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Sideral Linhas Aéreas

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Sideral Linhas Aéreas, formerly known as Sideral Air Cargo, is a Brazilian cargo and passenger charter airline headquartered in São José dos Pinhais, located in the Greater Curitiba, Paraná. It was established in 2009 as a subsidiary of Grupo Econômico Expresso Adorno.

Sideral
IATA ICAO Call sign
0S SID SIDERAL
FoundedJune 22, 2009; 15 years ago (June 22, 2009)[1]
Commenced operationsMarch 13, 2011; 13 years ago (March 13, 2011)
AOC #8,905 – August 22, 2022[2]
Operating basesAfonso Pena International Airport
Fleet size19 (+2) (as of November 2024)
Destinations14 (as of November 2024)
Parent companyGrupo Econômico Expresso Adorno
HeadquartersSão José dos Pinhais, Brazil
Key people
Employees230[3]
Websitesiderallinhasaereas.com.br
Sideral Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737-400SF reg. PR-SDJ

According to the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC), between January and December 2023, Sideral Linhas Aéreas carried 16,462 passengers on charter flights and had 0.1% of the domestic market share in terms of revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), making it the seventh largest domestic airline, while transporting 48.7 thousand tons of cargo and had 37.1% of the domestic market share in terms of revenue tonne kilometer (RTK), making it the second largest cargo airline in Brazil.[4]

History

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Establishment

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Sideral Linhas Aéreas was founded in 2009 by the Grupo Econômico Expresso Adorno, a holding made up of nine intermodal transport companies headquartered in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, with the aim of initially operating in the transport of cargo and air parcels.[5]

2010s

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The new cargo airline received its first aircraft, the Boeing 737-300SF registration PR-SDL (MSN 24060) on August 31, 2010, becoming the first Brazilian airline to operate the cargo variant of the Boeing 737-300. On December 8, 2010, the aircraft performed its first certification flight for Sideral, taking off from its base of operations at Afonso Pena International Airport, in Curitiba, towards Porto Alegre, where it was unable to land and diverted to Florianópolis.[6]

Sideral received its air operator's certificate (CHETA, in Portuguese) from the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC) in February 2011. Its first commercial flight took place on March 13, 2011, when the Boeing 737 took off from São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport to Salvador da Bahia operating a flight on behalf of ABSA Cargo (now LATAM Cargo Brasil).[7]

 
Sideral Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737-300SF reg. PR-SDL taking off from Teresina

First years (2011-2017)

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In the same year, it obtained contracts with the Brazilian government to carry out nightmail flights on behalf of the Brazilian Post and Telegraph Company (ECT), also known as Correios, in the Night Postal Network (RPN), a postal service that allows cargo to be sent to destinations in less than 24 hours, in addition to cargo transportation services in general. In April 2013, Sideral received its second plane, a Boeing 737-400SF, and between January 2014 and November 2015, it added four more cargo planes to the fleet to meet Correios' growing demand for the transport of parcels.[8]

In December 2015, it received its first plane capable of carrying passengers, a Boeing 737-300QC (Quick Change) and in the following months, it added four more Boeing 737 Classic, reaching the milestone of 10 planes in the fleet. In early 2017, to reinforce cargo transport capacity and high demand, Sideral acquired two Boeing 727-200F registrations PR-IOB (MSN 22983)[9] and PR-IOC (MSN 22984),[10] in addition to the 737-400SF PP-WSA (MSN 25375) from RIO Linhas Aéreas, which had recently suspended its operations.[11][12]

Passenger charter flights (2017-2023)

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On April 11, 2017, it received its first passenger-only plane, also a 737-300, creating speculation that it could enter the regular passenger transport market. On December 7, Sideral carried out an approval flight for (ANAC) to obtain authorization to transport passengers, further increasing speculation about regular passenger transport,[13][14] but days later, on December 18, it announced that it would begin offer passenger charter flights.[15]

The first passenger flight took place on the afternoon of May 8, 2018, a Tuesday, when the Boeing 737-300 registration PR-SDW (MSN 27273) took off from Afonso Pena International Airport towards Rosario, Argentina, fulfilling flight 9602 with the football team Brazilian Club Athletico Paranaense on board.[16] Later, it incorporated two Boeing 737-500 with a 52-seat VIP configuration to offer charter flights for football teams in Brazil and other South American countries, offering a superior product compared to other aircraft from other airlines available on the market.[17][18]

