Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos) has reached market saturation in Brazil and is now reportedly studying the possibility of expanding its business internationally.
Brazilian paper O Estado de S. Paulo says Azul began seriously studying the prospect of international flights in 2012 but was forced to shelve them when a merger with TRIP Linhas Aéreas (São Paulo Viracopos) was announced later the same year.
Azul currently serves 104 destinations with 235 routes on offer, all of which are in Brazil.
"A company that already has an 18% market share, 10'000 employees and 140 aircraft has to think about its next step. International flights are the next step, " Azul's communications director, Gianfranco Beting, said.
Among the strongest prospects for flights are the United States - New York JFK and Fort Lauderdale International in particular. In addition to their popularity with the Brazilian travelling public, both destinations are also JetBlue Airways (B6, New York JFK) hubs. Azul's founder David Neeleman was also the founder and first CEO at jetBlue.
The airline has also begun consultations with Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) and Boeing (BOE, Washington National) with the A330 the strongest contender thus far, the paper said.
Funding from the project will likely come from an upcoming IPO.
