Azul to resume Rio de Janeiro Galeão operations

Azul Linhas Aereas is restarting its operations at Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG) in January, six months after pausing flights from the base.

From Jan. 1, 2021, the LCC intends to restore service between GIG and Campinas (VCP), initially operating 13X-weekly before increasing to 27X-weekly from Feb. 1. Flights will be on board 118-seat Embraer E195 aircraft.

Azul also plans to launch three new destinations in Rio de Janeiro state, which will be served by its regional operator Azul Conecta. The carrier will connect vacation resort Búzios (BZC) with Belo Horizonte (CNF) 7X-weekly from Dec. 17 and Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont (SDU) 4X-weekly from Dec. 19.

Angra dos Reis (QAR), a municipality in southwest Rio de Janeiro state, will be linked with Sao Paulo Congonhas (CGH) 3X-weekly from Dec. 19, while the colonial town of Paraty (JPY) will have routes to CGH 7X-weekly from Dec. 17 and 4X-weekly to SDU from Dec. 19.

Together, operations at the three airports in Rio de Janeiro will result in a weekly offer of 32 flights, which will be carried out on board Cessna Gran Caravan aircraft.

Azul has also confirmed plans to resume service from Cabo Frio (CFB) in December. From Dec. 14, the airline will restart a 13X-weekly route to CNF and a 3X-weekly service to SDU. Flights to CGH will be reinstated on Jan. 1, operating 4X-weekly.

Marcelo Bento Ribeiro, director of institutional relations at Azul, said the restart if flights from GIG, coupled with the Azul Conecta new route launches, would contribute to the resumption of tourism in the Rio de Janeiro state.

Photo credit: Joe Pries

David Casey

David Casey is Editor in Chief of Routes, the global route development community's trusted source for news and information.