David Neeleman's Azul Airlines Targets Rapid Growth In Brazil
Low-Cost carriers Aviation Daily May 21 , 2010 , p. 16 Neelam Mathews Azul Brazilian Airlines, which operates a fleet of 15 Embraer 190/195s, is set to receive six more this year of the 78 aircraft ordered at the end of 2008, when it launched operations. "Aviation in Brazil has grown at a two-digit rate last year and this year, and revenues are expected to grow 18-24%," says Marketing Director Gianfranco Beting. There has been a dramatic decrease in yields brought about by the arrival of Azul in markets where the carrier competes with established carriers, such as TAM and Ocean Air, says Beting. "Azul has national ambitions. We plan to grow internally and add four to five domestic destinations this year." Choice of an all-Embraer fleet was justified because smaller aircraft can take off without paying penalties, unlike the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, which cannot fly without payload constraints. "Embraers give us flexibility, and we are able to fly...