Azul has made it public that the airline applied for takeoff and landing slots at GRU for daily A330-200 service to MCO effective December 15th, 2015.

Proposed schedule:
GRU 1430 MCO 2000
MCO 2240 GRU 1010+1

Source (Portuguese):
http://www.voeazul.com.br/imprensa/r...--guarulhos--orlando-1383355030548

They love Disney do they ! Next thing you know it'll be BSB-MCO CNF-MCO even REC-MCO

It is rumored that Azul wants to do daily GIG-MCO and if so the flights would start in January 2016.

VCP and GRU to MCO? Or will they drop the VCP service?

Quoting flyby519 (Reply 3): VCP and GRU to MCO? Or will they drop the VCP service?

There is no way they will drop VCP. From what I have been hearing it has been doing rather well.

Quoting dabpit (Reply 4): There is no way they will drop VCP. From what I have been hearing it has been doing rather well.

Must be doing very well to consider starting another daily from GRU.

Given the location of VCP, GRU will cater to a different market so it makes sense to look to not just increase frequency but broaden the market instead.

We had LAS on a huge role of adding international service, then BOS was on a roll, now it looks like MCO is on a roll

Quoting dabpit (Reply 2): It is rumored that Azul wants to do daily GIG-MCO and if so the flights would start in January 2016.

It wouldn't surprise me, since it seems they are trying to crowd both TAM and Gol out of MCO.

Their fares are not sustainable though. The main banner of the website tonight is advertising VCP-FLL roundtrip for USD 260.00, just for you to get a glimpse.

http://www.voeazul.com.br/

[Edited 2015-05-20 16:49:30]

Quoting slcdeltarumd11 (Reply 6): We had LAS on a huge role of adding international service, then BOS was on a roll, now it looks like MCO is on a roll

On a regional scale, it seems MSY is on one as well.

In the last two years, it's gained scheduled nonstop service:

to Panama (USA's only FAA "medium-hub" to have a scheduled nonstop to CenAm),

to Jamaica (summer),

to the Dominican Republic (summer), and

4 different airlines to Mexico (including DL and UA seasonally)

....in addition to the scheduled and charter international service that it already had.

Not bad for a non-hub, with less than 10MM pax/yr.

Quoting C010T3 (Reply 7): Their fares are not sustainable though. The main banner of the website tonight is advertising VCP-FLL roundtrip for USD 260.00, just for you to get a glimpse.

Those seats are going to be hard to get and they will only sell a handful of tickets at that price. They are more than likely making good money off of these flights.

Quoting flyby519 (Reply 3): VCP and GRU to MCO? Or will they drop the VCP service?

The golden nugget for Brazilian commercial aviation is São Paulo / Congonhas Airport (CGH) which is close the finantial and commercial areas of the city. However, being in the middle of a highly occupied residential area, it has severe restrictions on the operations. There were no available slots at the time AD started service - and due to political pressure from JJ and G3, new companies have been sistematically denied to have new slots then when they are available. Apart from a single slot on Saturday early morning, only recently AD were awarded with extra positions.

Situation on São Paulo Intl / Guarulhos (GRU) was not so restrictive, but it is far from being the ideal hub for regional, short to medium haul service: it is 16 mi / 25 km from downtown with no rail connection (there has one planned and supposedly being built but I guess it was postponed as usual) and linked to the city by two "expressways" which are jammed, overcrowded and prone to be flooded on summer storms. During peak time, it can takes up to 2 h to reach SP city center from GRU.

At that time AD started operations (2008) VCP was a dull place, mostly a cargo terminal with moviment of less than 1 million pax / yr. Story says that, when Neeleman and his staff went to VCP to assess the place, he split from the others and started to wander around. The staff were less than impressed with the airport: one of them said "What a dump, we are just losing our time here... let's get out of this *** ". Then, they found Neeleman and for their surprise (and perhaps dispair) he was exhilarating: "That's it !!! This is the place !!! We are going to get rich here... we found home".

Now AD has a huge operation on VCP, as well as plenty of slots and space to further growing. It is very convenient not only for people on Campinas metro area - which population is almost 3 million people - but also for people living in an huge area ranging from northern districts of S Paulo metro region (where access to GRU depends on travelling on congested roads and streets through the city of SP) to the center of the state.

