Brazil’s Azul to retire A350s - reports
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras (AD, Sao Paulo Viracopos) plans to retire its A350-900s just a year after taking delivery of its first of the model, the aviation news site Aeroin reported citing updated slot data from Sao Paulo Viracopos Airport, the carrier’s main hub. Aviacionline and other news outlets have published similar reports.
Azul took delivery of its first A350, PR-AOY (msn 168), last September and commercially debuted it in December on its route to Orlando International. It has since taken a second of the Airbus widebody, PR-AOW (msn 124), the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. Both remain active, currently flying between the Brazilian airport and Paris Orly.
According to the updated slot data, the last A350 flight on Azul’s Orly route will be on October 2, immediately after which the jets will operate again to Orlando - but only until October 28, when the last A350 slot is scheduled at Viracopos. On both routes, the A350s will be replaced by A330-200 and A330-900 equipment after the dates mentioned.
Reports emerged last month, citing sources in and outside the company, that the high operating cost of the model - making it profitable only on routes of equal or greater distance to Sao Paulo-Paris in contrast to the A330-900 - had compelled the airline to decide to withdraw it from service. Azul is currently undergoing debt restructuring with its lessors.
The carrier has three more A350s due for delivery, all of which are currently stored at different locations - F-WTAQ (msn 187) at Abu Dhabi International, F-WXAM (msn 153) at Lourdes/Tarbes, and B-1069 (msn 98) at Beijing Capital.
Azul has opted not to confirm or deny the reports, telling Aeroin that it “is always looking at fleet opportunities and we will announce any changes at an opportune moment.” The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ch-aviation.