2020s

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On November 3, 2020, the airline announced a partnership with Brazil's MercadoLivre, the biggest online marketplaces dedicated to e-commerce and online auctions in Latin America, for the dedicated operation of cargo planes on behalf of Meli Air, launched as a virtual airline. Initially, the agreement included the operation of four Boeing 737 planes painted in the new airline's yellow colors, with the first plane, registration PR-SDM, being presented on the same day.[19][20][21][22]

On June 30, 2022, the Brazilian Association of Airlines (ABEAR) announced Sideral Linhas Aéreas as the newest associate member, becoming the seventh Brazilian airline to join the association, along with Abaeté Aviação, Azul Linhas Aéreas, GOL Linhas Aéreas, LATAM Airlines, LATAM Cargo Brasil (formerly ABSA Cargo), RIMA Aviação and VOEPASS Linhas Aéreas.[23][24]

In September 2022, just before completing two years of partnership, Sideral Linhas Aéreas and Mercado Livre ended their commercial relations after the online commerce company signed a strategic agreement with GOL Linhas Aéreas for the exclusive and dedicated operation of a fleet of Boeing 737-800BCF on behalf of Meli Air.[25][26][27]

On October 14, 2022, it received its first passenger Boeing 737-800, its first Boeing 737 Next Generation and its 17th aircraft.[28][29][30] As of February 2024, the Sideral Linhas Aéreas is the third largest global operator of the Boeing 737 Classic, with 16 aircraft of this generation in operation, behind only the American iAero Airways (28) and the Chinese SF Airlines (17).

 
Sideral Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737-400SF reg. PR-SLU landing in Recife

Plans for international expansion (2023-present)

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On December 18, 2023, the airline submitted to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) a request to grant a Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) based on the Open Skies Agreement signed between Brazil and the United States, for the transportation of both passengers and air cargo between the two countries. In the document to the regulatory body, Sideral signaled the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire two Boeing 777-200LRF (Freighter) to transport cargo between Brazil and China and which began the process to obtain IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification.[31][32]

In terms of US operations, Sideral initially aims to operate between 10 and 12 charter flights on behalf of sports teams, musical acts and other organizations in the first year of operations. It will earmark its only passenger Boeing 737-800, registration PR-SLA (MSN 28628), for its operations between Brazil and the United States. The airline also plans to buy one or more Boeing 737 converted firefighting aircraft to operate missions in the Amazon region, part of the "Sideral Moving Forward" strategy based on the carrier's ambition to "construct new paths" and grow in a "structured and sustainable" manner.[33]

Partnership with São Paulo Futebol Clube

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On January 22, 2024, Sideral signed an agreement with the professional football team São Paulo Futebol Clube, that plays in the top tier of the Brazilian football league system, to transport the team's players and technical staff during national and international matches for a period of two seasons. The agreement initially foresees the operation of the Boeing 737-800 Next Generation with a team sticker and from April 2024, a customized Boeing 737-700 (MSN 30651) fully configured with executive seats that is being prepared at Tucson International Airport in the United States.[34][35][36]

The agreement reached between São Paulo and Sideral provides for 28 flights (round trip) per season, totaling 56 operations at the end of the two-year contract. Furthermore, with the arrival in April of the new Boeing, which will have a 64-seat configuration and will be dedicated to the São Paulo team, the club will have the right to explore the painting of the aircraft with its commercial partners, which could generate a new source of revenue.[37]

 
Sideral Linhas Aéreas Boeing 737-300BDSF reg. PR-SDQ taxiing in Teresina

Future

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On February 13, 2024, the US DOT granted Sideral Linhas Aéreas FACP authorization for the airline, allowing it to carry out charter flights of both passengers and cargo from Brazil or with a stopover in Brazil to the United States through an intermediate point or to another point with a stopover in the United States.[38][39]

