The Brazilian carrier announced plans to add new routes from Belo Horizonte, and is also returning to the US.
Recovery at CNF
Azul Airlines is planning to announce the schedule soon with three flights a week to Fort Lauderdale, weekly services to Curaçao expected to begin in the first half of 2023, and twice-weekly flights to Orlando coming later in the year. The airline Azul is going to fly to Curaçao with one of their Airbus A320neo planes. The US services are likely to see either the airline’s Airbus A330-200s or Airbus A330neos.
The routes were announced today following a meeting between Azul Airlines and representatives from Minas Gerais state and the island of Curaçao. The meeting was very productive, and we’re very excited about the new flights.
The director of operations and infrastructure at Belo Horizonte International Airport, Herlichy Bastos, was also in attendance at the meeting and said afterward that he is glad to have been part of it.
We are very excited about the return of flights to the United States, and we are in contact with many airlines about this. This is a special day for us, as we have announced the flight to Curaçao and the return of flights to the United States.
Azul’s growing network
The carrier has flown to the United States before, and they have done so using their Airbus A330-200 aircraft. However, because of the pandemic, they have suspended flights to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando.
Azul Airlines is already a big player at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. They operate flights from their main hub in Belém, Manaus, and Campinas. And from February 14th, they’re also starting to fly to Recife using their new Airbus A350-900.
The airline is expanding its international routes from Belo Horizonte, and it is also expanding its domestic network from the airport. Bastos said that the new routes are a good way to attract more customers.
A further boost for tourism in Curaçao
Tourism on Curaçao is experiencing a rebound following the pandemic, with activity now at 106% of 2019 levels. The new flights from Azul will cater to holidaymakers and be the island’s only direct connection to Brazil. Azul Airlines plans to provide timed services to connect passengers with other flights at Belo Horizonte International Airport. These services will include flights to Sao Paulo (GRU and CGH), Rio de Janeiro (SDU), Goiânia (GYN), and Brasília (BSB).
