The Slot Airport Coordination Association of France (COHOR) allocated the Brazilian carrier Azul Linhas Aéreas slots to operate non-stop flights between Viracopos International Airport (VCP) and Paris Orly International Airport (ORY).

Is Azul ready for a new long-haul route?

Azul Linhas Aéreas could be near to announce a new long-haul route between Brazil and Europe. The Brazilian company was allocated slots to operate daily flights in a brand new, completely uncontested route between Viracopos and Paris Orly. Nonetheless, two carriers currently fly the Sao Paulo Guarulhos-Paris Charles de Gaulle route, operating 21 weekly flights. These airlines are Air France (14 weekly services) and LATAM Airlines (seven).

COHOR, the appointed airport coordinator at Paris Orly airport, recently released the slot allocation for the IATA summer season in 2023. It allocated 434 slots to Azul Linhas Aéreas for the incoming summer season to operate this new route daily. The Brazilian company has not formally announced the launch of this service. Despite this, the airline seems to be running ads on Instagram.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Simple Flying.

Simple Flying reached Azul for comment. The airline was not immediately available.

Not the first time for Azul

In 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Azul launched a codeshare agreement with Aigle Azur to offer flights between Viracopos and Paris Orly. This partnership lasted until 2019, when the Brazilian carrier announced the pause of the deal. Then came Aigle Azur’s bankruptcy and cessation of operations, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced Azul to reduce its international reach heavily.

Photo: Matheus Obst/Shutterstock.

Azul has slowly resumed its international route map in the last few months. It operates 63 weekly international services, including 14 flights to Lisbon from Viracopos. In February 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Azul also operated the Viracopos-Porto route.

What aircraft could Azul employ on this route?

The Brazilian airline has a fleet of 174 aircraft, including 14 long-haul aircraft. According to data from ch-aviation, it has seven Airbus A330-200s (of which four are currently inactive), five A330-900s, and two A350-900s. Currently, Azul operates the A350-900s on only one route, between Viracopos International and Orlando International Airport (MCO) in the United States, but in August the aircraft will be used on flights to Lisbon. Nonetheless, since Azul is looking to receive two additional A350s shortly, Paris Orly appears as a possible new destination for this aircraft.

Photo: Azul Linhas Aéreas.

Azul’s A350-900s are set to replace the company’s older A330-200s. They will up gauge the airline’s seat capacity by 23% while also benefiting from the consumption of about 20% less fuel per seat. These planes can carry 334 passengers in a three-class configuration, including 193 economy seats, 108 economy plus, and 33 business. Meanwhile, the A330-900s can carry 298 passengers in a three-class configuration, while the A330-200s can carry 271 passengers.

Air France operates its A350 and Boeing 777 fleets in flights between São Paulo Guarulhos and Charles de Gaulle. It offers 2,268 and 2,072 seats per week, respectively. Finally, LATAM Airlines operates its Boeing 787 fleet, offering 1,729 seats per week. On average, both airlines make available 289 seats per departure on this route, meaning the A350 might be well above the standard, and Azul should deploy the A330-900 on this service. We will have to wait and see.

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