A new airline started by the founder of JetBlue Airways has been certified to operate in Brazil, an official said Monday.
That means Azul Airlines — the name means “blue” in Portugese — is on track to begin flying in December.
A spokeswoman for Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency said the company has been approved to fly, but the certification will not be publicly announced until it has been published in the government’s gazette, which could take two or three weeks. She spoke on condition of anonymity as she was not authorized to discuss the matter.
Azul was founded by David Neeleman, who stepped down as CEO of JetBlue last year. He started the new company with $150 million.
The company is based in Sao Paulo, but plans to make Rio de Janeiro its operational hub. It will begin operating with six 118-seat Embraer 195 jets and plans to add a plane a month until 76 are in service, Neeleman has said.
He said Azul will fly domestically at first, but may add international routes later.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081110/lt_brazil_azul_airlines.html?.v=1
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