Former JetBlue CEO Sticks With Embraer

Brazilian planemaker Embraer delivered the first Embraer 195 jet, this Thursday, to Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, which will be the first Brazilian airline to operate the E-Jets.

The contract is for 36 firm orders: 31 Embraer 195s and five Embraer 190s. As ANN reported, the deal was announced in March of this year, and also includes options for another 20 aircraft and purchase rights for another 20.

"It is with great pleasure that we make our first delivery to Azul Linhas Aéreas," said Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President & CEO. "I am certain that seeing our Embraer 195 in the colors of Azul is a source of special pride for all of Embraer's employees, as we add our first Brazilian E-Jet operator to the 51 customers we have in 35 countries, on five continents."

Azul begins operations out of Viracopos Airport, in the city of Campinas, in outstate São Paulo, to Porto Alegre and Salvador. The airline company received its Authorization Certificate as an Air Transportation Company (Certificado de Homologação de Empresa de Transporte Aéreo -CHETA) from Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil -ANAC) and has already announced the first routes it intends to operate in Brazil.

"Azul is very proud to offer Brazilian passengers the best airplane in the world in its category. And best of all: this exceptional aircraft was designed and built in Brazil and, now, it will be operated by a Brazilian company. I know this is the best jet for the domestic market. The Embraer 195 will bring unbeatable safety records to our customers and crew members, besides an exceptional level of comfort," said Azul president David Neeleman (below), who is also the founder and former CEO of American low-cost airline JetBlue.

Azul's Embraer 195s are configured in a single class to accommodate 118 passengers. In keeping with Neeleman's background with JetBlue, all Azul planes will include onboard Live TV and individual screens.

FMI: www.embraer.com, www.voeazul.com.br/