Azul, nearly ready to start flying
The newest of all Brazilian airlines carried out a test flight on 6 November, flight that was the final test before the company could receive its CHETA (permission to fly). With the CHETA on its hands, the company needs to wait now for a 2 to 3-week long process at the end of which she will be permitted to transport passengers. With that permission, she can apply for new routes.
Which routes? Azul doesn’t tell to another soul. The final definition of the routes will depend on what ANAC (the Brazilian official body that oversees civil aviation on the country) decides to do with operations at Santos Dumont airport in Rio de Janeiro, where Azul wants to set up its HQ. The Rio government, as well as the Minas Gerais government, have already voiced their opposition to further new flights at their domestic airports. Campinas, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro are among the first destinations chosen by the new airline, that declares it has no immediate plans to fly to Galeão, Rio de Janeiro’s international airport, where it believes it wouldn’t be competitive.
Operations are expected to begin on 15 December. It is especulated passengers might be able to purchase tickets in less than a couple of weeks.
We hope the new company ends up embodying what the consumers, represented by the readers of this blog, expect from an airline. We also hope Azul carries on innovating and avoids being a victim of the inertia that is the hallmark of other Brazilian airlines. If the choice of the name of the company was controversial, we hope future actions will give us cause for praise here at the blog.
Let’s just wait and see.
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Original item in Portuguese: Azul: Quase pronta para voar
En español: la Azul, casi lista para volar
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