This Thursday (08/07) Azul held a live with journalists and the fleet manager of Airbus at Azul, Fernando Kehl, to answer some questions and talk about curiosities about the choice of aircraft for the company, as well as all the processes for get your planes.
Check below some of the topics covered in the live, which also had questions from the AEROFLAP Portal Team.
How does the airline choose its aircraft?
According to Fernando Kehl, the idea of inserting the Airbus A320 in Azul's fleet began in 2013, about 4 years after the company started operations. At the time, Azul only had ATR 72 and Embraer E-Jet E1 aircraft in its fleet.
Azul chose the A320neo because it was the first launched in the new generation and the most efficient aircraft at that time, according to Kehl. The contract was signed in 2013, but the first delivery was scheduled for 2016.
At the time, the Airbus A320neo competed directly with the Boeing 737 MAX, which only made its first flight in 2016.
According to him, it usually takes 3 years to get a new plane after choosing. Considering that the A320neo made its first flight in 2014 and obtained certification in 2015, the company achieved a good space for the first units.
Asked about the aircraft delivery slots, given that the initial order was for 65 A320neo aircraft, Kehl said that it is common for the client company to look for a leasing agent when it needs to anticipate deliveries, taking advantage of orders from these leasing companies.
Despite Azul choosing to lease its A320neo aircraft, Azul chose to stagger the slots according to the pace of demand growth, without paying a “” amount to obtain early delivery slots, one of the services offered by Airbus.
The customer monitors the entire assembly of each aircraft in the fleet, inspecting it, even the painting of the plane is monitored by the company. To assemble each plane, Airbus needs approximately three months, from the moment the first fuselage arrives on the final assembly line until the completion of the plane.
One of the curiosities pointed out by Fernando is that Airbus makes 12 to 20 flights with the Beluga per day, to transport wings and fuselages between its production centers in , and the United Kingdom.
Choice of engines at the time of purchase
Several reasons are imposed for choosing an engine when purchasing an aircraft, from technical aspects to market price and delivery availability.
The CFM was chosen because it has a classic concept, without a gearbox, and yet is much more efficient. The conservative option was assertive by Azul in the case of the A320neo, since the other option, the PW engine, has faced some problems over the last few years.
The Airbus A320neo consumes practically the same amount of fuel as the Embraer E195-E1, however, carrying 56 more engers.
Currently, the A320neo and the E195-E2 have equivalent fuel consumption per transported enger, unlike the E195-E1. So, in of cost, Azul can choose to use the E2 or the A320neo, changing the aircraft according to demand. Landing and takeoff performance is also similar between these planes.
Detail that in the Embraer E195-E2, Azul had to opt for the Pure Power engines, from Pratt & Whitney, the only option for the new E-Jets.
Aircraft Assembly and Options
After ordering, the company chooses the aircraft's options. Fernando described that the plane is bought practically without the interior, only with the structure and engines.
The plane's cabin is completely customized, from the seats to the entertainment system. Suppliers are cataloged by Airbus, and Azul consults these companies to choose the standard for its aircraft.
The seats, for example, are the responsibility of the company and the supplier, and must be delivered at the same time as the aircraft is produced in Toulouse, , or in Hamburg, . If everything goes poorly, Airbus can deliver the plane without the interior, looking like a freighter.
The choice of light colors for the seat leathers, for example, was Azul's own choice, to give the feeling of greater comfort and space on board.
Similarly, Azul also sought approval from Airbus to approve an in-flight entertainment provider. Thales was hired by Azul to install the entertainment system and antennas on board, the company also needed to seek approval for Airbus to carry out the service.
Currently, planes can come from the factory with the entire TV and internet antenna system, but Azul does all the work in its hangar. With several planes being adapted per month, around 18 A320neo aircraft already have wi-fi and in-flight entertainment with satellite TV working in sync.
The choice of ViaCom for the onboard internet system was due to the supplier's guarantee of unlimited connections inside the aircraft, with little speed limitation. The operator even launched more satellites to expand its service. Azul provides free internet on board, and promises to continue with the service in this way.
In addition to the Airbus planes, the new Embraer E195-E2 are being equipped with ViaCom onboard internet.
Kehl said that Azul is negotiating with Airbus to install all the Wi-Fi on the manufacturer's own assembly line, so that the aircraft arrives in the fleet ready for operation.
There are currently 45 aircraft in the Airbus A320neo family. Of these, 17 planes are equipped with the SHARP package, which is also an option created by Airbus.
Other options are auxiliary systems inside, such as RGB lights in the cabin, extra instruments in the cockpit to help the pilots and other auxiliary systems for the crew on board.
