Jaunted - Tag: Embraer

Neeleman's Azul May Fly Before '09

pbb — 2008-09-29T16:30:36-05:00

Last we heard, the new Brazilian carrier Azul, from JetBlue founder David Neeleman, was planning to start flights in January 2009. But an article we just came across on the Dow Jones Newswire (but sadly can't link to 'cause of a pay wall) says the airline is looking to move that first flight up to December 2008.

The report continues:

"They (Azul) talked to us and managed to bring forward the delivery of three or four planes from January 2009 to December of this year," said Embraer CEO Frederico Fleury Curado.

Azul has ordered 76 Embraer 190 and 195s and it has also agreed to lease two of the mid-sized planes from JetBlue. So far only one has the Azul livery: It's been named "O Rio de Janeiro continua Azul," a line from a Gilberto Gil song.

Oh, and by the way, another news report (linked below) says Azul is interested in building an airport in Sao Paulo. We're not holding our breath on that one!

Related Stories:
· Azul Wants to Build an Airport [El Mundo, in Spanish]
· Azul coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Azul]

Midwest Death Watch Trifecta: Cash Infusions, Outsourcing and Bag Fees

pbb — 2008-09-04T08:30:22-05:00

Struggling carrier Midwest Airlines has sealed a deal for $60 million in new financing, and has inked another bargain to add 12 regional jets to its fleet, while trimming its 717 holdings. The carrier has already secured $40 million of the promised money--needed for paying off debts to airports, among other things--and it also got a $15 million loan from Republic Airways, the company Midwest has hired to operate those dozen regional jets.

The outsourcing of the Midwest Connect service starts on October 1, which means another couple hundred employees will be furloughed--on top of the 1,200 jobs already cut this summer. The airline says that's to train its people on the new Embraer 170s that Republic flies; the Midwest pilots' union has its doubts:

Management [has] restated its continued intent to wring drastic, draconian concessions from our pilots, holding our very jobs hostage as part of its deal with Republic.

But the airline simply doesn't need as many pilots working because it's also renegotiated a lease with Boeing. Midwest will return 16 of its 25 717s to their manufacturer. That means just nine planes will be kitted out with the new seats announced in August.

Oh, and one last thing: Midwest will start charging $15 for your first checked bag on flights October 21 and later.

Related Stories:
· Midwest Airlines Announces Progress on Restructuring Plan [Official Site]
· Midwest Pilots Express Outrage at Airline's Deal [PRNewswire]
· Midwest Makes More Cuts [WTMJ]
· Midwest Death Watch coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: phantom kitty]

What Fuel Prices? Copa Adds New Routes, New Planes

pbb — 2008-08-07T15:45:06-05:00

Continuing the trend of foreign carriers that are doing just fine despite doom and gloom in the US aviation market, Copa Airlines is adding new service to cities across South America and the Caribbean and will add six new planes to its fleet by the end of this year.

All the new routes will be out of Tocumen International Airport in Panama, the airline's long-time base, and will serve Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Service starts in December.

On the aircraft front, six new Boeing 737s will bring the Copa fleet up to 43 planes. The carrier also already owns more than a dozen Embraer 190s, which are about to get really popular in Brazil.

Related Stories:
· Copa Airlines Announces Expansion Plans [Official Site]
· New Routes coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: egmb757lover]

New Airlines: Azul's Livery Revealed

pbb — 2008-05-29T11:30:01-05:00

David Neeleman's new Brazilian airline, Azul is chugging right along. The latest word is that the first flights will happen in January of 2009, and to tide us over, the carrier has released its new "corporate identity."

Yet again, we're seeing a lot of JetBlue in Azul. For starters, the livery on these Embraer jets looks familiar. B6 paints its E190s the same way, with blue on the bottom, white on top and a fancy tail pattern. Both airlines also have their web addresses stamped on the sides of their planes. Azul uses the Helvetica typeface--you've seen it at American Apparel, on American Airlines and on the NYC subway--while JetBlue works a slightly different sans serif face--called DIN--to get that jet-set look.