AD put a lot of money to build its operational hub on VCP, not leaving soon unless a calamity happens...

Quoting faugusto0264 (Reply 10): The golden nugget for Brazilian commercial aviation is São Paulo / Congonhas Airport (CGH

The runway at CGH is 6,365' (1,940m) long and has a displaced threshold. It will not support any type of long-haul operations with any payload. Probably one of the more exciting approaches I've seen in my time though.

Quoting jetblastdubai (Reply 11): The runway at CGH is 6,365' (1,940m) long and has a displaced threshold. It will not support any type of long-haul operations with any payload. Probably one of the more exciting approaches I've seen in my time though.

Indeed, the approach to CGH is remarkable - fun for some, terrifying for others. The airfield was planned in 1919 and started operations in 1936, at a time where the area was unpopulated and most of the land occupied by small farms and ranchs. The city has grown a lot from that time, of course, and now it seats on a heavily populated area, with lots of apartment buildings around. The impression when landing at CGH is that you are going to flying through these buildings. This video shows a landing from a pax seat on a 738: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD3rlQfjJ4c .

This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ennYoZBSEc showing an A320 backtaxing and taking off CGH also gives a good idea what is around the runway...


CGH is to heavy AC due to the length of the runway: the larger planes allowed are A320 and B738. It was the international airport for the city of Sao Paulo until the 60s. When heavier aircraft started to enter intercontinental service, VCP became the main international airport in SP until GRU started operating in 1985.

However, the operational restrictions on CGH are mostly related to urban noise and general safety regulations: airport is open only from 6 AM to 10:30 PM, and limited to 32 landings or take-offs per hour.

Quoting jetblue1965 (Reply 1): They love Disney do they

And Universal and SeaWorld.

I remember in the mid '90s flying out of MCO and seeing a Varig 762 on my left and a Trans-Brasil 763 on my right.

Quoting faugusto0264 (Reply 12): This video shows a landing from a pax seat on a 738: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD3rlQfjJ4c . This video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ennYoZBSEc showing an A320 backtaxing and taking off CGH also gives a good idea what is around the runway...

Wow, that's really cool!

Quoting faugusto0264 (Reply 12): CGH is to heavy AC due to the length of the runway: the larger planes allowed are A320 and B738.

There's photographs in the database of TAM's first A330 at CGH. Must have been empty, clearly, but it would still have been an interesting take off.

Quoting faugusto0264 (Reply 10): During peak time, it can takes up to 2 h to reach SP city center from GRU.

On a friday night while raining, it took me 3 hours to get from the city to GRU. GRU is way far away due to traffic in the evening, but so is VCP. A 1430 departure will help avoid evening rush hour. On a day with heavy rains, there can be hundreds of people missing international evening departures from GRU.

Quoting Roseflyer (Reply 16):

Great now I'm scared

My flight in November is scheduled to depart Monday night 11:30p out of GRU .... When should I leave city center then ? 7?

Quoting dabpit (Reply 9): Those seats are going to be hard to get and they will only sell a handful of tickets at that price. They are more than likely making good money off of these flights.

Not Really.
Nowadays it is extremely easy to find 300USD round-trip fares from all over Brazil to MIA/FLL/MCO/LAS/LAX/NYC and even HNL on Brazilian Point of Sale, even during high season, on every airlines.

Quoting STT757 (Reply 13): and SeaWorld.

That still exists? Dunno why, but had thought they'd gone outta business. Interesting.

Quoting steve6666 (Reply 15): There's photographs in the database of TAM's first A330 at CGH. Must have been empty, clearly, but it would still have been an interesting take off.

Up to 2007 there were less restrictions... TBA had regular service from and to CGH with 767 and VSP (I guess) operated with A300. Never heard of regular service with A330, though... The present limits were settled after the accident with fligh JJ3040 - which overran the runway on a wet landing and crashed on a warehouse fro the same company, across the street.

What happend with their plans to serve JFK and FLL (We really need them in JFK with Tams really expensive prices)?