Sideral said that for the year 2024, it has secured six conversion slots with US-based Aeronautical Engineers Inc. (AEI) for Boeing 737-800SF aircraft, which are expected to be converted from passenger to cargo version. The airline indicated that it has already acquired four aircraft of the variant, one of which is already converted and ready for delivery, while the other is still on the conversion line and should soon be ready to join the fleet.[40] In addition, it also plans to incorporate a third Boeing 737-500 (MSN 25065) in executive configuration to serve the charter flight market for football teams, travel agencies and the corporate market, in addition to its first 737-700 which should reinforce it's passengers' fleet.[41]

Destinations

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Sideral Linhas Aéreas has the following operating bases (as of November 2024):[42]

Base
Future
Terminated
Sideral Linhas Aéreas Destinations
State City Airport Notes
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
HUB
—
—
—
—

Fleet

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Current fleet

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Sideral Linhas Aéreas fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of November 2024):[43][44][45]

Sideral Linhas Aéreas Fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Boeing 737-300 1 — — 144 144 —
Boeing 737-500 2 1 52 — 52 All in J configuration for VIP charter flights
Boeing 737-700 1 — 64 — 64 —
Boeing 737-800 1 — — 189 189 —
Sideral Linhas Aéreas Cargo Fleet
Boeing 737-300BDSF 2 — Cargo —
Boeing 737-300QC 2 — Quick Change for 144 Y seats
Boeing 737-300SF 2 — —
Boeing 737-400SF 7 — Three aircraft opf Correios with cs
Boeing 737-800SF TBD std in Dothan for Cargo conversion
Total 19 2

Former fleet

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With the exception of the two Boeing 727-200F acquired from RIO Linhas Aéreas, which operated for a period of two years and later sold to other airlines, the other two aircraft that were part of the Sideral Linhas Aéreas fleet never entered commercial operation. The ATR 42-300 registration PT-MFE (MSN 295), acquired from Total Linhas Aéreas, remained on the ground and was later sold to its last operator, MAP Linhas Aéreas.[46][47]

The Boeing 737-300 registration PR-CID (MSN 25033) was acquired from Clube Náutico Água Limpa after eight years in storage and unairworthy at Prof. Eribelto Manoel Reino Airport.[48][49] Later, mechanics from Sideral Linhas Aéreas went to São José do Rio Preto, in São Paulo, to prepare it for the special ferry flight authorized by ANAC, carried out at low altitude and with the landing gear extended, to the company's headquarters in Afonso Pena International Airport, where it remains stored to this day without the engines. According to sources close to the airline, it was acquired to be cannibalized and serve as a source of spare parts.[50]

Retired Sideral Linhas Aéreas Fleet
Aircraft Total Years of operation Note
1
2015-2016
Never entered service, transferred to MAP Linhas Aéreas
2
2017-2019
1
2022-2022
Never entered service and std in Curitiba
TOTAL 4

