(corrects number of trips)
Brazilian low-cost carrier Azul plans to launch services next month to Florianopolis, a popular seaside city in southern Brazil.
The carrier says in a 6 November statement that flights from its Campinas base outside Sao Paulo to Florianopolis, Azul's 16th domestic destination, will begin on 15 December. Azul initially plans to operate three daily flights on the route, which will be reduced to two daily flights on 28 February.
Florianopolis is a hotspot during the Sothern Hemisphere summer season in December, January and February. According to Innovata, Florianopolis is now only served from Campinas by TAM with six flights per week. Florianopolis is served more regularly from Sao Paulo's Congonhas airport, with six daily flights from GOL, four from TAM and one from OceanAir according to Innovata.
The resort city also has limited international services, including a new seasonal route from Santiago by Uruguayan carrier Pluna.
Azul, founded by ex JetBlue Airways CEO David Neeleman, launched operations last December and has already carried over 1.5 million passengers. Azul says it is on pace to end 2009 with two million passengers carried and a fleet of 14 Embraer E-190/195s. The carrier now operates 12 aircraft.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
