US major Delta Air Lines has filed for regulatory approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to offer a new non-stop link between Orlando and Sao Paulo, Brazil before the end of this year. This will be only the carrier’s second current long-haul international link from Orlando and adds to its flights to Cancun, Mexico from the popular leisure gateway to Florida (it has also served Mexico City, San Juan and Nassau directly from Orlando during the past ten years).

In its formal application, Delta plans to introduce a four times weekly service on the route, with its strategic alliance with GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes extending the reach of this service to 20 interior Brazil destinations via Guarulhos International Airport. The flight is due to commence from December 19, 2015 and will be operated by a Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with 35 seats in Delta One, 32 seats in Delta Comfort+ and 143 seats in the Main Cabin.

"In keeping with our goal of being the best US airline in Latin America and the Caribbean, we continuously listen to our customers and strive to offer them increasingly convenient ways to travel for business or leisure," said Nicolas Ferri, vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean, Delta Air Lines.

"It is exciting to have the opportunity to offer a direct flight four times per week and to offer customers the reach of GOL's network with 600 weekly codeshare flights to Brazil's interior. Delta's continued expansion of routes important to Latin American customers demonstrates our commitment to the region and propels us toward meeting our goal," he added.

The new service, which remains subject to final approval, will see Delta face direct competition from Brazilian carrier TAM Airlines on the Orlando International – Sao Paulo Guarulhos route and indirectly via Azul Airlines between Orlando International – Sao Paulo Viracopos. TAM will also introduce a link between Orlando International and Brasilia from June 2015, while Azul will add the first ever direct link between Orlando and Belo Horizonte from November 2015.

According to our analysis, an estimated 950,000 bi-directional O&D passengers flew between Orlando and destinations across Brazil last year and demand is rising with numbers up 13.3 per cent during the first three months of 2015 versus the same period last year with growing demand to a number of markets, including Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Curtiba, Port Alegre and Manaus

The Orlando – Brazil – Orlando market has risen by an average annual rate of 17.5 per cent between 2010 and 2014, buoyed by the arrival of Azul Airlines and increased capacity by TAM Airlines. The Orlando – Sao Paulo Guarulhos market has risen 62.3 per cent during that period from below 300,000 annual passengers to close to 500,000.

The chart, below, highlights the growth in passenger demand between Orlando and Brazil since 2002 and highlights the rapid rise since 2008.