Airlines

Azul Cargo Express takes delivery of first B737-400F

Three months after landing in Brazil the first freighter of Azul Cargo Express was presented today to authorities, crews and journalists at Viracopos Airport in Campinas, Brazil.

The leased Boeing 737-400 converted freighter has come to meet the growing demand from Azul’s cargo unit, is already certified by regulatory agencies and will be operated for the first time today (16 October). The carrier will receive a second one by the end of this month.

Before the first commercial flight, however, some guests were able to meet Azul’s freighter, which has the capacity to carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo or 11 pallets.

Azul said with certification to carry palletised cargo, the aircraft will give more flexibility to Azul Cargo Express to define the mesh strategies, strengthening the capacity to offer customised solutions to customers and expanding the company’s business.

The aircraft will be used on routes with high demand, passing through the bases of operation of Campinas, Recife and Manaus. Other cities such as Fortaleza, Belém and Rio de Janeiro should also receive freighter flights frequently.

In the first quarter of this year, Azul’s cargo transportation unit recorded growth of 61 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year  The company’s first freighter comes into operation to absorb the dizzying growth of Blue Cargo Express.

Combined with a business route that serves 100 cities in Brazil, the company has the broadest offer of logistics solutions in the country.

During the event, Azul Cargo Express’s director, Izabel Reis, thanked the crew of Azul and stressed that the aircraft will be fundamental to produce new business opportunities for the company.

Reis said: “I would like to thank all the Blue Crew for making this day possible. Without them, the growth and consolidation of our business model would not be possible. This first freighter, as well as the next plane to arrive, will provide us with more flexibility to define the mesh according to the needs of our Customers and will contribute to offer new services, such as chartering.

“We hope to improve our performance and continue offering a differentiated and extremely efficient product, contributing to the satisfaction of those who contract our cargo service.”

Azul’s second cargo aircraft is expected to arrive in Brazil by the end of this month. The 737 freighters were chosen because of the low operational cost and reliability history of aircraft of this model for cargo transportation.

With more space and versatility, Azul Cargo Express expects to grow 40 per cent this year, expanding service offerings to regions and larger routes.

Azul Cargo Express, cargo unit of Azul Linhas Aéreas, started cargo operations on August 26, 2009, with cargo transportation between the airports of Viracopos, Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador.

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