These Are Azul’s Leading US Routes By Available Seat Miles

In August this year, Azul announced that it would be adding a new fifth-freedom flight between Curacao and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport(FLL), giving travelers a chance to enjoy their time in Curaçao and then shop in Fort Lauderdale.

Photo: Miguel Lagoa | Shutterstock

However, later in the month, the Brazilian government had to come to the aid of Azul (and other airlines in Brazil) as it had reported heavy losses. Only a few days ago, the airline had secured financing of up to $500 million.

Related Azul Finalizes $500 Million Financial Agreement With Creditors

The airline hopes to improve its financial situation.

According to data from planespotters.net, this Brazilian carrier that was founded sixteen years ago currently has a total of 182 aircraft in its fleet, with 146 in service. A couple of years ago, the carrier used to fly to 27 destinations in the US and the Caribbean. Since then, it has also added two new routes. But which are the carrier’s longest US routes by Available Seat Miles (ASMs)? Let’s find out.

5 Between Confins and Florida
The route with the least number of seats offered

Data from “Cirium, an aviation analytics company” reveals that Azul Linhas Aereas will have nine flights from Confins to Florida and ten flights from Floria to Confins in the month of November.

According to FlightRoutes, the carrier is operating its Airbus A330-900 on this route. Azul has a total of seven Airbus A330-900s (which have an average age of 5.1 years) in its fleet. Three of these are currently parked.

Origin

Destination

Distance (miles)

ASMs

Belo Horizonte/Confins–Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF)

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

3.972

10,116,684

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)

Belo Horizonte/Confins–Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF)

3,972

11,193,096

Photo: Matheus Obst | Shutterstock

Besides non-stop flights, Azul also offers a one-stop flight connection between these two airports. Passengers can choose a stopover at either of the following:

Val-de-Cans/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport (BEL) Viracopos/Campinas International Airport (VCP)

According to Aerolopa, the configuration of the A330-900s of the carrier are the following:

Business Class
: Thirty-four Recaro CL6710 seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1

Economy Xtra
: 108 Recaro CL3710 seats (located at rows 10 to 21) arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration

Economy
: 156 Recaro CL3710 seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration

Related Azul To Launch New Airbus A320neo Service Between Fort Lauderdale & Curaçao In December

This will be a fifth freedom flight between Florida and the Dutch Caribbean.

4 Between Recife and Orlando
The route with the joint-highest seats per departure

Azul is the sole carrier operating non-stop flights between Recife and Orlando. The carrier is only offering 11 flights from Orlando to Recife, while there are 14 flights from Recife to Orlando.

Origin

Destination

Distance (miles)

ASMs

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC)

3,988

16,538,236

Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC)

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

3,988

21,048,664

Before the pandemic forced Azul to stop operating this route, the carrier served Recife-Orlando for a little over four years before suspending operations in February 2020. It was reported that the carrier had 220,837 roundtrip passengers on this route, and 88% of the seats were filled. It was only in 2023 that Azul resumed operating this route.

Photo: Azul

According to FlightRoutes, GOL Airlines and Azul offer a one-stop flight connection between the two airports. GOL operates its Boeing 737 MAX 8 for flights between Recife and Orlando with a stopover at Brasília–President Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport (BSB).

3 Between São Paulo and Florida
The route with the highest number of operations

Azul has more than once-daily operations between Sao Paulo and Florida in November. In its 35 operations from São Paulo to Florida, Azul is offering 9,566 seats, equaling 273.3 seats per departure. Azul has 34 operations from Florida to São Paulo, though. With 276 seats per departure, the carrier offers 9,385 seats from Florida to São Paulo.

Photo: Airbus

Azul is the only carrier offering non-stop flights between São Paulo and Florida. The carrier operates this route with its Airbus A330-900s.

Azul is also the only carrier offering one-stop flight connections on this route. Let’s take a look at where the stopover options are:

Stopover at

Flight Duration

Aircraft used

Val-de-Cans/Júlio Cezar Ribeiro International Airport (BEL)

12 hours 30 minutes

Belo Horizonte/Confins–Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF)

12 hours 50 minutes

Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC)

13 hours 30 minutes

Source: FlightRoutes

The same source also revealed that Azul would also offer a stopover at Manaus–Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO) from December.

Related Azul Enters US-Brazil Codeshare Agreement With Silver Airways

The agreement will give Azul passengers more choices in the US and the Caribbean.

2 Between Confins and Orlando
The least-operated route on this list

Just like Azul’s operations between Recife and Orlando, the carrier’s flights between Confins and Orlando also have 377 seats per departure. The carrier operates its Airbus A330-900s on this route.

Photo: Airbus

According to Planespotters, the Airbus A330-900s of Azul Airlines on this route are configured with 12 business class seats and 365 economy class seats (with 377 seats in total). According to aeroLOPA, the details of economy class seats on the A330-900s of the carrier are the following:

(
seats
) featuring a 4-way adjustable hammock-style headrest and retractable bi-folding table
Seat width: 17.8″
Recline: 5″
Row pitch: 31″
10″ HD touchscreen display
Universal AC and USB-A sockets
The two-lavatory arrangement at the rear of the cabin accommodates persons with reduced mobility

…while those for the business class seats are the following :

Each seat has direct access to the aisle and featured a retractable table, and secure stowage for small personal items
Seat width: 20.5″
Seat manually converts into a 76″ long fully flat bed
16″ HD touchscreen display
110V universal AC and two USB-A sockets

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1 Between São Paulo and Orlando
The route with the second-highest number of operations

According to FlightConnections, Azul is the only carrier offering a non-stop flight between São Paulo and Orlando. The same source also reveals that the carrier operates Airbus A330-200 for operations between these two cities.

Origin

Destination

Distance (miles)

ASMs

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Viracopos/Campinas International Airport (VCP)

4,208

37,918,288

Viracopos/Campinas International Airport

Orlando International Airport (MCO)

4,208

34,745,456

Azul has a total of four A330-200s that are currently in service while two are parked. All in all, the average age of Azul’s A330-200s is 20 years. The oldest of these is registered PR-AIU and is 22.3 years old and was delivered to the carrier in 2015.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying

According to FlightRoutes, Azul is the only carrier offering one-stop flight connections from MCO to VCP with a stopover available at either of the following airports:

Belo Horizonte/Confins–Tancredo Neves International Airport (CNF) Recife/Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC)

Related Azul Linhas Aéreas Plans To Launch JFK Flights In October