-E2.
In June, 2015 United announced the purchase of 5% of Azul's stake for US$
100 million. In October the company introduced the new interior in the A330
fleet, with economy class, premium economy and business class. With the
strong reduction in demand, Azul decided to reduce its international routes,
concentrating the flights from Campinas. In November HNA Group, which
controls Hainan Airlines, announced the purchase of 23.7% of Azul's stake.
After David Neeleman's invesment in Tap, and Azul in Tap deeper agreement.
On May 4, 2016 Azul inaugurated Campinas - Lisbon route. Azul also
transferred some aircraft to Tap, reducing seating capacity by approximately
7% in the domestic market.
In February, 2016 the company announced Recife as its HUB in the northeast,
expanding its operations in the city to 32 daily connections and 24
destinations.
On July 1, 2016 Azul started flights between Porto Alegre and Montevideo.
On October 20, 2016 the company received its first A320neo. The inaugural
flight took place on December st on Campinas - Salvador route.
On April, 2017 Azul started flights between Belo Horizonte and Buenos Aires,
which showed a good load factor. The company has plans to expand
international network.
Old Logo:
Paint Shame:
Special Paint Shame:
Founded: December, 2008
Hubs: Viracorpos,
Confins
Headquarters:
Barueri
Code:
AZU / AD
Current Fleet:
Airbus A320neo, A330-200,
ATR-72-600,
Embraer E-190,
Embraer E-195
Historical Fleet:
ATR-42-500,
ATR-72-500,
ATR-42-300,
ATR-72-200,
Embraer E-175
Destinations:
101 cities
South: Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Caxias
do Sul, Criciúma, Navegantes, Joinville, Chapecó, Foz do Iguaçu,
Cascavel, Maringá, Londrina.
Southeast: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte,
Vitória, Maringá, Bauru, Presidente Prudente, Araçatuba, São José do Rio
Preto, Ribeirão Preto, Campinas, São José dos Campos, Resende, Cabo
Frio, Macaé, Campos, Juiz de Fora, Varginha, São João Del Rei, Ipatinga,
Governador Valadares, Diamantina, Montes Claros, Araxá, Pato de Minas,
Uberaba, Uberlândia.
Midwest: Brasília, Goiânia, Campo Grande,
Cuiabá, Dourados, Bonito, Corumbá, Calda Novas, Rio Verde, Rondonópolis,
Sinop, Alta Floresta.
Northeast: Salvador, Aracajú, Maceió, Recife, João
Pessoa, Natal, Fortaleza, São Luis, Palmas, Teresina, Porto Seguro,
Ilhéus, Vitória da Conquista, Lençóis, Barreiras, Petrolina, Fernando de
Noronha, Juazeiro do Norte, Araguaína.
North: Belém, Manaus, Porto Velho, Rio Branco,
Carajás, Marabá, Tucuruí, Altamira, Santarém, Itaituba, Parintins, Porto
Trombetas, Barcelos, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, São Gabriel da
Cachoeira, Coari, Tefé, Fonte Boa, São Paulo de Olivença, Tabatinga,
Humaitá, Lábrea, Eirunepé, Vilhena, Cacoal, Ji-Paraná.
International Destinations: Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Santa Cruz de
La Sierra, Cayenne, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Lisbon