JACKSON FLORES / RIO DE JANEIRO
The suspension of Boeing 737-200 operations by Brazilian flag carrier Varig before its expected merger with TAM has allowed two Amazon basin regional carriers to expand services.
Rico Linhas Aéreas will acquire two of the 737s for its major routes within the Amazon region, while Transportes Aéreos Fortaleza (TAF) will receive the second of its two ex-Varig aircraft in July.
Manaus-based Rico flies a combination of Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirantes, EMB-120RT Brasilias and a Cessna 208B Caravan. The airline says its first mainline aircraft will give it greater schedule flexibility, help it capture passengers from other airlines, and expand its 29-destination network to the eastern and northern sections of the Amazon region.
TAF, which already operates four Cessna Caravans, two Bandeirantes and two 737-200s, will use its additional 737s to expand into the western Amazon and coastal destinations in north-eastern Brazil and to extend crossborder operations to Cayenne in French Guiana.
Varig is ridding itself of the 737s due to increased codesharing arrangements with other carriers and a dwindling route network.
Source: Flight International
