Azul Conecta (stylized as Azul [Conecta]), formerly known as TwoFlex Aviação Inteligente, is a Brazilian domestic and subregional airline headquartered in Jundiaí, São Paulo, established in 2013. It is a subsidiary of Azul Brazilian Airlines, operating feeder and cargo flights connecting cities in the interior of Brazil to the parent company's hubs.
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| Founded | April 1, 2013 | ||||||
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| AOC # | 10,039 - December 14, 2022[1] | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | TudoAzul | ||||||
| Fleet size | 27 (as of April 2024) | ||||||
| Destinations | 73 (as of November 2024) | ||||||
| Parent company | Azul Brazilian Airlines | ||||||
| Headquarters | Jundiaí, Brazil | ||||||
| Key people | Antônio Flávio Costa (President) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
History
editEstablishment
editAzul Conecta was formed as TwoFlex on April 1, 2013, as a result of the merger of Two Táxi Aéreo and Flex Aero Táxi Aéreo.[2][3]
Between August 2016 and June 2019, TwoFlex operated wet lease flights on behalf of Voe Minas Gerais, a state-run project that connected cities within the State of Minas Gerais to the State capital Belo Horizonte. TwoFlex was the only operator for the duration of this program, which was discontinued on June 30, 2019.[4]
TwoFlex Aviação Inteligente (2017-2020)
editIn November 2017, Twoflex was granted rights to operate regular feeder passenger flights connecting smaller locations to main cities in all Brazilian territory. At the time, this authorization led to the increase of services provided by Voe Minas Gerais.[5][6]
Being authorized to operate feeder services nationwide, on April 12, 2019, TwoFlex announced an adapted Essential Air Service partnership with GOL Linhas Aéreas in which TwoFlex would operate feeder services on behalf of Gol in the States of Amazonas, Pará and Mato Grosso.[7] Following the same trend, flights to six locations in Rio Grande do Sul[8] and eleven in Paraná[9] were confirmed.
Another consequence of this authorization was being allowed to bid for slots at São Paulo–Congonhas Airport.[10] On August 14, 2019, the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil confirmed that TwoFlex was granted 14 slots at Congonhas but can only operate using the auxiliary runway 17L/35R.[11] TwoFlex plans to connect São Paulo-Congonhas with three cities in São Paulo State and one in Rio de Janeiro State.[12]
Acquisition by Azul Brazilian Airlines (2020-present)
editOn 14 January 2020 Azul Brazilian Airlines signed an agreement to purchase Twoflex.[13] On March 27, 2020, the Brazilian regulatory bodies gave its full permission (nihil obstat) to the purchase[14] and sale of flights started on April 14, 2020.[15] On 11 August 2020 the airline was rebranded as Azul Conecta to reflect its partnership with Azul Brazilian Airlines. It operates feeder services to bases of Azul.[16]
Destinations
editAs of November 2024, Azul Conecta serves 73 destinations in Brazil, feeding services of its sister company Azul Brazilian Airlines using its platform and operated by Azul Conecta:[17]
| Base | |
| Future | |
| Terminated |
a.^ Although Santana do Livramento (Brazil) is the destination listed, because of operational reasons flights operated at Rivera International Airport located in the twin city Rivera, Uruguay.
Fleet
editAs of April 2024[update], Azul Conecta operates the following aircraft:[18][19]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2
|
—
|
9
|
TwoFlex cs
| ||
12
|
—
|
9
|
—
| ||
10
|
—
|
9
|
—
| ||
3
|
—
|
Cargo
|
opby Azul Conecta Cargo
| ||
| TOTAL | 27 | — | |||
Airline affinity program
editAzul Conecta accrue benefits as per Azul Brazilian Airlines Frequent Flyer Program program Tudo Azul.
Accidents and incidents
edit- 16 September 2019: Cessna 208 Caravan registration PT-MHC operating a flight from Manaus to Maués, crashed in a wooded area on takeoff. All ten on board survived the accident. Thunderstorms were present in the area around the time of departure. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.[20]
- 5 May 2024: Cessna 208 Caravan registration PS-CNB was stuck at Salgado Filho Porto Alegre International Airport after the apron and runways were flooded during the 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods. On 22 June 2024, the aircraft was flown to the airline maintenance base at Jundiaí Airport.[21][22]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ "Empresas Aéreas - Consulta". ANAC (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 May 2023.
- ^ "TWOFlex possui a maior frota de Cessna Caravan do Brasil". Aviação Paulista (in Portuguese). 4 February 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ "TWOFLEX é a mais nova associada da ABEAR". Aeroin (in Portuguese). 11 June 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ "Voe Minas Gerais". Codemge (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "Decisão Ad Referendum Processo: 00058.085638/2016-12". ANAC (in Portuguese). 29 December 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ "Táxi-aéreo que atua em MG recebe autorização para fazer voos regionais em todo o Brasil". Aeromagazine (in Portuguese). 27 November 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ "GOL anuncia parceria com a TwoFlex para expansão de malha regional". Gol Transportes Aéreos (in Portuguese). 12 April 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Governo do RS assina decreto para ampliar voos regionais". Panrotas (in Portuguese). 4 July 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ "Paraná ganha 11 novas rotas de voos espalhadas pelo Estado". Agência de notícias do Paraná (in Portuguese). 7 August 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ "Two Flex também pede slots para operar em Congonhas". Panrotas. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
- ^ "Anac oficializa alocação de slots em Congonhas". Panrotas (in Portuguese). 14 August 2019. Retrieved 9 September 2019.
- ^ "TWOFLEX faz solicitação de slots para operar em Congonhas". Aeroflap (in Portuguese). 17 June 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
- ^ "Azul faz acordo para compra da Two Flex por R$ 123 milhões". Panrotas (in Portuguese). 14 January 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ "CADE aprova a compra da ultra-regional TwoFlex pela Azul". Aeroflap (in Portuguese). 27 March 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Azul inicia venda de voos operados pela TwoFlex". Panrotas (in Portuguese). 13 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Companhia regional da Azul, Azul Conecta é lançada oficialmente; meta é chegar a 200 destinos". Mercados e eventos (in Portuguese). 11 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "Mapa de Rotas". Azul (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Azul Linhas Aereas fleet". FlightRadar24. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "AZUL CONECTA". Aeromuseu (in Brazilian Portuguese). 28 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "Accident description PT-MHC". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ "Incident description PS-CNB". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Finalmente, Azul retira o avião Cessna Caravan que havia ficado alagado no Aeroporto Salgado Filho". Aeroin (in Portuguese). 22 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.