[Edited 2015-05-21 13:15:38]

Quoting lesfalls (Reply 21): What happend with their plans to serve JFK and FLL (We really need them in JFK with Tams really expensive prices)?

VCP-JFK was postponed to start on July, 2015 - according to the AD marketing VP, the demand for the routes to MCO and FLL were much higher than expected and they decided to use their 332 on this service for now.

Bad news. It might be that they won't fly the route afterall(unfortunately.   ).........


Link: Delta Applies For Orlando-Sao Paulo Nonstops (by flybry May 21 2015 in Civil Aviation)

[Edited 2015-05-21 13:56:14]

Quoting lesfalls (Reply 21): What happend with their plans to serve JFK and FLL (We really need them in JFK with Tams really expensive prices)?

Azul already flies to FLL.

Quoting slcdeltarumd11 (Reply 6): We had LAS on a huge role of adding international service, then BOS was on a roll, now it looks like MCO is on a roll

Well and then there is IAH.....

Delta propose Schedule

DL 59 MCO 9:50 PM GRU 9:50 AM

DL 58 GRU 11:25 PM MCO 5:35 AM

Quoting C010T3 (Reply 7):

It is just a reaction from TAM and AA movement. And Delta today is doing the same...

They were selling tickets from NY, MIA, LAX and several other destinations from USD 200.
At least Azul is flying an old 332 while AA and TAM are burning fuel on a brand new 773

Crazy to do it right now.... i don't think the economy provides the feed the aviation need and at this point it would be better to just keep capacity untouched.

How to think MCO (and Brazil-US) can handle more than 100% increase in seats while the economy is cutting 1,0 million jobs, the government is pushing for a USD 25 billion budget cut, corporations are selective as for their own investments, and families are worried with energy bills (+ 50% to +70%) as well as other prices moving up.

I don't see market for all of this and end up with a fare war like this week. No winners.

Can a helicopter 'taxi' land at GRU or VCP?

Quoting bjorn14 (Reply 29): Can a helicopter 'taxi' land at GRU or VCP?

Yes. They can.

Quoting jetblue1965 (Reply 17): Great now I'm scared My flight in November is scheduled to depart Monday night 11:30p out of GRU .... When should I leave city center then ? 7?

Don't be. If your flight departs that late, there's no problem at all. You can leave Sao Paulo 9 PM and you will be in the airport in 1h more/less depending from where you're staying in the city:

Downtown to GRU - 45 min
Paulista Avenue District to GRU - 1h
Faria Lima District to GRU - 1h10
World Trade Center / Morumbi to GRU - 1h20/1h30

Quoting LipeGIG (Reply 30):

Thanks. Maybe DL can throw in a helo ride for their F/J pax.

What are the travel times to/from VCP for the areas that you mentioned?

So now everyone is interested in MCO

Quoting faugusto0264 (Reply 22): VCP-JFK was postponed to start on July, 2015 - according to the AD marketing VP, the demand for the routes to MCO and FLL were much higher than expected and they decided to use their 332 on this service for now.

If demand was much higher than anything expected, we would not be seeing the giveaway fares of low hundreds. They probably realized they could not make it in corporate rich NYC yet.

Quoting CNForever (Reply 27): At least Azul is flying an old 332 while AA and TAM are burning fuel on a brand new 773

But AA is somewhat away from the MCO mess. In MIA there is wealthier personal travel that is not holiday-related (e.g., Neeleman is a commuter), plus a business rich market and connections to the rest of North America and Caribbean.

Quoting incitatus (Reply 34):

Agree, but these fares are not MCO privilege! You can find it to NYC, MIA, LAX ...
I payed USD 200 for a SAO-NYC flight on AA!

Quoting bjorn14 (Reply 31): Thanks. Maybe DL can throw in a helo ride for their F/J pax. What are the travel times to/from VCP for the areas that you mentioned?

Add an extra hour.

Quoting dubaiamman243 (Reply 32): So now everyone is interested in MCO

Don't know the reason behind that... but it seems to be. I just believe the destination is great, the market is big, but not for now. May be it will be good by the end of 2016.