JetBlue founder David Neeleman launched new Brazilian airline, Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras S.A, yesterday (December 15) with services to Campinas Salvador de Bahia, and Porto Alegre.

The airline took delivery of three Embraer 195 aircraft this month with another three to be added next month to start services from Campinas to Vitoria and Curitiba.

With a fleet of 78 Embraer jets on order, Azul will grow in 2009 to serve 25 cities throughout Brazil with 16 aircraft. The airline will continue to receive an additional jet every month for three years to operate 36 aircraft by the end of 2011.

"Having been born in Brazil, it's so exciting to be able to start a new airline in my other home," said Neeleman, "Brazil is the second largest economy in the Americas – and 10th in the world – but only about 5% of Brazilians currently fly given the high cost of domestic travel."

Source: Routes News