AZUL LINHAS Aéreas Brasileira has revealed it is mulling an order for either the Airbus A320neo or Boeing 737 MAX. Speaking to Bloomberg News, CEO David Neeleman said the new type would replace up to 30 of the Brazilian carrier’s Embraer E-Jets, which will be shifted to other areas of the airline’s network. Azul has hinted it may add up to 50 new domestic routes when a proposed government subsidy programme aimed at promoting Brazilian commercial aviation comes into force early next year.
Meanwhile, the carrier has played down speculation that it may be interested in acquiring a stake in the soon-to-be privatised TAP Portugal. Portuguese Minister of the Economy, António Pires de Lima, recently disclosed several parties had expressed an interest in a 49% stake in the airline, believed to include Spain’s Air Europa and Avianca of Columbia.
Departing on a pre-delivery test flight is the latest ATR 72-600 for Brazilian carrier AZUL Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras. The aircraft, F-WWEN (c/n 1173), became PR-AQR on its hand over on September 11.
(TOULOUSE FAMILY SPOTTING GROUP/JPYP)