Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, the Brazilian airline
established by JetBlue Airways and WestJet Airlines co-founder David Neeleman, this
week applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation to launch U.S. service
as soon as this year.
The airline in its June 2 request indicated plans to launch in
December daily service from São Paulo Viracopos-Campinas International Airport
to Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International and Orlando International airports, followed
by daily New York JFK service commencing in July 2015.
The flights represent "the first international service
operated" by Azul, as it builds upon a large domestic Brazilian presence.
Claiming to be the third-largest airline in Brazil, Azul
operates 870 daily flights to 104 destinations within the country, with a 33
percent share of domestic Brazilian departures.
The airline in April announced plans to launch U.S. service.
Its application indicated it would operate the three proposed routes using Airbus
A330-200 aircraft, "which will be configured with 272 seats, but will be
later modified to utilize 246 seats." The request did not disclose
proposed class configurations for its U.S. service.
Azul in its application claimed the "new service will
provide additional non-stop travel opportunities to citizens of both the U.S.
and Brazil, serve the interests of comity and reciprocity, benefit
travelers in both countries, and will therefore serve the public
interest."