Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, São Paulo Viracopos) is planning to make its European debut during the second quarter of this year with direct São Paulo Viracopos-Lisbon flights.
The Brazilian LCC said in a statement that it has applied to both the Brazilian and Portuguese authorities for permission to start the flights as early as May 4. Operated under codeshare with sister carrier TAP Portugal (Lisbon), the flights will start-off as a 3x weekly service graduating to 6x weekly during the high season. The A330-200 will be used.
While TAP already operates the route, it has been denied additional slots thus warranting Azul's entry into the market.
TAP currently has a monopoly on direct flights between Portugal and Brazil serving Belém International, Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves, Brasília Juscelino Kubitschek International, Campinas Viracopos, Fortaleza International, Manaus International, Natal Aluizio Alves, Porto Alegre International, Recife, Rio de Janeiro International, Salvador International, and São Paulo Guarulhos from its Lisbon hub. It also serves Rio de Janeiro Int'l and São Paulo Guarulhos from Porto.
In addition to ATR72s and E190s to be transferred to White (WI, Lisbon) and PGA Portugalia Airlines (Lisbon) for TAP Express operations, Azul will also transfer two A330-200s to TAP Portugal in June shifting capacity from the weak Brazilian market to its new sister carrier. As a result, Azul will cancel its Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves-Orlando International flights from March 1.