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sideral Linhas Aereas LTDA" (in Portuguese). CNPJ.info. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Empresas Aéreas - Consulta". ANAC (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Sideral in numbers". Sideral Linhas Aéreas. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Relatório de demanda e oferta" (in Portuguese). ANAC. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Apresentação" (in Portuguese). Sideral Linhas Aéreas. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  6. ^ "AeroFROTA → Boeing 737-300 - PR-SDL - cn 24060" (in Portuguese). Aeronaves NG. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  7. ^ "HISTÓRIA DA SIDERAL" (in Portuguese). AVIAÇÃOPAULISTA.COM. 8 May 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Brazil's Sideral Air Cargo to convert two more B737-400s". ch-aviation. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  9. ^ "CX-CLC AIR CLASS LÍNEAS AÉREAS BOEING 727-264F". aviaçãopaulista.com. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "PR-IOC ASAS LINHAS AÉREAS LTDA BOEING 727-264F". Aviaçãopaulista.com. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "RIO CARGO "DESAPEGA" DO BOEING 727 PR-RLJ" (in Portuguese). AeroEntusiasta. 25 November 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Brazil's Sideral Air Cargo set for maiden B727 freighter". ch-aviation. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  13. ^ "Sideral conclui voo de homologação para transportar passageiros" (in Portuguese). Aeroflap. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  14. ^ "Sideral realiza primeiro voo com passageiros e é homologada" (in Portuguese). AeroIN. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  15. ^ "Sideral lança serviço de voos fretados para passageiros" (in Portuguese). Aeroflap. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  16. ^ "SIDERAL REALIZA O PRIMEIRO VOO DE PASSAGEIROS" (in Portuguese). AEROENTUSIASTA. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Sideral recebe Boeing 737 com configuração executiva" (in Portuguese). Aeroflap. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  18. ^ "Brazil's Sideral Linhas Aéreas to add maiden B737-500". ch-aviation. 19 March 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  19. ^ "Boeing 737 da Sideral é visto com a pintura do Mercado Livre" (in Portuguese). Aeroflap. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  20. ^ "Mercado Livre cria Meli Air, com frota de aviões para entrega exclusiva de compras on-line" (in Portuguese). Valor Econômico. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Mercado Livre agora tem frota própria de aviões no Brasil" (in Portuguese). Exame. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Mercado Livre lança MELI Air com frota de 4 aviões no Brasil" (in Portuguese). Logweb. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  23. ^ "ABEAR anuncia associação da Sideral Linhas Aéreas" (in Portuguese). ABEAR. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Abear anuncia Sideral Linhas Aéreas como nova associada" (in Portuguese). Panrotas. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Gol e Mercado Livre fecham parceria logística que deve quadruplicar entregas aéreas da varejista" (in Portuguese). InfoMoney. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Sideral encerrará parceria com o Mercado Livre, que contará com malha da GOL e Azul" (in Portuguese). Aeroflap. 25 August 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  27. ^ "Vídeo mostra que o primeiro Boeing 737 do Mercado Livre acaba de perder sua cor amarela" (in Portuguese). AeroIN. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Sideral recebe o primeiro Boeing 737-800 da sua frota" (in Portuguese). Aeroflap. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  29. ^ "Chega o primeiro Boeing da Sideral Linhas Aéreas" (in Portuguese). nowboarding. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  30. ^ "Primeiro Boeing 737-800 da Sideral chega ao Brasil; confira" (in Portuguese). ONTIME Aviation. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  31. ^ "Sideral Linhas Aéreas Targets 777-200LRFs for Brazil-China Cargo Charters". AirGuide. 4 January 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Sideral poderia adicionar jatos Boeing 777, voando para EUA e China" (in Portuguese). AeroIN. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Brazil's Sideral Linhas Aéreas eyes B777-Fs, US charters". ch-aviation. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  34. ^ "São Paulo fecha parceria para ter avião exclusivo por dois anos e prevê economia de 23%" (in Portuguese). Estadão. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  35. ^ "São Paulo fecha parceria para economizar com voos fretados" (in Portuguese). Terra. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  36. ^ "São Paulo fecha parceria para ter avião exclusivo por dois anos e prevê economia de 23%" (in Portuguese). IstoÉ. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  37. ^ "São Paulo fecha acordo com a Sideral" (in Portuguese). SPFC. 23 January 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  38. ^ "2024-2-13 Order Granting Exemption and to Show Cause". Regulations.gov. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  39. ^ "Sideral é autorizada a fazer voos fretados para os EUA" (in Portuguese). AeroIN. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  40. ^ "Brazil's Sideral Linhas Aéreas eyes B777-Fs, US charters". ch-aviation. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  41. ^ "Três Boeing 737 se juntarão a frota da Sideral" (in Portuguese). ch-AERO Magazine. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  42. ^ "Bases". Siderallinhasaereas.com.br.
  43. ^ "Frota da Sideral". CABANGU Aviation (in Portuguese). 25 January 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  44. ^ "Sideral Linhas Aéreas Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  45. ^ "Aviação Comercial Brasileira - Frota atual" (PDF). Aeromuseu (in Portuguese). 7 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  46. ^ "PT-MFE: o ATR que já passou por seis aéreas brasileiras". Flap Internacional. May 15, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  47. ^ "Primeiro turboélice ATR que chegou ao Brasil é desativado". Airway. August 30, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  48. ^ "Após 8 anos parado Boeing 737 volta a voar, mas provavelmente pela última vez". Aeroflap. April 22, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  49. ^ "Após 8 anos parado, Boeing 737 de marca PR-CID decola do interior de São Paulo". AeroIN. April 22, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  50. ^ "Clássico Boeing 737-300 parado a anos em Rio Preto, fará seu último voo". Aviões e Música. January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
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