This Thursday (20/05), Azul held an online press conference with the director of the cargo unit, Izabel Reis, who clarified doubts about the company's demand, fleet and investments to grow.
Azul's cargo division was already a promising business for the company even before the pandemic, with rapid growth in operations and with the idea of serving the smallest or largest customer directly, through several agencies spread across the country.
In the pandemic, growth, however, was much greater, and Azul Cargo came to represent around 40% of Azul SA's revenue in some periods, also taking advantage of the airline's fleet of enger planes. Currently, Azul Cargo's revenue is equivalent to 12 to 15% of Azul SA's revenue.
Investment and fleet
The sudden rise in demand over the last year has made the company invest in several different fields.
Azul Conecta, which operates with the Cessna Grand Caravan, was incorporated and gained exclusively freighter aircraft. Altogether there are 17 aircraft, which can be converted to transport cargo or engers at any time.
Embraer E-Jet E1 planes that were stationary and unused were adapted for the cargo transport operation. In all, four aircraft of this model are now performing cargo flights, complementing the fleet of Boeing 737-400F aircraft (2 in total) and ATRs, which Azul adapts in 50 minutes for charging according to need.
Demand is still rising, according to Izabel Reis, and as previously published here on the AEROFLAP Portal, Azul already plans to change the Embraer E-Jets.
Izabel pointed out that in October the company will initiate a change in the E-Jets, removing the remaining seats and increasing the cargo capacity from 7 to 12 tons in each plane.
Considering that until the end of the year the company wants to continue with the four E-Jets, the gross cargo capacity of this fleet should increase by 20 tons, almost equivalent to that ed by a Boeing 737-400F of the company.
The Embraer E-Jet will not gain a cargo door, but it makes a lot of difference in the company's response to e-commerce demand, as well as in destinations where it normally does not operate flights, such as Acre, which has regular Azul Cargo flights, and not is serviced by the enger company.
Another plane highlighted by Izabel is the ATR 72-600. This one has a large cargo door at the front, which allows for easy loading of boxes on board and use as a freighter.
Normally, the ATR can fly with engers or cargo inside, carrying cargo generally during the night part of the operation. With 50 minutes of transformation, to remove the 70 seats, it is possible to take 6 tons on board.
Two routes with the ATR were given as an example (V-POA and V-VIX) by Izabel Reis, as routine operations of the company using the ATR.
The two planes are essential to meet the demand of e-commerce, the pharmaceutical industry and even car manufacturers.
Airbus A330 and A321ceo for cargo on Azul
No Azul’s official podcast on Spotify, “Conversa Azul”, Izabel Reis had already highlighted the company's interest in replacing the Boeing 737F by the Airbus A321, in a fully cargo version.
In addition to “standardizing” the fleet, Azul is close to returning its 737F, in accordance with the leasing contract signed by the company and which expires in the 2nd quarter of 2023, according to the information provided in today's live (20).
For this reason the Azul began analyzing the Airbus A321 P2F, converted version of the A321ceo for freighter. The new aircraft allows for a greater internal cargo volume, in addition to carrying 7 tons more compared to the 737-400F.
Together with the change in the E-Jets, Azul Cargo will gain an additional capacity of 14 tons of cargo in the fleet of large narrobody aircraft, counting the two aircraft.
In today's press conference, Isabel highlighted that the A321P2F could arrive in the fleet offering additional capacity even en route, compared to the 737-400F.
With this plane, the company will be able to have regular cargo operations between Miami, in the United States, and Manaus. This is a future project by Azul Cargo.
When asked about the possibility of a Airbus A330 fully freighter, how Avianca Brazil operated, Isabel highlighted Azul's interest in analyzing this proposal, but for now only the arrival of the cargo A321 is considered firm by the company.
Azul's focus with the A321P2F is to serve the 'Southern Cone', countries in South America on direct flights to Brazil.
Isabel Reis highlighted that the presence of the A330 made a big difference in the cargo airline's fleet, with constant flights to Miami, Manaus and Brussels during the pandemic, when the operation of international enger flights was reduced.
Until now, Azul Cargo maintains flights with the Airbus A330 abroad, serving the Brazilian cargo market even with an adapted plane, where the cargo is transported above the seats.
Investments in the cargo terminal in Viracopos
We also asked Isabel Reis about the company's investments in the Cargo Terminal, given that the logistics part of the company is very important to grow in the sector.
According to Isabel, there is a discussion with Viracopos Airport (in Campinas) about investments in the place. At the end of 2020, Azul made an investment of BRL 2 million and more recently it is executing another one, of BRL 1 million.
The company's focus for now is to increase the safety of the place, the cargo area and the amount of equipment for handling cargo.
Isabel also pointed out that Azul is studying approval and specialization to transport devices with batteries. There is an internal market, but the company needs to adapt its cargo terminals and its daily operations.