Inside, the similarities continue. Two-by-two leather seats are standard, and Azul plans to be the first Latin American airline with live TV in-flight. (Which JetBlue subsidiary company is providing it? LiveTV.)

Now, we're not saying all this copying is a bad thing; if the JetBlue model ain't broke, don't fix it. Want to join us in Brazil around, say, January 2009 to give Azul a try?

Related Stories:
· Neeleman's New Airline Name Sounds Familiar [Jaunted]
· Top Secret Airline Watch: Neeleman Hard at Work in Brazil [Jaunted]

Neeleman's New Airline Name Sounds Familiar

pbb — 2008-05-07T13:45:01-05:00

The contest to name David Neeleman's new airline is over, and though Samba was the favorite among Brazilians, the airline mogul is instead going with the second-place name Azul ("Blue"). Of course, his previous venture was JetBlue. Must have a thing for airline names that match his eye color.

Now that the name is out of the way, Neeleman can focus on equipping his 76 new Embraer planes with leather seats and live satellite TV, two of the amenities that helped JetBlue earn so much customer loyalty soon after its first flight in 2000.

The new website for the airline, voeazul.com.br, doesn't offer much just yet, though you can fork over your email address for updates. We've already submitted ours, hoping Neeleman will ping us the second he makes another blue move.

Related Stories:
· Top Secret Airline Watch: Neeleman Hard at Work in Brazil [Jaunted]
· David Neeleman Confirms His Brazilian Airline [Jaunted]

Top Secret Airline Watch: Neeleman Hard at Work in Brazil

pbb — 2008-04-22T13:00:02-05:00

David Neeleman is hard at work on his new Brazilian airline, which he hopes to have airborne by 2009. But he needs your help!

In a Branson-esque move, he wants you to pick the name for his new airline, which is temporarily called Voc� Escolhe (You Choose). All you gotta do is head to the airline's website and pick from names like Azul, Samba, Viva and Abra�o. In exchange for voting, you're entered to win a lifetime pass for two on the new carrier.

Neeleman's not stopping with just the name. According to the site, they'll also be putting more stuff up for vote: possible routes, on-board amenities and even the uniforms.

One amenity you won't need to worry about, says O Estado de Sao Paulo, is live TV. The newspaper reports that it'll be part of the new airline, and that in-flight cell phone service may be in the works, too--though it's currently forbidden in Brazil.

Related Stories:
· Voc� Escolhe [Official Site, in Portuguese]
· Airline Passengers Can Already Make Cell Phone Calls [O Estado, in Portuguese]
· New Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

David Neeleman Confirms His Brazilian Airline

djk — 2008-03-27T12:05:01-05:00

UPDATE: The airline will have leather seats and individual seatback LiveTV, a la JetBlue. There's even a contest to name it. Check out the website for David Neeleman's new airline here (in Portuguese).

David Neeleman himself has finally confirmed his plans for a new Brazilian airline...plans we've been watching closely and speculating on for a while now.

The founder of JetBlue Airways announced a new Brazilian airline on Thursday, to begin operating next year with three jets and eventually grow to a fleet of 76 planes flying nationwide.

JetBlue chairman David Neeleman said the opportunity is clear: Latin America's largest nation has a growing passenger travel market dominated by two airlines that face little domestic competition and charge high prices.

"The prices that people pay here in Brazil are 50 percent higher than the prices people pay in the United States. ... Brazil is a country that needs more competition and a different kind of competition."

The as-yet-nameless airline has 36 E-195 jets on order from Embraer. Neeleman confirmed that he has "raised US$150 million (€95 million) for the venture so far from investors in the United States and Brazil." So he hasn't mentioned Branson yet. Yet! There's always room for more to be revelead. You never know...